ROSES IN TROPICAL CLIMATES

Articles In This Section:

· CLIMATIC DIFFICULTIES

· ROSES IN COLD CLIMATES

· ROSES IN SUB-TROPICAL CLIMATES

· ROSES IN TROPICAL CLIMATES

· ROSES IN HOT, DRY CLIMATES

· GROWING ROSES IN SANDY SOILS

Going still farther into the tropics, heat and humidity increase. One would expect this to be inimical to roses and especially to Pernetianas. The far northern area, with Townsville as its centre, provides a distinct contradiction. Dwarf plants of Dame Edith Helen on R. multiflora understock commonly grow six feet high and nearly as much across. Their blooms are so outstanding that the variety is debarred at local shows from all classes except those specially provided for it. Many full-bodied Pernetianas fail in Brisbane and yet flourish round Townsville. This is almost certainly due to the fact that Townsville is in a comparatively dry area in the otherwise wet coastal strip. There is an average annual rainfall of forty-seven inches, but thirty-seven of these fall in the four-month period from mid-December to mid-April. Roses thrive around Bundaberg. Most rose-breeding is directed to meet the requirements of the temperate climates. Tropical conditions are rarely considered, yet roses of very high quality can be grown under them. The varieties chosen must be full-bodied and, usually, not of the Pernetiana type, for they will seldom live more than three or four years. Some of them give excellent results if grown as annuals. Thin-bodied roses of less than twenty-five petals are useless, for they become full-blown too quickly. All blooms cut for home decoration must be gathered in a rather immature state, and no time must be lost in placing them in water.

One of the greatest factors in successful rose-growing in coastal Queensland is heavy feeding with manures rich in potassium and phosphorus. Bone-meal with either compost or cow manure and wood ashes is probably best. Nitrogen should be given sparingly.