Roses (Rosa rubiginosa), which are in the Rosaceae family, are by far the most popular flowering shrubs for landscaping. Rosa is a genus of more than 300 species of flowering woody perennials. A lot of different kinds of roses have been cultivated from these species.
Wild roses can be found on almost every continent. However, most landscape roses are multi-generational hybrid cultivars whose original species ancestors have been forgotten for a long time. Any new type of rose you buy will almost always have a unique cultivar name instead of a species name.
Understanding a roses classification will provide important information on its growth habit and other traits. Though, most roses do grow best when planted in full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Characteristics to consider when choosing the best rose for your landscape or garden. There is color, of course, but also fragrance, plant form, hardiness zones, disease resistance, and more.
With over 150 species and thousands of cultivars, roses come in a stunning spectrum of forms, scents, and colors. From timeless classics to modern novelties, there’s a rose for every garden. In this guide, let’s explore the diverse array of rose bush types so you can find your perfect match!
Hybrid Tea Roses – The Classic Bloom
Hybrid teas dominate the cut flower industry and adorn formal gardens. They boast:
- Large, symmetrical blooms on long stems perfect for cutting.
- Repeat blooming from spring until fall frosts.
- Intense fragrance, though some new hybrids lack scent.
- Broad range of colors except pure white or yellow.
- Tall upright growth reaching 4-6 feet.
Give hybrid teas full sun and pruned yearly for ideal shape and flowering Protect from harsh winter weather.
Grandiflora Roses – Bountiful Blooms
As their name denotes, grandifloras produce huge clustered blooms on sturdy canes. Features include:
- Exuberant, multidimensional blooms in large clusters.
- Constant waves of flowers through the season.
- Broad, thick foliage as a backdrop.
- Grow up to 6 feet tall and wide.
- Exceptional choices for hedges, screens, and borders.
- Range of flower forms – cups, flat, ruffled.
For maximum performance, provide full sun and good airflow. Prune lightly each spring.
Floribunda Roses – Color and Charm
Floribundas crank up color and charm through copious clustered blooms, They offer
- Profuse clusters of smaller blooms versus individual flowers.
- Continuous flowering all season.
- Compact growth of 2-4 feet high and 3 feet wide.
- Ideal for borders, beds, containers, and cutting.
- Vibrant rainbow of color options.
- Light apple fragrance.
Floribundas adapt well to various conditions. Prune annually for shape and bloom performance.
Climbing Roses – Vertical Beauty
Climbing roses bring stunning vertical color to fences, arbors, and trellises. Features include:
- Trailing canes perfect for training up supports.
- Bloom generously in spring and re-bloom through summer.
- Range from 6 feet to 20 feet tall depending on type.
- Add height and focal interest against walls or on pillars.
- Mostly hybrid tea or floribunda flower forms.
- Require structure for clinging canes to attach to.
Site climbers carefully and prune for optimal flowering and framework.
Shrub and Landscape Roses – Multipurpose Workhorses
Shrub roses pump out flowers while serving many landscape roles. Perks include:
- Low maintenance, disease resistance, and winter hardiness.
- Grow from 3-8 feet high and wide depending on variety.
- Repeat bloom from late spring until frost.
- Versatile uses for hedges, foundations, borders, and mass plantings.
- Range of flower sizes, types, forms, and scents.
- More shade tolerance than other classes.
Let shrub roses showcase their beauty and utility in your outdoor spaces.
Old Garden Roses – Vintage Flowers and Fragrance
Treasure troves of history and romance, old garden roses boast:
- Intoxicating fragrance – Damask roses used for perfume.
- Once-blooming flowers in late spring and early summer.
- Broad diversity of flower forms – cups, rosettes, quarters.
- Shrub growth from 3-6 feet tall and wide.
- Excellent disease resistance.
- Originated centuries ago before 1867.
Provide old garden roses rich soil and filtered sunlight. Grow own root roses or budded for longevity.
English Roses – Repeat Blooms with Vintage Charm
English roses blend the romance of old varieties with modern reblooming:
- Repeat blooms all season with peak in early summer.
- Very full, cupped, old-fashioned flower form.
- Intense fragrance – strong myrrh scent.
- Broad shrub growth of 4-6 feet high and wide.
- Excellent disease resistance.
- Developed by David Austin to recreate antique blooms with reblooming and wide color range.
Give English roses full sun, amend soil with compost, and prune lightly for shape.
Ground Cover Roses – Flowering Carpets
Ground cover roses spread beautifully along spaces. Features include:
- Low-growing, spreading growth habit. Typically 1-2 feet high.
- Profuse reblooming from late spring through fall.
- Excellent choices for borders, rock gardens, hillsides, underplantings.
- Superior heat, humidity, drought tolerance.
- Range of flower sizes and forms, mostly single or semi-double blooms.
- Low maintenance, minimal pruning needed.
