Gardening with Gary

Gardening Advice from an Expert

Wood's Rose

Q. Is it okay to plant a Wood's Rose (Rosa woodsii) now? I live in Central Oregon, zone 4. Also, how about sumac? We have had only a couple, but just recent, frosts.

A. Yes, both should be just fine. The soil in your zone would not be frozen, so please go ahead and plant as soon as you can manage. The later you wait, the less resistant the shrubs will be to the cold. Make sure they have been cold-hardened before planting.. Mulch them nicely to get through the first winter.

Rosa woodsii:
This beautiful species is a North American native, growing in Eastern regions of Canada and the USA. It is a very graceful, small, and tidy shrub which will grow to about 3 or 4 feet tall, producing a tight thicket over time. It is an excellent rose for a wild woods garden theme, as it has a very natural character, and is not likely to outgrow its welcome. This could be a good candidate for a shady spot, as I have found it preferring shaded or semi-shaded locations in its habitat.

The canes are quite upright, with fairly fine grayish wood and gray thorns. The foliage is quite matte in appearance, and has the same bluish luster of foliage as the Albas. The overall appearance of the foliage is a delicate and fern-like.

The blooms are small, about 2 to 2.5 inches across, a soft lilac pink, and individually short-lived. There are many blooms produced in panicles of many flowers over a few weeks. In the fall the shrub is covered in bright red hips, which ads another facet to its merits. The fall foliage is often very colorful, in amber and ruddy hues.

Hardiness: USDA zones 5 to 8, likely zone 4, and even parts of 3 as well.
Shrub size: 3 to 4 feet tall, depending on climate.
Fragrance: 3.5, fairly strong "wild rose" scent.

http://www.rdrop.com/~paul/species/woodsii.html

Fragrant sumac 'Konza'
USDA hardiness zones: 5 to 9

Fragrant sumac Rhus aromatica is native to much of the eastern United States and southeastern Canada. 'Konza' is a deciduous variety of fragrant sumac that grows to about 9 feet tall, fruits heavily and has dark red foliage in fall. Use 'Konza' in borders or hedges, or as foundation plants. In the trials, 'Konza' has adapted well to a wide variety of climates and soil types, and has been particularly drought tolerant. Fully hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9, 'Konza suffered winter twig injury in the trials in USDA zones 3 and 4.

http://www.organicgardening.com/library/ornamentals.html