Nothing sparks up a garden like a red rose. In the midst of subtle colors, red is an exclamation point. But what kind of red rose? Lots of people have Knockouts, but I would like to introduce you to some red and near-red roses you may enjoy. All of them are hardy in Zone 5a and are disease-resistant, which is important. No one wants to spend a lot of time spraying chemicals on plants, and certainly not in these times when beneficial insects are so important.

Tess of the D’Urbervilles, widely available by mail order, is a David Austin rose I have had for many years. Beautiful, disease-resistant and slow to fade, it blooms from spring well into fall in flushes. The flowers are full and last a long time. This one can be grown as a shrub, or you can put it against a trellis, where it serves as a semi climber. Some roses are rampant – not this beauty!

Are you seeking a big and bodacious rose for an arbor? Quadra is a rose from the Canadian Explorer program. Roses from that program were bred for severe weather. (This rose is hardy in Zone 3.) It starts into growth very early in the season and blooms through frosts. The huge red flowers are not just double, but quartered. It is completely disease-resistant, and will quickly cover an arbor or a pole since the canes are extremely flexible and can be wrapped around almost anything before they harden. This rose blooms constantly. And because it is so tough, you can even leave it on an exposed trellis all winter.

For something more delicate, consider The Dark Lady, another David Austin rose. It does turn fuchsia in sunlight, but what a beautiful flower!

Are you looking for a rose that can be grown as a shrub or a small climber? Look no further than Dublin Bay, which is beautiful and unfading. It also is very easy to care for and reliable. It is a popular rose in Europe but is easy to find here. How reliable is this rose? I gave it to my non-rose-growing in-laws, who have praised me for it ever since, and they have had it for years.

Take a look at these beautiful, healthy red roses for flushes of color from late-spring into fall.

Donna Mack is a University of Illinois Extension master gardener for Kane County. The “Learning to Grow” column runs weekly during warmer months of the year. Call the extension office at 630-584-6166 for more information. Feedback on this column can be sent to editorial@kcchronicle.com.