The following paragraphs were taken from the September 2025 Rambling Rose bulletin and is a reflection on Ed Kreutzer's 30 years growing roses in Oregon:  "When I moved here in 1995 from California I was certainly no novice to rose growing.  I had been growing roses for decades by then since I started taking care of the roses in my parents garden when I was a teen.  What I wasn't prepared for was the challenge the southern Oregon climate presented.  In both Nevada and California you planted them and forgot them.  Water every once in a while, apply some fertilizer and deadhead.  In Nevada you had to provide some winter protection but fighting fungal issues was noneexistent.

So shortly after I planted my first roses here I was complaining to my neighbor across the street who was an avid gardener.  Gina Swenson was her mother and within just a few weeks of planting those first roses, Gina had me joining the rose Society.  Then John Menegat had me joining the ARS (American Rose Society) and the rest is history."  Ed and Mary Anne Kreutzer's rose garden holds over 800 rose varieties.  Both are multiple trophy winners in judged rose competitions.  Ed is current president of the Southwest Oregon Rose Society. 

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The southern Oregon Coast contains one of the most diverse growing areas in the country.  In terms of ecoregions we fall in the Coast Range. This ecoregion stretches along the Pacific Coast to the west and to the Coastal Range to the east.  However, depending where you live, the weather varies dramatically.  On the west side of the Coast Range, summers are dry and warm.  Days of 90 degree temperatures are not uncommon.  Rain usually slows in April, ceases in May and doesn't resume until September at the earliest and possibly November.  Winter sees colder temperatures and possibly a few days of snow.  Rainfall is normally in the 60 inches a year category between  October and May. 

The coastal area sees fewer days of sunshine than inland.  Eight hours of daily sunshine is questionable due to early morning fog burning off. Winds off the ocean and salt water require rose varieties which will accommodate these conditions. The closer you are to the ocean, the shorter the days of sunshine, especially from late June until early August. The wet winters, dry summers, cool nights and days above 60 degrees are incubation factors for fungal diseases. 

In addition, are the variety of soils found in these regions.  This is due to the complex geological history of tectonic plate collisions, erosion and sedimentation. Soil varieties include marine sedimentary, sandy and alluvial soils.  Composition varies by location - coastal dunes, terraces, estuaries, inland slopes. Clay soils are present as are sandstone.  Both present special challenges for the rose grower.  

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This site has been developed for the gardener who is interested in growing roses in this environment.  Below are pages with topics devoted to information which will hopefully help as well as information on the Southwest Oregon Rose Society.   

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