Poinsettias grace many a dining room table at Christmas, to be replaced by Easter lilies a few months later. Saint Patrick's Day has its shamrocks, the autumn holidays their chrysanthemums. What's the signature plant for Valentine's Day? Roses, of course. So as the holiday of romance approaches, it may be a good time to reflect on growing these flowers of legend and love. Steve Jones remarks that some rose bushes "have acquired a reputation for being finicky plants." But if you select varieties of roses that are easy to grow, "you will find they are a lot less demanding than you think."

Related resources: Rose Bushes