David C. Zlesak, Michael Schwartz, Gaye Hammond, Randy Nelson, Mark Chamblee and<\/p>\n

Steve George May 17, 2017<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

American Rose Trials for Sustainability\u00ae(A.R.T.S.\u00ae) is a new U.S. landscape and garden rose trialing program introducing its first winning roses \u2013 seven in all \u2013 for 2018.<\/p>\n

A.R.T.S.\u00aebegan in January 2012, and was prompted by the disbanding of the All-America Rose Selection (AARS) program, an industry-managed U.S. rose trialing program that began in 1938. Unfortunately, multiple member rose producers went out of business during the recent recession and that, in part, contributed to AARS\u2019s closure.<\/p>\n

The Mission<\/h3>\n

The mission of A.R.T.S.\u00ae is: \u201cTo identify, through regional evaluation and testing under low-input conditions, the most disease and pest resistant, hardiest and most garden-worthy rose cultivars and to provide objective, accurate and reliable information about the cultivars tested in each region to industry professionals and the gardening public.\u201d A clear sense of purpose at its foundation, scientific rigor, program transparency and stakeholder representation contribute to the strength of A.R.T.S.\u00ae.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Why now?<\/h3>\n

The need for an independent trialing program for new roses in the U.S. is greater than ever due to the strong pace of new roses coming into the marketplace. Over the last decade, the horticulture industry has evolved and the trend is for fewer and larger nurseries to grow and distribute a wider range of plant species. Many large nurseries are also managing their own branded plant programs. Exclusive cultivars of roses and other species are sought to help create unique plant collections to distinguish and draw customers to elite brands. The result is a steady supply of new roses entering the marketplace by a more diverse group of nurseries than ever. New roses are not only coming from U.S. breeders, but from several international rose breeders, as well. Having an unbiased, independent evaluation and awards program that trials new roses under low-input conditions across U.S. climates is a valuable contribution that A.R.T.S.\u00ae is eager to provide the horticulture community.<\/p>\n

Leading the way<\/h3>\n

From its inception, it was critical for A.R.T.S.\u00ae to have a leadership team not only representing industry, but also public gardens, rose society members, university scientists, landscapers and, ultimately, the general gardening public. Having a strong mix of rose stakeholders represented, it is possible to better identify the range of needs and available resources from each group and strategically develop and sustain the most relevant rose evaluation and awards program possible.
\nOne of the first tasks for the A.R.T.S.\u00ae leadership team was to determine the criteria for rose evaluation. For award designations to be meaningful, the characteristics being evaluated must reflect what U.S. gardeners and landscapers truly want and need, especially including plant attributes that are not readily observable in the retail setting (for example, disease resistance, mature growth habit, winter hardiness, and so on). A wide range of rose stakeholder groups was consulted to understand which cultivar characteristics they valued and their relative importance. Fortunately, there was strong consensus for what people valued, which greatly streamlined the criteria development process. In the new scoring system, flowering throughout the season and attractive floral attributes (including fragrance) are highly valued (42.5 percent of score), along with foliage health and quality (45 percent) and a pleasing, natural plant growth habit (12.5 percent). Stakeholders consistently emphasized the importance of not using pesticides on the trial roses in order to effectively assess tolerance\/resistance to regional diseases and insect pests. The A.R.T.S.\u00ae team listened, and no fungicides, insecticides or miticides are applied to the trial plants.<\/p>\n

How plants are evaluated<\/h3>\n

The A.R.T.S.\u00ae leadership team includes university scientists with years of experience in rose research and conducting field trials. Their expertise has led to the adoption of a number of practices that enhance scientific credibility. These techniques include:<\/p>\n

\n
• a planting design that uses blocking, randomization and replication of cultivars;<\/li>\n
• wider spacing to more effectively assess plant habit;<\/li>\n
• use of the Kppen Climate Classification system (see sidebar) to more accurately delineate climatic regions; and<\/li>\n
• having the same set of reference cultivars (that is, controls) planted in each block at each trial site across a region.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

