When it comes to decorating your yard or garden with roses, two popular options are drift roses and carpet roses. Both make excellent landscape roses, but they have some notable differences. Understanding the distinctions will help you choose the right rose type for your needs.
An Overview of Drift Roses
Drift roses, also called groundcover roses, are low-growing, spreading roses that form a dense mat of foliage and flowers. They were bred to withstand heat, humidity, and drought
Some features of drift roses
- Reach 1-2 feet tall and spread 3-4 feet wide
- Have a mounding, dense growth habit
- Bloom continuously from spring through fall
- Ideal for borders, cascading over walls, or mass plantings
- Require minimal care when established
- Available in a range of flower colors like white, pink, salmon, and yellow
Popular drift rose varieties include Drift® Coral Drift® Red and Drift® Sweet.
An Overview of Carpet Roses
Carpet roses, sometimes called ground cover roses, are known for carpeting an area densely with flowers and foliage. They spread via long, flexible canes that root where they touch the ground.
Some features of carpet roses:
- Grow 2-3 feet tall and spread rapidly via canes
- Have a loose, open growth habit compared to drift roses
- Bloom heavily in spring and repeat bloom through summer
- Work well spilling down slopes and banks
- Require regular pruning to keep growth under control
- Come in many colors like pink, red, white, yellow, and coral
Common carpet rose varieties include Flower Carpet®, Groundsweeper®, and Carefree Carpet®.
Key Differences Between Carpet Roses and Drift Roses
While both are low-growing, spreading roses, there are some notable differences between carpet roses and drift roses:
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Growth habit – Drift roses are more dense and compact; carpet roses are loose and open.
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Height – Carpet roses get a little taller, averaging 2-3 feet; drift roses stay under 2 feet.
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Flowering – Drift roses bloom continuously all season; carpet roses flower heavily in spring with some repeat blooms.
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Cold tolerance – Drift roses handle cold better with good winter hardiness; carpet roses need protection in very cold climates.
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Maintenance – Drift roses are more carefree when established; carpet roses need more pruning and shaping.
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Uses – Drift roses work well in borders; carpet roses excel at slopes, banks, and mass plantings.
Tips for Choosing Between Carpet Roses and Drift Roses
When deciding between carpet roses and drift roses, keep these tips in mind:
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Select drift roses if you want dense, mounding growth under 2 feet tall. Go with carpet roses for a taller, open, spreading form.
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Choose drift roses for nonstop flowers; pick carpet roses if you only need heavy spring bloom.
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Use carpet roses if you have a large area for them to spread and cascade. Drift roses suit smaller spaces better.
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Pick carpet roses where you can prune regularly; drift roses need little shaping once mature.
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Prefer drift roses for challenging climates with heat, humidity, drought, or cold.
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Consider bloom color, as both types come in an array of hues like pink, coral, red, yellow, and white.
Achieve Stunning Landscape Impact With Drift Roses or Carpet Roses
Both drift roses and carpet roses offer hassle-free ways to add flower power and year-round color to your yard. Once you understand the differences in terms of growth, maintenance, and best uses, it’s easy to choose the right rose for your specific needs. With their beauty, versatility, and durability, it’s hard to go wrong with either of these fabulous landscape roses.
Re: Drift Rose or Carpet Rose
I have both. The carpet (or groundcaover roses I have are Happy Chappy from Jackson & Perkins. They are 8 years old and show no signs of withering. I live in Chicago, and while this winter was surprisingly mild (average temperatures in the 30s to 50s), they have had winters with wind chills below zero (average temperatures in the teens to 30s). I planted some Drifts last spring which I purchased at a local garden center. The branches are already greening, but this is due to the mild winter. It was so mild here they didnt go fully dormant until almost Christmas. The plants were beautiful last summer. There are a lot of blooms for plants that were moved into a garden for the first time, but I’m not sure how well they will do in the normal harsh winter conditions.
I planted red drifts to take the place of some Knockouts that had gotten too big for the spot they were in. If everything goes as planned, the Drifts should grow to be about 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide when they are fully grown. This is very similar to the Happy Chappy (and other groundcover/carpet roses). In other words, I think youll be ok with either, so let color be your guide. Star Rose Drifts come in deep pink, coral, red, white, a pale pink called Apricot drift, and a yellowish color called Popcorn drift. Carpets/groundcover are available in the same shades. All of these colors come together in the Happy Chappy, which is why I love them in a garden: they go with everything.
Drift Rose versus Flower Carpet Rose; A Groundcover Rose Comparison
FAQ
Is drift rose the same as carpet rose?
What is another name for carpet roses?
Which is better drift or knockout roses?
What is a drift rose?
Do carpet roses grow taller than Drift Roses?
As compared to drift roses, these plants can grow substantially taller. It is common to see carpet roses grow several inches taller next to drift roses. According to most gardeners, these plants are low maintenance, and you won’t have to spend hours each week taking care of them.
Are Drift Roses good groundcovers?
(Flower Carpet ® Amber) Drift® roses are becoming one of most desirable rose bushes on the market. A cross between a groundcover rose and a miniature rose bush, they are very compact and will only get about 2 feet tall and about 3 feet wide. The Drift Series® was bred by Star Roses and Plants to be a low maintenance groundcover rose.
Are Drift Roses better than knock out roses?
They deserve this because these roses are about as pest resistant and easy to grow as Knock Out roses but smaller. There are more diverse bloom colors and a couple of Drift roses even have fragrance, something I never notice with Knock Out roses. Because they are smaller, Drift roses are adaptable to small landscapes.
Do Drift Roses grow fast?
Drift roses are fast-growing, but they don’t grow as large and have graceful forms. Their flowers have a traditional rose shape. Some Drift varieties, such as Coral Drift and Sweet Drift, are fragrant. Plant them any time of year, but spring is best to allow them to become established before cool weather comes. em’Peach Drift’ rose.