Kordes and Austins. All I see at my local Lowes and Home Depos are knockouts and really old HTs that come in about 5 different varieties that everyone already has. Borrrriinnngggg! I don't buy roses there anymore. Walmart is the same way. I basically have to order online. Sometimes a local nursery near me has a few newer roses.

If Lowes and the other big box stores got Austins and/or some decent new Kordes roses like Florentina, Honeymoon etc..I would be all over them.

I personally would also like to see some antique teas and noisettes but I am not sure how well they would sell to the general public though.

I think Austins would definitely catch peoples interest around here though.

Plum perfect

Poseidon

Solero Vigorosa

Dark Desire

Desmond Tutu

First crush

Soul Sister

Cream veranda

Savannah

some of these I've never seen in person but they have good reviews

I didn't include any climbers cause I feel like they are confusing for newbies

Good question! I think the veranda series for sure. Many people don't have gobs of room. Also Dark Desire, Poseidon, First Crush, Crazy Love, etc. I've noticed a resurgence of interest in high petal count blooms and the first thing I see most people do is smell them. If it doesn't have a scent they often walk away. Just what I've noticed anyway.

I agree with the above suggestions, plus Beverly and maybe a few others if they prove to be healthy for me their first season.

Rugosas. That's what the rose buying public wants, and they aren't easy to find locally.

At this point, HTs are firmly classed in the public mind as difficult. They will buy them as annuals - but only if the price is appropriate. Convincing them otherwise is going to be a long slog. It took almost 50 years to talk them out of HTs. It may take that long to talk them back into HTs.

Suitability to climate conditions varies regionally, same as with orchard fruit tree cultivars. Warehouse store plant departments generally offer extremely limited selections of all kinds of plants, so it would be expected that only several kinds of roses - if that many - would be seen at one outlet at any particular time.

From a marketing perspective I would say that it should be the varieties with higher petaled blooms. The average gardener who has no experience with roses is going to take pause when they see blooms like that on a plant. Same with unusual or rich colours. Majority of people I know think roses are too difficult & fussy. I'm constantly explaining this is not necessarily the case to people when I say I love roses. The average to inexperienced gardener walks into a garden centre looking for something pretty, that fits their taste or colours. They typically buy a few flats of annuals or a hanging basket & perhaps a perennial or two. They most likely only buy multiple shrub type plants when first starting a bed.

From a practical standpoint disease resistance & hardiness are the other factors to consider. Many people just want a no fuss plant that is pretty. If they were to get a nice rose that could survive their elements & grow well; they would most likely add more each year. Unfortunately, in my zone the "prettiest" roses are usually HT that are rated 2 zones higher. When they die after one season, people say well roses just don't grow for me. So if lowes & other stores could only carry zone appropriate plants that would be great too.

As for the knockouts, I think they have had their featured time & anyone who wants one has most likely bought one or two already. Time to introduce something new to people. Not saying don't carry them, but add to the rose selections.

They should definitely focus on marketing the roses with high petal counts, continuous bloom, and high disease resistance. That is what appeals to the double knockout crowd. Focus on the colors and full blooms missing from the knockout series (a true red, purple, high petal count yellow, high petal count light pink).

Parfuma collection for those looking for scent.

Also every 7+ zone should carry the Sunbelt collection.

Embothium, the good thing about Lowes is that the buying decisions are made at store level. So the hardier of the new Kordes can be selected in z6 and lower and as modestgoddess said, the southern Lowes can go for a selection of the Sunbelts.

Our Lowes had First Crush very briefly last year and even tho it is basically white, the wonderful fluffy blooms and scent were customer magnets. The only other thing they got was a great big bunch of Kardinal Kolorscape and needless to say, that was a hit!

It will be interesting to see which Kordes show up in our local stores. I think I may just check the three closest to me--!

Barbarag_happy are you working for the Star suppliers and have some input with varieties they would market? I was hoping when I opened this thread you were and we could get you to push them to carry more Kordes. Lol. Wishful thinking I'm sure. I agree with everyone's comments above. Judy

No one has sold more Kordes than Lowes. It is not across the country because the suppliers vary by region. The NW and Mountain regions should see some later in April into May. Tell Lowes what you want and I think they will be receptive- it is the regional buyers that make the decisions. Roses for 2018 are already in the fields growing so remember it takes one to two years for the roses to grow after the order so it is not an instant change. Why you are at it you can do the same for the other big boxes - your opinions do matter.

