There are not a whole lot of roses that enjoy being in the shade. Miniature roses and some climbing and shrub roses are usually fairly shade tolerant, as roses grow. Most roses prefer five to six hours in the sun. However, it is possible to find some rose varieties that do okay in partial shade. You will not find a rose variety that thrives in full shade, however. This is because roses need the sun just as much as they need water. And that is quite a bit.

No matter what variety you choose, most roses will bloom less even in partial shade. However, it is possible to choose roses that do okay in the shade, and that do not noticeably lose any blooms. Rose plants that feature large and prolific blooms make up for the loss of blooms, and many roses of pales colors actually look better in the shade. The shading helps them fully show their colors, where they would be a bit washed out looking if they were in the sun all day.

Here are three varieties of rose that give beautiful performances, whether they are in the sun or in partial shade.

Ballerina

This rose flower variety is hybrid musk with five petals. It is a dainty flower and it grows in clusters. The flowers are pink and white, and the musk shrub holds them aloft quite beautifully. It is a hybrid that came into being in 1937 and has provided a delightful fragrance ever since. The Ballerina rose variety is noted for its disease resistance. Because it is naturally resistant to disease and tolerant of partial shade, this is a variety that is relatively easy to care for. This flower can also bloom into the autumn, creating a long blooming season and providing an extra bit of time to enjoy their beauty. The Ballerina also features attractive hips. It can be trained to be a climber, albeit a small, reaching about six feet. Ballerina’s versatility makes it an excellent choice especially for beginners who are looking for something to provide them with a measure of success in growing roses.

Knock-Out Rose ‘Radrazz’

It may have a long and kind of odd name, but the Knock-Out is, in fact, a real knock out. It is the rose variety that is the most shade tolerant of any rose variety. The color of the blooms is bright, cherry red. These blooms are in a perpetual state of growth and new blooming. They start in the early spring and continue the cycle through the summer, autumn, and even into winter’s hard frosts. Not only is the Knock-Out tolerant of partial shade, it is also very resistant to disease. It is easy to grow and won the “Member’s Choice” award for the 2004 American Rose competition. Knock-Out is a superior choice for beginners, at it practically guarantees success. This rose is also drought resistant and its resistance to blackspot makes it possible to help this rose variety to thrive even in places of high humidity. It is a very versatile rose that can grow in a variety of hardiness zones, ranging from zone four to zone nine.

Playboy

Playboy is a rose variety that is perhaps the most dramatic of the shade tolerant roses. The foliage is glossy, and it sets of the blooms rather well. The blooms themselves are the height of drama. They begin a shade of yellow and the progress to orange. Finally, they reach a deep red color as the blooms fade. This transformation is one of the reasons that Playboy was the Gold Medal winner in 1989. The flowers are quite large and are semi-double blossoms. Not only does it have a very dramatic appearance and is beautiful at all stages, but Playboy is also disease resistant. It is fairly easy to grow, and it has an aspect that makes it especially suitable for a border or a hedge.

No matter which of these three rose varieties you choose, you are likely to have a positive rose growing experience. These roses are tolerant of partial shade and so it makes it possible for someone without full sun to enjoy the rewards that come with growing beautiful roses.

Pink roses are very beautiful and can add a sort of unique touch to any garden. They come in many varieties, ranging from pale to dark to almost electric. There are varieties that bloom only once per season and those that bloom continuously in cycles from early spring to late fall (until the frost of winter forces them into dormancy). There are also quite a few varieties that are well suited for a variety of hardiness zones.

For this list of ten beautiful pink roses, the requirements are at least repeated blooms and suitableness for a range of hardiness zones. (You can find your hardiness zone by consulting the Internet or a local Master Gardener.) These roses range from slightly fragrant to very fragrant, but one thing is sure: no matter which varieties you choose for your garden, they are sure to make a gorgeous garden.

