You want a rose that grows strong and healthy without extra work or worry. Heirloom offers only own-root roses because they are grown as a single plant with the same roots, shoots, and blooms unlike grafted roses.

Without a graft, they are more resilient to cold and less likely to fail over time. As they establish, they produce new growth from the roots called basel breaks, creating a fuller, healthier plant. If damaged, your rose will regrow true to variety from its strong own-roots.

While they may begin smaller, own-root roses will quickly catch up and often surpass other roses, giving you a stronger, more reliable plant that rewards you season after season.

To give your rose the best chance of thriving in your garden, ensure that you’re selecting varieties that will do well in your region. You can do this by shopping for roses suited to your hardiness zone. Once your zone is selected, we’ll help you find the perfect rose for your garden, one that can withstand the summer and winter temperatures where you live. 

Roses love sunlight. Choose a spot in your garden or on your balcony/patio that gets at least six hours of sunlight a day, this promotes growth and helps to keep fungal diseases at bay. Soil is the next important factor to consider for roses. Well-draining, loamy soil is preferable because roses love water, but hate wet feet. Give them at least 1”-2” of water per week throughout the growing season and water newly planted roses 2-3 times per week until established. Remember to water at the base, not overhead, to discourage potential disease and improve root growth.

When you order from Heirloom, you can rest assured you’ll receive premier-quality roses that are true to variety, grown on their own-roots, and virus-free. All our roses are packaged to arrive healthy, hydrated, and ready for planting. We’ve also done away with single-use plastic. All our roses are shipped in recyclable boxes, compostable bags, and a zip tie dyed with natural food coloring. Your rose will look bare when it arrives, but that’s intentional. We defoliate our roses prior to shipping so they hold on to their moisture and stay healthy during transit. Each box comes with planting instructions. Follow those and you’ll see new growth in no time because roses simply want to grow.

To plant your rose, first find the right location. Pick a spot with well-draining soil that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight a day. Once you’ve found the perfect spot, you’re ready to plant. 

Dig a hole that’s at least 2’ wide and 2’ deep. Add organic potting soil to the hole, making sure it does not contain granular fertilizer, which can burn tender roots in the first year. Remove the rose from its compostable bag or container and set it in the hole, about an inch deeper than the soil line. Backfill the hole and water your rose thoroughly.

Newly planted roses should be watered 2-3 times per week until established. Water at the base to encourage root establishment and watch your rose thrive.