Question
Hi, I really got terribly ripped off last year because I didn't do my homework on nurseries to order my roses from. :( I know Jackson & Perkins is great but they have a very limited selection of roses, indeed they did not have a single one I was looking for! Could you suggest some of the better (not too horribly expensive) companies that offer a larger variety of roses, including HTRs and other types? Thanks a lot!

Answer
With the grim financial situation in the States, many top notch rose nurseries have had to close. When money is low, then a rose bush is a luxury. However there are a few that are really good and still operating.  It does depend what type of winter you have as some are own root and may struggle during nasty cold temperatures. Own root should always been potted up for the first year and allowed to put on some growth before adding to the garden. This advice is only if you get cold winters. All of these nurseries have had good reports from rose grower son the rose forums. It isn't unusual to get a problem but if the nursery fixes it quickly, then you can't blame them. I have included Vintage Roses which is closing but has the largest collections of roses in the States. Although they are closing, you can still put an order in and if you are looking for the old or rare, then now is the time to get it from them.

Palatine Roses in Canada excellent new rose nurseries with large healthy plants.

Pickering: Good Canadian rose grower that ships to the states. Very nice plants.

Hortico: Another Canadian rose nursery not as good as Pickering but if you are looking for an older rose, they usually have it. Size smaller than Pickering

Vintage Roses: bare root and an excellent source of the rare and old roses
Northland Rosarium: Smaller cold winter plants in quart-sized containers but will grow okay

Roses Unlimited; good plants in one gallon containers.

High Country Roses; Exceptional cold winter rose plants in quart containers. While small, they had great root structure and strong top growth.

Edmunds: Best of the bare-roots. Very large, exceptional plants. Very, very quick delivery.

S & W Greenhouse: Good one for roses

Chamblee Nursery  Good for the David austin roses as well as other types

Heirloom Roses:  Own root roses

Rogue Valley Roses: Own roots roses buy 4 get the fifth one free

Spring Valley Roses: Another good one for cold winter roses