The
Fairy:
Earth Kind is an important designation given to select roses by
the Texas A&MUniversity Agriculture program. Earth Kind Roses
have been through rigorous statewide testing and evaluation by
a
team of horticultural experts and found to possess the high level
of landscape performance and outstanding disease and insect tolerance/
resistance required to for this special designation.
Earth Kind
Roses are among the most thoroughly tested and environmentally
responsible plants for the use in Texas landscapes. These roses
do very well in almost any soil type, from the well-drained
acid sands of East Texas to the poorly aerated, highly alkaline
clays of central and Southwest
Texas. Earth Kind roses are certainly not immune to pest problems.
However, their tolerance to pests is so great that they rarely
require the use of chemical pesticides.
`The Fairy’
was first introduced in England in 1932 by famed rose breeder
J.A. Bentall. This selection has been popular every since due
to it’s small size, abundant pink blooms and tough nature.
`The Fairy’
is a polyantha that grows about 2 feet tall and 4 feet wide.
It has a compact form with dark green, glossy leaves that grow
on very thorny stems. Flowers are small, double and a medium
pink. Flowers have a 20-30 petal count with a slight apple fragrance.
Flowers open a little later than most polyantha roses and it
has good repeat blooming. Summer heat turns the flowers almost
white.
Grow
`The Fairy’ in full sun and well drained soils on a 4 foot
spacing. Keep soils moist and a 3-4 inch layer of mulch during
the fi rst year of establishment and thereafter. The consistent
use of an organic mulch will maintain plant health, nutrition
and performance. `The Fairy’ is able to withstand a wide
range of temperatures, so it can be utilized throughout Texas.
Landscape
Uses:
`The Fairy’ could be used in a hedge, mass planting or
container. `The Fairy’ has a slightly cascading habit that
would look fantastic spilling out over the edge of a raised
bed or large container. It’s habit of growing wider than
tall could even lend itself to a groundcover situation.
`The
Fairy’ is a trooper in the landscape world and one that’s
proven itself on performance and longevity.
Prepared
by: Debbie Benge, Midland/Ector County Extension Horticulturist
Join
the Earth Kind Rose Brigade:
We invite you to become a member of the “Earth Kind Rose
Brigade,” a group of dedicated amateurs helping to conduct
advanced field testing of experimental rose selections. Your
participation will be educational as well as valuable in providing
information to the Earth Kind Team of Extension specialists
and research scientists at Texas A&M University.
To
participate, simply purchase and plant one or more of the Brigade
roses then, at one, two, three, and four years after transplanting,
provide the benefit of your growing experience.
These
cultivars should be planted where they will receive at least
8 hours of direct sun each day with good air movement over the
foliage. The use of compost and organic mulches is encouraged.
