Author(s): Peter Kukielski

Home & Garden

Gertrude Stein famously wrote, “A rose is a rose, is a rose.” In the rose world, that would mean that all roses are the same: they all grow, smell, and perform the same. Nothing could be further from the truth.

In Roses Without Chemicals, Peter Kukielski, the former curator of the New York Botanical Garden's Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden, highlights 150 rose varieties that are different in the most important way—they excel in gardens without the use of chemicals. Many gardeners have tried to grow roses, only to give up once they realize how dependent on pesticides, fungicides, and fertilizers they are. Roses Without Chemicals eliminates this problem by featuring plant profiles for roses that have been hybridized to be disease resistant. The book includes a primer on care, with information on planting, pruning, and pests. Plant profiles feature a color photo, along with information on color, growth habit, and fragrance. The book also features lists of roses, arranged by color, growing habit, and region.

With this guide in hand, you can finally choose the right rose from the start and successfully grow them in an organic and sustainable way.