I don't care as long as they sell anything other than KO roses!

My Lowes has been offering Kordes but not a whole lot and Austins would be icing on my cake.

I go to lowes a couple times a week just to see what they have ( it's close !) and when a new table of roses comes in they are usually gone by my next visit or almost . For example when I bought Beverly half a long table was packed in with them. They were gone by the next week . Ditto on the fire opals that came in . The larger kordes in the patio pots for 26 dollars took a little longer but those are gone now too though they did just get Fuji and Desmond tutu in . From my experience that means people want different roses than knockouts . It makes me happy people are buying and in turn lowes is ordering but it means I can't hope something is there next week for me ! :)

also id love to see more climbers ! For some reason places charge more for those sometimes , not sure why .

i agree with Carolina girl ! Ugh please let the Austins come our way . I have to drive 40 min for ours which is fine but I'd have a lot more If it was closer

Barbara you have a good point about scent being a major attraction. What's the first thing people do? Stick their noses into the flower with the expectation of a lovely fragrance. I always do that if I see something pretty blooming. Of course, I have learned to look before I sniff because there's a bee in there 90% of the time lol.

I think climbing roses could be sold on a small trellis and make the height clear on the label. They could market them as garden "space savers" and even recommend a larger permanent trellis for them that is of course, conveniently, sold by the same store lol...just a thought.

Also as someone said, the more unusual colors like Quicksilver and Poseidon and stuff with stripes! I think people would go crazy and pay a lot for a nice Raspberry Cream Twirl on a little trellis. I would have. I already have it but I might even buy another one if I saw it for sale. I got mine from Heirloom and its huge now. So pretty in bloom. Its not a Kordes but Meilland, I think.

~SJN

Judy and friends, I worked a couple seasons in Lowe's garden departments as a merchandiser; the company I worked for supplied the plant materials and set up the displays. At the time I had the impression the store's nursery specialist selected plant material, not surprised that those decisions are regional. Sigh.

So I thought I'd visit the stores where people know me and put in some suggestions. BUT I have quirky taste so I thought I wouldn't just request what I want but find out what everybody thinks would really fly off the shelves. I really appreciate the input.

THRILLING to hear about quick sales of Beverly. That kind of turnover would really get the store's attention..

Maybe ALL Kordes cannot take our intense humid heat but clearly a lot of them can. I sure hope our Lowes stores will give more of them a chance.

I wish Lowes can let me order from their partner roses companies like Stars, Weeks, Austin.... and ship free to the local Lowes store to save shipping cost. :)

Meanwhile when I pick up my roses order, I might purchase mulch, fertilizer or some roses related products. Isn't that a win-win solution?

One of the things I do myself, and that I have noticed on customers at Lowes and at other nurseries is that people are drawn by the color of the blooms first, but their immediate second instinct is to bend down and sniff the rose. I think any rose with a good color AND a good fragrance would be a good seller. I know for me personally fragrance ranks right up there with health and vigor.

Some of the older classic ones never really go out of fashion (Mr. Lincoln, Peace, Sunsprite, etc) But if there was any way for the Big Box nurseries to get Austins and sell at more reasonable prices (maybe 2 for $50), I think those would be very popular. Unfortunately, it's just human nature, but most shoppers want to see the plant blooming before they will buy it. That makes the stores prefer to sell the varieties that are the easiest growing and constantly put out lots of blooms, even if these aren't the prettiest types.

Well, well Today our local Lowes had both Kordes and David Austins, maybe half a table total. They received Summer Romance this shipment, hope there will be other Kordes in weeks to come.

The Austins were white (Winchester Cathedral), yellow (Molineux, Golden Celebration), and orange (Lady of Shalott).

We are in the Virginia Beach, Virginia area.

