Drift roses are an extremely popular rose bush variety.
They are versatile in how you can use them for landscaping, and they require minimal care from you.
In this article, we’ll discuss more about the origins behind drift roses as well as detailed information on how to successfully care for these magnificent roses!
What Are Drift Roses?
Drift roses were cultivated in response to the public’s demand for a rose variety that is small and has a wider blooming window.
The Drift roses are a cross between full-size groundcover roses and miniatures. Originating in Pennsylvania, they were created in 2000 by the Conard-Pyle Company.
They come in a huge variety of beautiful colors. Here you will find the top 10 drift roses colors.
These roses bloom from April to November, even though they are not considered “everblooming”, which is a rose that blooms throughout the year.
Despite their small size, drift roses are sturdy rose bushes and are capable of withstanding many winter frosts.
They were bred specifically to stay manageable in size.
On average, they will grow no higher than 1 foot tall, and have a spread of around 3 feet wide.
Because of this, drift roses are widely grown as ground covers for landscapes.
While ground covers are the most popular use of these roses, they can be grown in a variety of ways including containers, borders, and over walls and fences.
Drift roses were preceded by Conard-Pyle’s other popular creation, the knockout rose.
Drift Roses Vs. Knockout Roses
Knockout roses and drift roses were cultivated by the same company. Although, some standout differences really separate the drift roses from the knockout.
Let’s talk about some of these differences:
1. Size: Knockout roses are nearly double the size of drift roses, and they are prolific growers!
If you prefer a smaller, more manageable rose bush, then you’ll find the drift roses preferable over the knockout.
2. Thorns: The drift rose is significantly less thorny than the knockout rose.
While the drift rose does have some thorns, they are smaller than the knockout rose and won’t tear you to shreds if you accidentally touch one of these bushes bare-handed.
This makes drift roses a safer option, especially if you have kids or unsuspecting pets running around the yard.
3. Pruning: While pruning is a very necessary practice in gardening, it is more required when owning a knockout rose, simply because of the size and growth pattern.
A knockout rose bush that goes unkept will eventually reach 6 feet tall and 6 feet wide, whereas unkept drift roses will only reach 1 foot tall and 3 feet across. That is quite the difference!
4. Fragrance: If you’re the type to want to stop and smell the roses, then you’ll find slim pickings with knockout roses.
Only two varieties of knockout roses are known to have fragrances (the Sunny Knockout and the White Knockout).
More drift rose varieties have a fragrance to them (try the Sweet Drift or the Coral Drift).
Drift Roses Care
Drift roses are not just beautiful, but they are very easy to maintain.
Read on to learn how to care for them.
How To Water Drift Roses
When you first transplant your drift rose into your garden, you’ll want to give your rose a deep watering to help it get established and accustomed to its permanent home.
Maintaining an even level of moisture when your plant is establishing itself is the best way to prevent your plant from entering transplant shock.
A moist soil will keep your fledging rose bushes happy.
We prefer to use the “water, wait, water” method to ensure that moisture has reached every crevice in the roses’ root system.
Water your roses, making sure every inch of the soil is moistened. Then stop watering and wait for the excess water to soak into the ground. Then, repeat this process.
This is a highly effective method of making sure that the water is permeating into the ground.
The roots will grow deeper into the ground, which results in a stronger plant with a fortified root system.
After your roses have been established, you can water less.
Mature drift rose is drought tolerant and will only require watering when the soil has completely dried up.
When it comes time to water your rose bushes, give them a deep watering once again.
On average, you’ll most likely find yourself having to water your drift rose once a week, maybe more often during summer heat waves.
When And How To Fertilize Drift Roses
When you initially plant your drift rose, it should be given a hefty dose of organic material, either compost or manure.
This should be worked into the potting mixture weeks prior to planting the roses.
The initial feeding of fertilizer is the first time your drift roses should be fertilized.
Later on in your roses’ lives, they should be given fertilizer two times during the growing season.
The first time is in the spring; select a slow-release fertilizer that is specifically designed for rose bushes.
The slow release will steadily feed your plant nutrients through the season.
The second time you should fertilize your roses is during the late summer.
Late summer fertilization will help encourage your plant to produce a high yield of roses in the fall just before the winter rolls in.
