Jim Martin, executive director of the Charleston Parks Conservancy in South Carolina and owner of Paradise Design, Inc., enjoys educating gardeners on the best roses for the South and points out that roses are normal garden plants, not some special delicacies. The best roses, he says, are grown on their own roots -- not grafted -- so when you shop for roses online or at a nursery, be sure to ask how they are grown.
Martin says a site with morning sun is best, as most roses need some protection from the hot afternoon sun. Good air circulation is helpful in keeping down foliar disease.
He gives high marks to roses in several categories, including Noisettes -- a collection of roses that originated in Charleston in the early 19th century and that repeat-bloom through the year. Noisettes combine the scent of the musk rose with the large flowers of tea and China roses.
Double bright-yellow flowers against reddish stems make 'Reve D'Or' a standout selection for the garden. And at 10 feet, you can use it as a short climber. 'Alister Stella Gray' has a more casual appearance: double creamy-color flowers appear in loose clusters on long stems. Give it room, because it could grow up to 50 feet
'Buff Beauty', another old Noisette selection, grows to about 8 feet, and so you could use it on a wall as well as on a freestanding trellis. Its double flowers begin buff and fade to cream, and it has a lovely fragrance.