  Blocking and randomization takes the multiple plants of each trial cultivar and separates them within the trial area, which helps account for unintended effects of variations in soil, airflow, light intensity and other conditions at a site. This is accomplished by separating each trial site into multiple planting blocks or beds, and planting one of each trial rose in random order in each block. The use of established reference cultivars (currently The Knock Out\u00ae Rose and Carefree Beauty\u2122) planted at each site aids in detecting differences in weather patterns and disease and pest pressure from year to year, and helps to ensure that award determinations are as unbiased, consistent and scientifically based as possible.<\/p>\n

  It is difficult to find a rose, or any plant, that excels in all climates. Therefore, regional trialing and regionally determined awards are crucial in helping people identify well-adapted cultivars for their local area. Temperature and moisture are the two most critical factors that determine climate. Unfortunately, delineating regions based on the combination of these two factors does not result in a U.S. map split into clean-cut lines. A.R.T.S.\u00aeuses the Kppen Climatic Classification System to distinguish regions, a system that is well-recognized by ecologists. The organization\u2019s website does a great job of helping people better understand the regionality of the program.
  \nRead more: Keeping Roses Clean<\/p>\n

  The trial sites<\/h3>\n

  Most of the trial sites are open to the public and are hosted by botanical gardens, municipal parks and universities. Trial site partners believe in the mission of A.R.T.S.\u00aeand have a passion to be regional leaders in environmental rose horticulture. Every A.R.T.S.\u00ae planting is maintained and evaluated over a two-year period. Some gardens stagger and host a new trial each year with one set of roses in year one of evaluation and another in year two. Gardens with limited space are paired with another trial site in their region and work together, with each partner hosting a new planting every other year. There are opportunities for additional gardens and volunteers to participate and thereby accommodate gardens that need to take a season off periodically for renovations or other reasons. The hope is to grow the program to the point that two gardens will be hosting the same A.R.T.S.\u00ae trial in each climatic region each year.<\/p>\n

  The K\u00f6ppen Climate Classification System<\/h3>\n

  In essence, the K\u00f6ppen system classifies the world\u2019s climates, identifying five major climate types based on the annual and monthly averages of temperature and precipitation. Each is designated by a capital letter, thus:<\/strong><\/p>\n

  \n
  • A. Moist Tropical Climates: characterized by their high temps year round, plus significant amount of annual rainfall<\/li>\n
  • B. Dry Climates: characterized by little rain and a dramatic daily temperature range (two subgroups are identified with the \u201cB\u201d climates \u2014 S is semiarid or steppe, and W is arid or desert)<\/li>\n
  • C. Humid Middle Latitude Climates: characterized by land\/water differences. For example, these climates feature warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters<\/li>\n
  • D. Continental Climates: found in the interior regions of large land masses. Total precip is not high and seasonal temperatures can vary widely<\/li>\n
  • E. Cold Climates: characterized by permanent ice and tundra; above-freezing temps are present for only about four months of the year<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Subcategories are designated by a second, lower case letter each distinguishing specific season characteristics of temperature and precipitation; a third lower case letter may further indicate specific variations in climate.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    The awards<\/h3>\n

    Awards are determined on a regional basis considering each trial rose\u2019s overall performance across the two growing seasons and its performance relative to the reference cultivars. Because awards are based solely on performance, there is no limitation for how many or few roses can win each year. For each region that a trial rose demonstrates superior performance, it receives the A.R.T.S.\u00aeLocal Artist award.<\/p>\n

    If a rose earns four or more Local Artist awards, it is designated as a Master Rose, the highest award the program bestows honoring the selection\u2019s wider range of adaptability. There are seven roses earning awards for 2018 \u2013 three Master Rose awards and four Local Artist awards.<\/p>\n

    A.R.T.S.\u00ae is excited to serve as the new premier U.S. rose awards program representing and serving multiple horticulture stakeholder groups for garden and landscape roses. With the solid evaluation protocol and data determining regional awards, the outcome is that consumers are highly likely to be successful with A.R.T.S.\u00ae award-winning roses for their region when plants are given basic care. Rose breeders and nurseries especially are getting behind A.R.T.S.\u00ae and are eager to enter their roses; in fact, seven nurseries submitted entries for the 2017\/18 trials.
    \nWe predict these seven 2018 winning roses will mark the start of a new and enduring American legacy for rose horticulture.<\/p>\n