Dark Pink Roses:

Country Dancer

This rose was first introduced in 1973. It is a lovely dark pink variety that comes on a shrub. This makes it an excellent choice as an accent plant or as a hedge. Country Dancer blooms continuously, ensuring that your plant will always have flowers, and never look barren from spring to autumn. It is a fragrant flower that smells very nice but that is not so pungent that it is overwhelming. This rose if perfect for zones four through nine.

Mme. Isaac Pereire

This is a very famous Bourbon class rose. It is more than 100 years old, and quite popular. Its color is dark pink with a slight purple tint. As the bloom ages, the purple tint becomes more pronounced and noticeable, adding a little drama to this bloom. The canes are known for their length, and the Mme. Isaac Pereire can be grown as a climber, a pillar, or even a sort of shrub. It is a very versatile flower that blooms as a repeat in hardiness zones five through ten.

American Beauty

American beauty is a classic dark pink rose that has been around since 1875. It is very fragrant and blooms repeatedly. It is in the class of hybrid perpetual and has such a large, classic look to it that it is almost impossible not to love this flower. It grows in zones five through nine.

Martha’s Vineyard

A fairly recent flower, developed in 1995, Martha’s Vineyard offers a beautiful shrub that is well adapted for hardiness zones five through nine. Additionally, its fragrance makes it ideal for people who enjoy surrounding their home with sensual plants. Repeat blooms ensure that you will see the flowers more than once during the growing season.

Robin Hood

This is a slightly fragrant hybrid musk variety that blooms continuously. While not as adaptable as the others (zones six through nine), it still provides good range and can be grafted onto the roots of plants suited for other growing conditions.

Light Pink Roses:

Bloomfield Abundance

Bloomfield Abundance is a rather nice floribunda class rose that blooms continuously. It was developed in 1920, and it is very fragrant. Its name comes from the fact that it has abundant blossoms that grow well in a variety of settings. Its hardiness zones are five through nine.

Cecile Brunner

This is a great light pink rose. It is of the polyanthus class and is moderately fragrant. Cecile Brunner was developed in 1881, and its lovely, yet almost subtle, fragrance is uplifting and not overwhelming. It is a continuous bloomer suitable for zones four through nine.

New Dawn

A fragrant flower in the large flowered climber class, New Dawn is remarkably suited for trellis and archways. It looks lovely on gazebos and pergolas, and repeat blooms throughout the growing season. It is adaptable to a variety of landscapes, and is compatible with hardiness zones five through nine.

Pink Rosette

This delicate light pink flower is a floribunda class rose. It is only slightly fragrant, but its repeatedly blooming nature means that it will grace your garden at least twice in a season. It was developed relatively recently, in 1948, and it bloom in hardiness zones five through nine.

Jacques Cartier

Jacques Cartier is a Portland class rose that has been in existence for nearly 150 years. It is a fine choice for nearly any garden. It gives a heady, sensual, very fragrant smell that provides the garden with continuous fragrance (the blooms cycle continuously spring through fall). Any garden in zones four through nine can enjoy this light pink rose.

Bulbs are among the most interesting, most beautiful and easiest to grow of all flower varieties.  Tulip bulbs were once so prized in Holland that it led to one of the best known financial bubbles in history, and even today, tulips are a leading export from that part of the world.

Even though bulbs are not quite so highly prized today as they were in 17th century Holland, they are still loved for their scents, their colors and their shapes, and gardeners love the fact that most bulbs are hardy and easy to grow.

Many of the most popular varieties of flowers are actually grown from bulbs, including tulips, crocuses, daffodils, irises, lilies, daylilies, dahlias and snowdrops.

One thing all bulb based plants have in common is that they grow from structures located under the ground.  These underground structures provide the nutrients and energy the plants need to grow.

Even though bulb based plants are collectively known as “bulbs’, there are actually five distinct types of bulb plants – the true bulb, the corm, the tuber, the rhizome and the tuberous root.  This article will provide examples of each type.

