Japanese Beetle Resistant Roses

Though repeat-and ever-blooming roses have become all the rage, growing varieties that bloom once in early/late spring & early summer before the beetles emerge - is the best way to avoid Japanese beetle damage.

Q: I love roses, however, I get Japanese Beetles every year. Are there any rose varieties that JB don’t attack?

One of the easiest and most dependable ways to avoid Japanese Beetles on your roses is to grow varieties that bloom early, before the adult Japanese Beetles emerge.

These will be varieties that bloom only once in late spring and early summer.  Varieties range from single flowered, semi-double and double blossoms.  Most will have a wonderful fragrance.  The varieties I’ve listed below are all at least Zone 5 hardy.

Old Garden Roses – All the various classes of OGRs have a wide variety of growth habits. Many have old fashioned bloom forms and are very fragrant.

Alika – medium red

Cardinal de Richelieu – mauve

Charles de Mills – dark red

Crested Moss – pink

Fantin-Latour – light pink

Harison’s Yellow – yellow

Madame Hardy –   white

Maiden’s Blush – pink

Tuscany Superb – mauve

Austrian Copper – coppery orange

Duchesse de Montebello – pink

Species – The foundation building block for all roses past and future. Many are single and most once bloomers. They are tough, hardy and easy care.

R. gallica versicolor (Rosa Mundi) – pink blend

R. gallica Apothecary's Rose – dark pink

R. rubrifolia (Red Leaf Rose) – pink blend

R. woodsii – medium pink

Climbing and Ramblers – masses of late spring flowers.  May be difficult to find locally.

Alchymist – double salmon

Long John Silver – double white

Gardenia – semi double yellow

Lady Gay – semi double pink

Casimir Moullé – double raspberry pink

Read our Q & As with Keith Funk answering common Colorado gardening questions here. You can also hear him on the Garden Wise Radio Show on Legends 810AM.