Some years ago American Nurseryman said the bread and butter garden center customer was a middle aged first time homeowner with no spare time, trying to pick up a few plants to spruce up the yard. Landscape architect and landscape contractor I know that both do residential projects have said a recurring thing these days is that clients don't want to have to do any garden plant maintenance. So of course rose cultivars in tune with a prevalent current mindset are going to have to be Set It and Forget It, just like the rest of the plants. And dwarf growing much of the time also, as even jumbo houses are often being built on lots barely big enough to contain them.

This year Lowe's first shipment consists of Lemon Fizz which has single or semi-double blooms and Savannah, a lovely salmon colored FRAGRANT HT which loves heat. I'll bet there will be more Kordes to come.

Savannah seemed to be flying off the shelves. It's a great rose for our climate.

I want Lowes to keep ordering Kordes so I can snatch the ones I want off the bargain rack. Alas I already have these two.

I'm happy to see that. I was sad I missed out on Mme Anisette and Beverly last year Beverly was at HD )and would like Bliss and a few others. I hope I don't have to replace my Dark Desires as I paid full price for those. They were knocked back to the ground this year, but were completely hardy last. I had buried the graft so I hope they're vigorous and come back. Their tenderness surprised me as FC, SRFire Opal were hardy to the tips. I can't comment on my two Zaide's as they were put in the garage in pots. P.S. The roses at my Lowe's are ordered in-house. My local buyer has ordered things in expressly for me, including Dark Desire.

As a merchandiser, I’d carry easy shrub roses, KO, Drifts, etc. I think as people grow these and feel empowered that the “know” roses, they will research for things that personally appeal to them. Online shopping is so easy these days, they will have no problem getting more specialized roses.

it is hard enough for big box to get staff that will care for plants properly, so carry easy stuff.

This is the 2nd year Lowe's has ordered a significant number of Kordes roses and Drifts. I need to hunt down their nursery specialist and thank him/her.

Lemon Fizz and Savannah have both been perfectly healthy in my SE Virginia garden despite persistent high humidity and less than perfect conditions.

The tag recommends hard pruning; I've done that to mine and they are already assuming a nice shrubby shape. I see I didn't cut Plum Perfect enough but I'll persevere; I've seen a photo here of what a nice shrub it makes.

Kordes has a slew of hybrid teas now that are really easy to grow, and many are more graceful plants.

I would like my Lowe's to order Beverly, Kardinal Kolorscape, Pink Enchantment and Fire Opal. What a wonderful range of color!

Oh! Pink Enchantment was one I couldn't think of that I want. I also have Milano Kolorscape that's doing well.

I was super happy to find Kordes Roses at my local Lowe’s these passed couple of years. Honestly I think like everyone else here that Kordes and Austin’s would sell (and probably have been selling) out best. People who visit my garden all fall in love with the ogr style blooms and many are shocked to find out they are roses and not some other plant like a camilia or peonies and I certainly see great interest in them.

Id also like to see some of the románticas like Bolero, Princess Charlene de Monaco and Sweet Mademoiselle. But honestly disease resistance is key. If people buy a rose just to have it loose all its leaves in two weeks, they will not be buying another. If the Rose industry really wants to survive they need to make thes roses tough as nails. I think knock outs taught us all that lesson.

I noticed at lowes the parfuma series came in before mother’s day and by the weekend Madame anisette,dark desire and earth angle were gone. By the end of the season there was a big number of summer romance and first crush on clearance.

barbara_ag,

Our Walmarts had several Fire Opals on clearance last fall. I snatched up 3 for about 3.00 each. Check your walmarts. They remind me of the Austin Belle Story. They are really pretty.

I definitely think Lowes and H. Depo should sell David Austin Roses here in NE Florida. They would sell like hotcakes here, especially if the were blooming and the employees were actually watering them.

I think a major turn off for customers is seeing all these roses that are half dead/dried out and no one is dead heading them so there's dead flowers everywhere. I see dirt out of pots, roots sticking out every which way. Lots of crispy critters. Now who wants to buy that? OK, maybe just us plant/rose psychos that actually feel sorry for the roses but most customers do not!

Is Lowes even listening to all this..probably not soooo....

~Sjn