The True Bulb
The true bulb is in reality an underground stem base containing an embryonic plant.  The embryonic plant contained within the steam base already contains the leaves, stems and flower buds, all ready to burst forth once optimal growing conditions are provided.  This setup allows the plant to lie dormant during adverse conditions, and thus to survive droughts and other environmental challenges.
The embryonic plant contained within the stem base is surrounded by scales (modified leaves that overlap in a manner reminiscent of reptile or fish scales).  At the bottom of the bulb is a basal plate; this basal plate holds the scales together and produces the roots of the plant. 
Examples of true bulbs are such popular flower varieties as daffodils, tulips and lilies.  True bulb varieties of plants are susceptible to dryness and must be handled carefully.  When properly cared for, however, individual bulbs can live for many years without being planted.
The Corm
A corm, like a true bulb, also contains a stem base, but the tissue of the base is solid, and it lacks the scales seen in true bulbs.  The roots grow from a basal plate which is located at the bottom of the corm, and the growth point is located at the top of the corm. 

Popular types of corms include gladiolas and crocus.  Each corm lasts for a single season, and as the corm shrinks away after blooming, a new corm forms on top of it.  In addition, small increases, called cormels, are produced around the base of the corm’s basal plate.

The Tuber
Like corm and true bulbs, a tuber is actually an underground stem base.  Unlike corms and a true bulbs, however, the tuber does not contain a basal plate.   Instead, the roots of the tuber grow from both the base and from the sides.  A tuber will have multiple growth points spread out over its top surface.

The Rhizome
The rhizome is actually a thickened stem that grows either partly or completely underneath the ground.  The largest growth point on a rhizome is located at one end, and additional growth points are located along the sides.  The most well known rhizome is the bearded iris.

Tuberous Roots
Unlike other types of bulbs, which are actually specially adapted stems, the tuberous root is not a true root.  Instead, fibrous roots designed to absorb nutrients and water grow from the sides and the tip of the tuberous root.  Most tuberous roots grow in a cluster, and swollen tuberous parts radiate out from a centralized point.  The growth points of a tuberous root are found on the bases of the old stems and not on the roots themselves.  Dahlias and daylilies are the best known examples of tuberous roots.

You may not realize that different types of grasses, just like other plants and shrubs, have different needs and some varieties are more suited to some climates than others. There are grasses that grow better in moderate or moist climates and then other types that do much better in hot, dry locales. If you live in a southerly climate, then here are three grasses that grow well in your area.

1. Bermudagrass

Bermudagrass can be both a blessing and curse. It can be uncontrollable and can invade your flowerbeds and produce an uncontrollable amount of grass seeds. All of this stress and aggravation is worth it though, especially if you have neither the time nor the inclination to nurture your lawn. Bermudagrass can survive for decades with very little care and can also work well as a winter lawn in place of perennial ryegrass. This grass is tough and hardy and is often used on roadsides in the south because of its ability to stand up to real wear and tear with little maintenance.

Bermudagrass needs a warm climate. It is both drought and wear resistant. It is fast growing and the comma Bermuda variety is quite cheap. It does need full sun to thrive and has a very low tolerance for shady areas. Don’t plant Bermudagrass if your lawn does not get a great deal of direct sunlight.

2. Centipede

Like Bermudagrass, centipede is quite low maintenance and does not require frequent mowing or fertilization. It does not, however, grow quickly and it cannot withstand heavy traffic in the way that Bermudagrass can.

Centipede is a tough grass variety that is particularly suited to areas in the lower South and where the soil is quite acidic. This variety of grass can take root where many other grasses have failed. Centipede grass can grow in some shade, but you will get best results if it is full sun or almost full sunspots.

Centipede grass should be fertilized in the spring with low-nitrogen fertilizer. You need to make sure that your fertilizer does not contain phosphorus. The ideal mix to look for is 15-0-15. The ideal pH level for centipede grass is between four and a half and five and a half.

