Visit Our Central Colorado Springs Location
We are open all year round and always offer the seasons most popular varieties for gardeners and plant lovers alike!
Phelan Gardens
4955 Austin Bluffs Parkway.
Colorado Springs, CO, 80918
(719) 574-8058
Phelan's primarily offers hardy shrub roses along with climbing roses. We've collected information from our local rose society and other long time rose growers to offer you the best tips for growing roses in our area. See our rose information and care sheet for more details.
Please Note: In stock availability of specific varieties listed below will vary depending upon time of season and sales. Roses are first available around Mother's Day weekend (weather permitting). The varieties listed below are those we have ordered for 2024. Come early for the best selection. Please visit us to view current varieties.
Due to their ease of maintenance, hardy shrub roses are wildly popular. Shrub roses were bred by crossing the very hardy old garden roses (roses developed before 1900) with hybrid teas. The old garden roses, developed in Greece, Rome, and Europe, came from plants in colder climates. These plants release water from their cells in winter and send it down to the roots. They experience very little dieback, and do not need pruning except for older canes that die out in the winter. If in Spring the cane is green all the way to the tip, it doesn't have to be pruned. They do not need fertilizing more than once or twice a summer, unlike hybrid teas that are such heavy feeders. Although we cannot grow ALL shrub roses in Colorado Springs, there are hardy varieties in almost every color except blue that do very well
There are many varieties of climbing roses, but it's important that you choose one that suits your climate. Climbing roses developed from hybrid tea roses have a hard life in the Pikes Peak region. They die back so much each winter that they typically never achieve more than 2-3 feet of height, if they survive at all. Instead, Phelan's chooses to offer mostly climbers developed from Northern European roses. Not only do these types of climbers make it through the winters, they can actually climb 6 to 10 feet tall, giving you a wall of color. Below are some rose varieties that will survive and thrive in the Pikes Peak region. See our rose care guidelines for additional information.
Color of Bloom:Bright clear white, born in clusters that smother this plant in blooms. One stem can have as many as 12 blooms.Height:7'-8'Spread:3'-4'Fragrance:Sweet rose scentThis is a climbing, floribunda rose that was a Gold Medal winner. Profuse bloomer with repeat flushes all season. Dense, bushy habit. Unique in that it will bloom in as little as 4 hours of direct sun/day-- however, you will see fewer blooms in this type of light. Great winter hardiness. (There are other forms of Iceberg roses that are a morecompact, shrub form). Blooms on old wood.
We offer a small selection of miniature roses each Spring. While the actual blooms may vary from clustered floribundas to standard sized flowers, overall mature plant size is considered miniature. Their smaller stature makes them easy to tuck into most gardens. Most varieties pictured below will be between 1'-2' high and wide at maturity. Miniature roses listed below are also typically a Zone 5 for hardiness. So, they should be planted by our customers who live "in town" as they may not overwinter as well for those that live at higher elevations around the El Paso County region.
A note on Hybrid Tea roses: Hybrid Teas are bred from more tender roses, so they are not as adaptable to our climate. Because their cells retain water when winter comes, they can experience damage both from cold and the fluctuations between freeze and thaw common to our climate. For best success, site Hybrid Tea roses in a Southern exposure, near your house. Additionally, you MUST mulch these roses (6"-8" deep) over winter. During the growing season, maintain Hybrid Teas with proper pruning and consistent moisture. They are heavy feeders and will require fertilizer once per month from mid-May to mid-August. If you would like to avoid the high maintenance of these types of roses, plant a hardy shrub rose, such as those listed above.