Culture
Best grown in medium moisture, slightly acidic, well-drained garden loams in full sun to part shade. Best flowering and disease resistance generally occur in full sun. Water deeply and regularly (mornings are best). Avoid overhead watering. Good air circulation promotes vigorous and healthy growth and helps control foliar diseases. Summer mulch helps retain moisture, keeps roots cool and discourages weeds. Remove spent flowers to encourage rebloom. Crowns need winter protection in cold winter areas such as St. Louis. Remove and destroy diseased leaves from plants, as practicable, and clean up and destroy dead leaves from the ground around the plants both during the growing season and as part of a thorough cleanup during winter (dormant season). Prune as needed in late winter to early spring.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Rosa is a genus of about 150 species of deciduous (occasionally evergreen) shrubs and climbers noted for their beautiful, often fragrant, single, semidouble or double flowers which are borne singly or in clusters on often prickly stems clad with 5-9 leaflets often having toothed margins.
Genus name comes from the Latin name for rose.
'BAIrift' is a compact, floriferous, disease-resistant, hybrid rose selection that features glossy, dark green foliage and fragrant, double, white blooms. Mature plants will reach up to 4' tall and equally as wide, taking on an upright to gently arching, well-branched habit. The main bloom period falls in late spring and early summer with steady reblooming through the rest of the growing season. This is an own-root selection, meaning that the rootstock is not a different rose grafted onto a cutting of the desired cultivar. Commonly sold in nurseries and garden centers under the name SNOWDRIFT. Plant patent number PP19036 applies to this cultivar.
Problems
Roses are susceptible to a large number of diseases, the most common of which are black spot, powdery mildew, rust and rose rosette. Although good cultural practices are the first line of defense in disease control, regular preventative fungicide applications throughout the growing season are usually required, particularly in humid climates with regular rainfall such as the St. Louis area. Potential insect problems include aphids, beetles, borers, scale, thrips, rose midges, leafhoppers and spider mites. Local rose associations and extension services are usually able to offer specific recommendations and advice for selecting and growing roses.
'BAIrift' offers increased resistance to black spot and powdery mildew.
Uses
Mixed borders, low hedge, large containers.