Jackson & Perkins names the best roses for Zone 7’s longer season

By AI, Created 10:14 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Jackson & Perkins rosarian Wes Harvell says Zone 7 gardeners are getting earlier springs and longer falls, but also more heat, humidity and timing risk. The company is recommending roses and companion plants that can keep blooming through a longer, tougher growing season in 2026.

Why it matters: - Zone 7 gardeners are getting a longer planting window, with earlier last frosts, warmer soil sooner and fall conditions lasting longer. - The shift creates more chances for earlier blooms and stronger plant establishment, but also raises the bar for heat tolerance and disease resistance. - Harvell says the real test in Zone 7 is no longer winter survival alone; it is whether a plant still performs in August.

What happened: - Jackson & Perkins rosarian Wes Harvell outlined how Zone 7 gardening is changing in 2026. - The guidance covers the Carolinas, Virginia, Tennessee and the Pacific Northwest. - Jackson & Perkins highlighted roses and companion plants suited to the region’s longer, more humid growing season. - The company also pointed gardeners to a longer-season planting strategy for spring and fall.

The details: - Many Zone 7 areas are now seeing 200 or more frost-free days. - Soil temperatures at planting depth are warming earlier in the year and staying warm later into fall. - Hellebores, crocus, flowering bulbs and flowering trees are emerging in late winter. - Roses that were traditionally planted in late April are now establishing weeks earlier in many places. - Fall color is stretching toward November. - Warm early spells can push growth too fast and leave plants exposed to sudden cold snaps. - Late frosts still happen after mild stretches. - Humidity swings make fungal pressure a bigger issue than in cooler zones. - Harvell said disease resistance is essential in Zone 7, and heat tolerance is non-negotiable. - The company’s rose picks for Zone 7 include Oxford Girl Climbing Rose, Mysterious Floribunda Rose and Belinda’s Dream Shrub Rose. - Oxford Girl Climbing Rose grows arching canes to 10 feet tall and 4 feet wide. - Oxford Girl has 3-inch double flowers with 26 to 40 pink petals, repeat blooms from late spring to late fall, strong fragrance and disease resistance. - Jackson & Perkins says Oxford Girl works on trellises, poles, arches, pillars, fences and walls. - Mysterious Floribunda Rose has a compact, upright habit that fits small spaces and patio pots. - Mysterious blooms from late spring until late fall with 3-inch semidouble flowers in small clusters. - Its flowers have 9 to 16 russet-brown petals with a cream center and a mild fragrance. - Jackson & Perkins says Mysterious works well in bouquets and floral arrangements. - Belinda’s Dream Shrub Rose has soft pink, highly fragrant, old-fashioned blooms. - Belinda’s Dream flowers are 4 inches wide, petal-packed and long-lasting in the garden or vase. - The rose blooms in flushes through summer and has disease-resistant foliage that stands up to heat and humidity. - Companion plant picks include Muhlenbergia Pink Muhly Grass, Major Wheeler Honeysuckle and Hemerocallis ‘Buttered Popcorn’. - Pink Muhly Grass reaches 4 feet high and 3 feet wide, forms a hedge-like or border effect and produces profuse pink blooms from spring through summer. - Jackson & Perkins says Pink Muhly Grass can also be used as a bright filler in indoor arrangements. - Major Wheeler Honeysuckle has red trumpet-shaped flowers with yellow tips and interiors. - The honeysuckle attracts hummingbirds and butterflies and blooms from late spring through summer. - Hemerocallis ‘Buttered Popcorn’ has butter-yellow blooms, a lemon-tart scent and blooms from early summer into mid-fall. - The daylily attracts butterflies and hummingbirds and has slender stems with unobtrusive foliage. - Harvell recommended planting roses and perennials in late March in many Zone 7 areas. - He said immediate mulching matters, and three inches of mulch helps regulate soil temperature and retain moisture. - He also urged gardeners to think beyond spring when choosing varieties. - Harvell recommended fall planting in September and October to take advantage of warm soil and cool air for root growth.

Between the lines: - The advice reflects a broader shift in how Zone 7 gardens are managed: success now depends on planning for heat, humidity and longer bloom cycles, not just early spring color. - The plant list favors repeat bloomers, compact forms and strong fragrance, which suggests Jackson & Perkins is targeting gardeners who want ornament and reliability across the full season. - Fall planting gets special emphasis because many gardeners still underuse that window, even though it may now be one of the best opportunities in the zone.

What’s next: - Zone 7 gardeners are likely to keep adjusting planting calendars as warmer soils and longer falls continue. - Harvell said 2026 should bring earlier blooms, longer color and gardens that perform from the first signs of spring through fall. - Jackson and Perkins Park Acquisitions, Inc. said it continues to operate branded garden and home-product businesses from its 100-acre nursery and distribution property in Greenwood, South Carolina, with its executive office in Edina, Minnesota. - More information is available at the company’s website.