We recommend keeping an eye out for the NPK levels in the fertilizer that you use.
Avoid using a fertilizer that is significantly higher in nitrogen.
While nitrogen helps encourage abundant branch and leaf growth, it actually is a hindrance to the development of rose buds.
Instead, search for a fertilizer that is slightly higher in phosphorous, which is responsible for healthy flower production.
When And How To Prune Drift Roses
Drift roses are a type of groundcover roses that are low-growing and spread quickly.
They are a popular choice for gardens because they require little pruning.
Here are some tips on how to prune and deadhead properly this type of rose.
Pruning Drift Roses
Typically, you should prune drift roses in between the late winter to early spring.
During this time, the roses begin to come out of their dormancy and start developing new spring growth.
However, cold-climate gardeners should be advised to watch out for late spring frost, which poses a great hindrance to many rose varieties.
Gardeners in colder climates are no stranger to spring freezes occurring later in the season.
Spring growth is new and sensitive; an unexpected frost can completely squander any new growth that your rose bushes were developing prior.
If your climate is prone to late spring freezes, then we recommend waiting until you are certain all threats of frost have passed.
When it does come time to prune your drift rose bushes, it is rather easy!
It’s always recommended to start your pruning by eliminating any branches that died or became damaged during the winter. These parts of the bush will do nothing but inhibit new growth.
By removing unnecessary parts of the bush, your plant can focus its energy on developing new, healthy foliage rather than trying to resurrect a clearly damaged branch.
On average, you’ll need to cut back between 1/3 to 1/2 of your rose bush.
If you live in a colder climate, you’ll want to lean more towards 1/2.
If you’re concerned that you may have cut too much off, then don’t fret!
Drift roses are rapid growers, and the plant will triple in size by the end of the growing season.
Deadheading Drift Roses
Deadheading is a specific type of pruning that involves specifically pruning the flowers of your plant.
The purpose of deadheading is very similar to that of branch pruning; you’re cutting off dying/unnecessary sections of the plant in order to encourage new growth to form in its stead.
Drift roses are known to produce abundant yields of flowers through their growing season.
Gardeners often deadhead their drift roses in order to keep the rose bush’s appearance looking good as well as encourage newer flowers to form.
Deadheading your drift roses is very easy:
- You’ll want to wait until the rose on the bush has become dried and brown.
- Next, take a look at the rose’s stem; you should see a formation of five full leaves together on one stem.
- Take your pruning shears and make the cut just above those five leaves.
- Continue to do this whenever you see shriveled roses on your bush and you’ll have picture-perfect drift roses throughout the whole season.
How To Prepare Drift Roses For Winter
Drift roses are a tough breed, yet when harsh winters come around, they’ll need your assistance to help them get through intense temperatures.
Follow these easy steps to prepare your roses for the wintertime.
In-Ground Plants
- Place a thick 2 to 3” layer of mulch around the base of the plant. The mulch should be made of either leaves or pine needles. This will help insulate the soil and regulate temperatures.
- Wrap the plant in a layer of burlap. The winter winds can be harsh and dry on the plant, therefore the burlap will help protect the branches.
- In the springtime, remove the excess mulch and unwrap your plant. Perform the yearly spring pruning of your roses.
Container Plants
- Keep your container plants outside for the first few winter touches of frost before bringing them into your home. Many gardeners opt to overwinter their drift roses in the garage, but be careful of the coldness that can come in through the garage door; wrap them in burlap to protect them.
- Monitor your plants through the winter periodically. Drift roses will use the least amount of water during the winter, but they may dry out from being overwintered in your house. If you notice your plant is dry, give them just enough water to dampen the soil.
- When all threats of frost have passed, you can take your containers back outside in the early spring.
Sometimes, drift roses may seem like they did not survive the winter.
Don’t panic if you think the frost killed your plants!
It is extremely common that a plant appears dead after an intense winter.
In this case, we recommend pruning your rose bushes back to 6” in order to give your plant the push it needs to develop new growth.
Give it a few weeks to see results.
Conclusion
It’s no secret that drift roses are a unanimously beloved variety of roses.
Their easy care requirements make them ideal for beginners, but their beauty makes them sought-after by even the most seasoned gardeners.
We hope you found this article to be helpful in your quest to raise the best drift roses ever!
