Gardeners looking for hardy, low-maintenance roses have five new options to consider as the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service unveiled its 2026 Earth-Kindrose selections.

Earth-Kind roses require significantly fewer planting resources than traditional varieties and are more in line with sustainable landscaping practices that protect natural resources, said Paul Winski, a horticulture program specialist in the Texas A&M Department of Horticultural Sciences.

The newly designated roses, Candy Oh!, Chuckles, Easy Does It, Lady Banks White and Pink Knock Out, were chosen after years of rigorous field trials designed to identify varieties that thrive with minimal care, limited irrigation and no chemical inputs like fertilizers and pesticides.

Built for Texas conditions

The Earth-Kind designation is awarded to roses that demonstrate superior performance under real-world conditions, including Texas’ challenging heat, drought and soil variability. From sandy, well-drained soils to dense, alkaline clays, these rose varieties have proven their ability to adapt and flourish, Winski said.

“Earth-Kind roses are about taking the guesswork out of gardening,” Winski said.  “These plants deliver reliable performance while helping conserve water and reduce the need for fertilizers and pesticides.”

A mix of color, form and function

Each of the 2026 selections offers distinct ornamental appeal alongside durability:

Candy Oh!

This landscape shrub selection produces vibrant red blooms in continuous clusters with strong disease resistance.

Chuckles

This rose shrub brings a classic look with coral-pink flowers and a light fragrance.

Easy Does It

This Floribunda rose variety features ruffled blooms that shift from apricot-orange to soft peach.

Lady Banks White

This climbing rose is a vigorous, nearly thornless variety known for cascading white blooms in early spring.

Pink Knock Out

This rose shrub delivers bright pink flowers and consistent performance in low-maintenance landscapes.

“These selections provide options for a range of landscape uses, from groundcover and shrub borders to climbing accents,” Winski said.

Supporting sustainable gardening

The 2026 Earth-Kind Rose campaign will launch this spring, with educational and retail materials available at nurseries and garden centers to help consumers identify and select varieties.

By choosing Earth-Kind roses, homeowners can create visually appealing landscapes, increase plant resilience and reduce inputs, a core goal of the program’s research-based approach to horticulture, Winski said. For more information about Earth-Kind plants and sustainable gardening practices, visit the AgriLife Extension Earth-Kind program website.