3. Zoysia

Zoysia is a very dark and dense turf and it the most tolerant of cold of the entire southern climate suited grasses. The ideal pH level for this variety of grass is between six and seven.

Zoysia is quite slow to take root if grown right from seed. You can bypass this difficultly by laying sod, rather than growing the grass right from seed. If you decide to go with sees, then you will have to have a great deal of patience.

Zoysia does best in full sun, but there are some sub-varieties that can do well in the shade. The Emerald Zoysia variety has a high shade tolerance. Zoysia also has somewhat of a drought tolerance, though you will need to stay on top of the water level and make sure that you water your grass if the drought lasts longer than a week. Zoysia can deal with some dry spells, but not really lengthy ones. Zoysia grasses should be fertilized in both the spring and the fall.

This variety of grass is the most attractive of the warm season grasses, but it comes at a price. Zoysia grass takes a great deal of care and nurturing on your part to achieve the luxurious look it is known for. If you don’t have the time or energy to devote to this type of grass, then you should probably consider planting one of the other varieties of warm climate grasses.

There are some other warm climate grasses that will do well if you live in a southern climate. There are also some tall fescue varieties that can do well in southern areas too, especially those that are resistant to droughts.

At your local garden center, they should have a mix for your area. Grass companies have spent a great deal of time and money researching the best mix for your area. If you don’t have the time or want to do extensive research into the specific kinds of grass that are best suited to your land, then one of these grass seeds mixtures may be your best bet.

Trying to grow healthy, vibrant flowers without proper soil chemistry is definitely a case of putting the cart before the horse.  Good soil is the cornerstone of successful gardening, and it is important to make sure that your soil will meet the needs of your plants before the first seed is planted.

While soil chemistry is important no matter what types of plants or flowers you grow, it is particularly critical when it comes to working with bulbs, perennials or other plants that remain in the ground for than one season.  The reason is that the chemistry of the soil can change from year to year.  Therefore, if a formerly well blooming patch of the garden is looking a bit haggard, the first place to look is at the condition of the soil.  Erosion, overuse of pesticides and fertilizers and a number of other factors can impact the quality of the soil, so it is important to test the soil if you suspect a problem.

Of course the soil should be tested anytime a new flower bed is prepared as well.  It would be a mistake to assume that the soil chemistry is the same everywhere on your property, since the makeup of different patches of soil can be markedly different, due to past use, chemicals or residue in the ground, etc.

It is a good idea to have a thorough soil analysis done prior to planting a bed of flowers.  Most major cities have several laboratories that do soil testing, so be sure to contact such a lab to have the soil analyzed for pH level, and for levels of important plant nutrients.  If you are unsure where to get the soil tested, be sure to ask the staff at your local nursery or garden center for a recommendation.

After the present condition of the soil is known, you will be in a much better position to know how to amend the soil and make the changes that are needed.  Once you know the pH level, the level of organic material in the soil, the amount of clay, amount of sand, etc., you will be able to choose the right additives to provide your plants with what they need to thrive.

The pH level of the soil can be a particularly critical factor when deciding what types of plants will work best.  Most varieties of annuals, perennials and bulbs will grow well in a wide range of soil pH, but some plants have specific needs, and prefer soils that are either very alkaline or very acidic.  If your pH range is outside the norm, or if it needs to be amended, there are a number of ways to accomplish this goal.  For instance, limestone can be used to make acidic soil more alkaline, while sulfur is often used to make very alkaline soil more acidic.  A pH level that is out of balance can also be helped by adding humus. This rich soil can be created at home by using a compost bin, or it can be purchased ready made from a garden center or nursery.

After you know the baseline content of your flower bed, it will be easier to track chemistry changes from year to year, and to make amendments as needed.  The more you know about the quality of your soil, the more confident you can be that the plants you buy will thrive in your home garden.