    2018 Master Rose Awards<\/h3>\n

    The Peachy Knock Out Rose (\u2018RADgor\u2019) is a semi-double, peachy pink shrub rose with a mounded plant habit. Bred by William Radler and introduced by Star Roses and Plants.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Image Courtesy Of Star Roses and Plants<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    Double 10TM (\u2018LIM10\u2019) is a petal-packed, vibrantly colored orange hybrid tea. Bred by Ping Lim and introduced by Altman Plants.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Image Courtesy Of Altman Plants<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    Icecap\u2122 (\u2018MEIradena\u2019) is a double-white shrub rose with a mounded plant habit. Bred by Meilland International and William Radler and introduced by Star Roses and Plants.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Image Courtesy Of Star Roses and Plan<\/p>\n

    List of A.R.T.S.\u00ae Trial Gardens<\/h3>\n

    \n
    • Boerner Botanical Gardens, Hales Corners, Wisconsin<\/li>\n
    • City of Farmers Branch, Farmers Branch, Texas*<\/li>\n
    • City of Tyler, Tyler, Texas*<\/li>\n
    • Descanso Gardens, La Ca\u00f1ada Flintridge, California*<\/li>\n
    • Green Bay Botanical Garden, Green Bay, Wisconsin*<\/li>\n
    • Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania*<\/li>\n
    • Louisiana State University, Hammond, Louisiana*<\/li>\n
    • Mesa Community College, Mesa, Arizona<\/li>\n
    • Morcom Rose Garden, Oakland, California<\/li>\n
    • Naugatuck Valley Community College, Waterbury, Connecticut*<\/li>\n
    • North Dakota State University, Absaraka, North Dakota*<\/li>\n
    • Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania*<\/li>\n
    • Tulsa Parks and Recreation, Tulsa, Oklahoma*<\/li>\n
    • University of Minnesota Extension \u2013 Clay County, Moorhead, Minnesota*<\/li>\n
    • University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      * Sites hosting the trial group of roses resulting in the 2018 A.R.T.S.\u00ae winners
      \nRead more: Keeping Roses Clean: Testing Roses at the FPS<\/p>\n

      2018 Local Artist Awards<\/h3>\n

      Farruca\u2122 Courtyard\u00ae (\u2018POUlcy032\u2019) is a compact growing climber with double, deep red blooms. (Won in region: CSA) Bred by Pernille & Mogens Nyegaard Olesen and distributed for Poulsen Roser A\/S by several growers and brokers in North America among others; Rocket Farms Inc., Aldershot of Canada Ltd. and Griffin Greenhouse Supplies Inc.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

      Image Courtesy Of Poulsen Roser A\/S<\/p>\n

      Look-A-Likes\u00ae BougainFeelYa (\u2018MEIckinava\u2019) is a compact, spreading shrub rose with vibrant red single blooms. (Won in region: DFB) Bred by Meilland International and introduced by Star Roses and Plants.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

      Image Courtesy Of Star Rose and Plants<\/p>\n

      <\/p>\n

      Look-A-Likes\u00ae Apple Dapple (\u2018MEIplumty\u2019) is a spreading shrub rose with blush-pink, single blooms. (Won in regions: CFA and DFB) Bred by Meilland International and introduced by Star Roses and Plants.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

      Image Courtesy Of Star Roses and Plants<\/p>\n

      <\/p>\n

      Petaluma Cover\u00ae Towne & Country\u00ae (\u2018POUltc004\u2019) is a compact, spreading shrub rose with semi-double, vibrant, orange-pink blooms. (Won in region: DFB) Bred by Pernille & Mogens Nyegaard Olesen and distributed for Poulsen Roser A\/S by several growers and brokers in North America among others; Rocket Farms Inc., Aldershot of Canada Ltd. and Griffin Greenhouse Supplies Inc.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

      Image Courtesy Of Poulsen Roser A\/S<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      David C. Zlesak, Michael Schwartz, Gaye Hammond, Randy Nelson, Mark Chamblee and Steve George May 17, 2017 American Rose Trials for Sustainability\u00ae(A.R.T.S.\u00ae) is a new U.S. landscape and garden rose trialing program introducing its first winning roses \u2013 seven in all \u2013 for 2018. A.R.T.S.\u00aebegan in January 2012, and was prompted by the disbanding of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-245","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nursery"],"yoast_head":"\n