An industry favorite, the ground hugging, low maintenance, disease and insect resistant family of plants continues to be improved.

In the spring of 1995, Flower Carpet Pink, known as the first eco-friendly rose, was brought into being in the U.S. Its resistance to diseases such as blackspot and powdery mildew, and insect pests was embraced by the horticultural industry, as was its non-stop flowering season that can last for five months or more.

According to Homes, Gardens and Homesteads.com, there are now 10 colors in the flower carpet family of roses, including white, red, appleblossom, yellow, pink splash, amber, scarlet and pink supreme. The newest varieties are being bred for even greater heat and humidity tolerance.

All of the varieties are said to be low maintenance – needing just one cutback each spring. And the natural, low-growing habit of this type of rose makes them a good alternative for erosion control on slopes or as a groundcover in hard-to-access areas in a landscape.