Site groundcover roses where their spreading nature can be shown off. Trim back errant shoots as needed.
Tree Roses – Living Sculptures
Tree roses graft colorful hybrid tea or floribunda blooms atop tall trunks, creating living sculpture. Points include:
- Dramatic trunks 36-60 inches tall before roses bush out on top.
- Eye-catching focal points mixed with perennials or edging lawns.
- Provide generous sunlight and air circulation.
- Protect trunks from winter damage.
- Require staking initially until firmly anchored.
- High maintenance – prune carefully!
Tree roses need dedication but provide artistic impact in the right spot.
Miniature Roses – Perfectly Petite
Miniature roses offer palm-sized flowers, leaves, and stature, perfect for containers. They have:
- Tidier growth from 6-24 inches high and wide.
- Abundant small blooms just 1-2 inches across.
- Excellent choices for edging, containers, windowboxes.
- Versatile shrub, climbing, or groundcover forms.
- Mini versions of many full-sized rose types.
Site mini roses up close where their delicate details can be admired. Trim minimally to shape and renew.
Keys to Choosing the Best Roses for Your Landscape
- Select types suited to your climate and growing conditions. Seek disease resistance if humidity is high.
- Pick a size that fits its intended space. Measure final dimensions at maturity.
- Choose roses for their season of interest – some offer fall color and hips.
- Factor in maintenance level needed – old roses are lower maintenance.
- Consider fragrance a bonus, as many lack strong scent. Smell roses at the nursery.
- Let color be your accent rather than requiring certain hues.
With thousands to pick from, find roses that perfectly match your personality and landscape needs!
From classic hybrid teas to modern groundcover roses, each rose type brings unique beauty, versatility, and charm. Determine which class fits your space constraints, needs, and personal preferences. Then plant your roses properly and care for them so their exquisite flowers give you joy for years of rewarding springs.
Categories of Roses
To fully understand the traits of a certain rose type, you must first look at the rose class it belongs to. There are many ways to classify roses. For instance, the types of roses can be broken down by color and their blooms.
Many experts split the various rose types into three categories: old garden roses, modern roses, and wild roses. Any type of rose that existed before 1867 is considered an “old garden rose.” These roses usually only bloom once a season, but when they do, they have a very sweet scent. Roses that were grown after 1867 are called “modern roses.” They have big flowers and bloom all the time. When you say “wild rose,” you’re just talking about roses that grow in the wild, without being crossed with other types of roses. These most often appear as pink flowers with five petals. The American Rose Society uses the following categories:
- Hybrid tea roses are one of the most common types of roses used in landscaping. They have big, fancy flowers with 30 to 50 petals and long stems. There are thousands of different hybrid tea rose breeds, and old varieties are always being replaced by new ones.
- When it comes to roses, grandifloras are one of the most popular types. They are a type of hybrid tea rose. It can get very tall, and the flowers don’t grow one at a time on the stems. Instead, they grow in groups.
- Floribunda roses are the third most popular type of rose, after hybrid teas and grandifloras. They are also one of the best types to grow because they are easier to take care of than the first two. A floribunda rose has big groups of flowers, like a grandiflora rose. But this kind blooms all the time, while hybrid teas and grandifloras bloom every six to seven weeks.
- When it comes to roses, polyantha is like floribunda, but the plants are shorter and the flowers are smaller. Polyanthas are often used for edgings and hedges.
- There are two types of roses: miniature and miniflora. A “miniature” rose is a hybrid tea or grandiflora rose that is 15 to 30 inches tall and is shorter and more compact. As the name suggests, “miniflora” roses have flowers that are between floribunda and miniature sizes.
- Shrub roses: These roses can be told apart because they spread out and grow five to fifteen feet in all directions. This group has several subcategories. They are known for being hardy in cold weather and producing lots of flower clusters. One important one is the David Austin English Rose category, which has varieties that look like old garden roses and bloom often and smell nice.
- As a group, climber/rambler roses are not unique; they include any rose with long, arching canes that can be trained to grow on fences, trellises, arbors, and pergolas. This is why a grandiflora rose is called a climber. Climbers and ramblers are not clinging or twining plants; to grow up, they need to be tied to something vertical. Many climbers and ramblers can handle cold weather better than hybrid roses.
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Here are 15 different types of roses—with their common and botanical names and pictures—to try in your garden.
‘Easy Does It’ (Rosa Floribunda ‘Easy Does It’)
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Maria Mosolova / Getty s
This medium-size floribunda rose has large 4- to 5-inch blooms that blend orange, pink, and apricot hues. The flowers are double, ruffled petals, and they have a mildly fruity aroma. This plant has a bushy growth habit and is fairly disease-resistant.
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 11
- Mature Size: 3 to 5 feet
- Light: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Well-drained, humus, rich
13 Rose Varieties // Garden Answer
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