Easy Does It is the All-America Rose Selections (AARS) winner – the only winner – for 2010.

“This variety is a floribunda from Weeks Roses,” says LSU AgCenter horticulturist Allen Owings.

Flower color is a mango, peach and apricot blend, and petal count is 25-30, Owings says. Susceptibility to blackspot disease is slight to moderate under Louisiana growing conditions.

“Easy Does It performed very well in the AARS official display garden at the LSU AgCenter’s Burden Center this year,” he says. “In addition, it was named a People’s Choice award winner at the LSU AgCenter’s landscape horticulture field day held at the LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station in 2009.”

The horticulturist says the new rose thrived during two years of comprehensive testing in 23 gardens nationwide. In fact, this variety flourished in 15 categories, including the ability to resist disease, overall beauty and general ease of maintenance.

“Each winning rose bears the AARS red-rose seal of approval that ensures gardeners the plants will grow beyond expectations with little maintenance,” Owings says.

All-America Rose Selections is a nonprofit association of rose growers and introducers dedicated to bringing exceptional, easy-to-grow roses to gardeners across the county. The organization operates the world’s most rigorous plant trial program via a network of more than 20 official test gardens throughout the country and representing all climate zones.

Rick Bogren