Above and Beyond™ Rose

The Above and Beyond™ Rose is a unique variety of climbing rose known for its resiliency, vigorous growth, and stunning blossoms. Introduced by the University of Minnesota's acclaimed breeding program, this rose cultivar has made a name for itself with its unmatched adaptability and beauty.

One of the most remarkable attributes of the Above and Beyond™ Rose is its hardiness. It's designed to thrive in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 7, which means it can withstand extremely cold winters. This robustness sets it apart from most other roses, which are typically suited to milder climates.

The Above and Beyond™ Rose is an incredibly vigorous grower. It can quickly reach heights of up to 10-14 feet and widths of 7 feet, making it an excellent choice for arbors, trellises, or other garden structures. It's a recurrent bloomer, meaning it flowers multiple times throughout the growing season, typically from late spring until the first frost.

The blossoms of the Above and Beyond™ Rose are equally impressive. They are apricot-orange in color and feature a semi-double flower form with 18-24 petals per bloom. The blossoms are slightly fragrant and typically reach 3-4 inches in diameter. The foliage is also appealing, characterized by glossy, dark green leaves that provide a perfect backdrop for the vibrant flowers.

Apart from its stunning aesthetics, the Above and Beyond™ Rose is also appreciated for its disease resistance. It has a natural immunity to common rose diseases like black spot and powdery mildew, making it an easy-to-care-for addition to any garden.

The Above and Beyond™ Rose, with its combination of vigor, hardiness, and visual appeal, offers numerous possibilities for landscaping uses. Here are a few ways it can be utilized in various garden and landscape designs:

1. Climbing Feature: Given its height and growth habit, the Above and Beyond™ Rose is an excellent choice for creating vertical interest in your garden. It can be trained to grow on arbors, trellises, pergolas, or even along fences. Its vibrant blossoms will create a stunning display of color against these structures.
2. Privacy Screen: When planted in a row and grown on a supportive structure, these roses can create an attractive and fragrant privacy screen. Its dense foliage and frequent blooming make it an excellent choice for this purpose.
3. Accent Plant: The Above and Beyond™ Rose can also serve as an accent plant due to its eye-catching apricot-orange blossoms. It can be the focal point in a rose or mixed flower garden.
4. Archway or Gateway: Planting Above and Beyond™ Rose on either side of an entrance or pathway and training them to grow over an arch can create a beautiful and inviting entrance.
5. Wall or Building Cover: This rose can be used to soften the look of a wall or to cover the side of a building. It can add charm and beauty to otherwise stark structures.
6. Container Gardening: Despite its size, the Above and Beyond™ Rose can also be grown in large containers. This is an excellent option for patios or smaller spaces, though the containers must be large enough to support their robust root system.

Wherever you plant Above and Beyond™ Rose, make sure it gets at least 6 hours of sunlight each day. It's also important to ensure the soil has good drainage to avoid waterlogging the roots.

Planting and care for the Above and Beyond™ Rose are relatively straightforward, thanks to its hardiness and disease resistance. Here are some key steps and considerations:

Planting:

1. Site Selection: Choose a location that gets at least six hours of sunlight each day. Although this rose can tolerate partial shade, it will bloom most profusely in full sun. The site should also have good air circulation to discourage fungal diseases.
2. Soil Preparation: This rose prefers well-draining soil with a neutral to slightly acidic pH. Before planting, incorporate some organic matter, like compost or well-rotted manure, into the soil to improve its structure and fertility.
3. Planting: Dig a hole that is wide and deep enough to comfortably accommodate the root system. Position the rose so that the bud union (the swollen part of the stem where the rose was grafted onto the rootstock) is level with or slightly above the ground. Backfill the hole, firm the soil around the base of the rose, and water thoroughly.

Care:

1. Watering: Water newly planted roses thoroughly, and continue to provide them with at least 1 inch of water per week. It's better to water deeply less frequently than to provide shallow waterings more often.
2. Fertilizing: In the early spring, when new growth starts to appear, apply a balanced rose fertilizer according to the product's instructions. Repeat the application after each flush of blooms to support continuous flowering.
3. Pruning: Pruning should be done in early spring before new growth starts. Remove dead or diseased wood, and thin out crowded growth to improve air circulation. As this is a climbing rose, it's also important to train the canes in the direction you want them to grow.
4. Mulching: Apply a layer of organic mulch around the base of the plant to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and keep the roots cool.
5. Disease and Pest Control: While Above and Beyond™ Rose is known for its disease resistance, it's still important to monitor the plant for any signs of trouble. If problems are detected, use a suitable organic or chemical control method.