It’s the most wonderful time of year: Game of Thorns! I miss my roses so much when they aren’t blooming but I shouldn’t complain because I still had blooms on New Year’s Day. Gotta love the long Texas growing season!

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Game of Thorns 2026 Winner: Chicago Peace

Chicago Peace seems determined to win Game of Thorns every year. She always seems to be the first to bloom! Photos don’t even do this stunning hybrid tea justice. The blooms are bigger than my fist and look like a sunset with pink, coral, orange, and yellow hues. This hardy rose produces more blooms than any other hybrid tea in my garden. Needless to say, I love her!

Scentimental

Scentimental is always a sight for sore eyes. Each petal looks hand painted and smells incredible, hence the name. This rose makes me think of Alice in Wonderland because it looks like someone is actively painting the roses red.

Don Juan

I’m thrilled to report that I successfully saved Don Juan from the chili thrips invasion. I diagnosed the problem way too late and this poor rose had the life sucked right out of it. I release beneficial nematodes into the soil and cut Don Juan almost to the ground last year. Look at it now! Zero signs of chili thrips damage and it’s sending up new basal canes. Give it one more year and it’ll look fabulous!

Plum Perfect

My little angel baby who can do no wrong! Plum Perfect is one of my favorite roses. This sunbelt floribunda is tough as nails. She rarely has black spots or any problems to speak of and she’s covered in roses from April through December here in north Texas.

However, she doesn’t really smell and blooms don’t last at all in the vase so keep that in mind. But she’s such a showpiece that I regularly see neighbors taking photos of their kids in front of this stunning rose.

Show Your Stripes

On the flip side, the 2020 Rose of the Year Show Your Stripes is hands-down the best cut flower in my garden and one of the best smelling.

Unfortunately she is a bit high maintenance. She’s often covered with black spot after a rain and will even occasionally drop her leaves so might want to put this one in a bed with companion plants in front of it but boy oh boy, is she worth the trouble. Just look at this bouquet!

Peggy Martin

Peggy Martin is one of the most iconic roses you can grow. I mentioned on Instagram that this likely wouldn’t be a good Peggy year because I cut so much of it this year. Why? I haven’t properly pruned Peggy in YEARS mainly because I was sick the last three years during pruning season. She needed a good haircut and she’s already sending up main canes. Never be afraid to cut your roses!

My mom loves my Peggy Martin so much that she got TWO for her yard. She’s training one on a fence and letting one fountain by the pool. The possibilities are endless with Peggy Martin!

Earth Angel

Aptly named, this rose smells like heaven on earth. The old-timey looking rose has gorgeous cupped blooms that range from pale pink to white and everything in between. People always argue with me on the internet that Earth Angel is a peony but she is in fact a rose!

Candy Cane

My newest baby is a tree rose called Candy Cane. I planted this pink and white floribunda in my front yard to greet all of my guests. Isn’t she darling? I’ve decided to try out some tree roses so wish me luck!

Want to learn how to grow your own beautiful roses? Read my rose grow guide here to get started!