While old gallica and rugosa roses are largely trouble-free, other types of rose are often troubled with disease. They were bred to have big flowers for a long time, but many of them have problems like mildew, blackspot, and rust. Historically, rose breeders and growers used fungicides on their roses to stop or cure these diseases, so they weren’t seen as a big issue.
Bee deaths have been linked to the use of fungicides, though, so more and more gardeners don’t want to use those sprays in their gardens. Rosas are now bred to be healthy and strong as well as having pretty flowers for a long time. These new types of roses don’t have any problems and don’t get diseases, so you can have a beautiful display without having to worry about disease.
Roses are beloved for their beauty and fragrance, but growing them can be challenging due to their susceptibility to diseases. Fortunately, there are many disease resistant rose varieties that are easier to care for while still providing the iconic blooms and scent roses are known for. In this article, we’ll explore some of the top disease resistant rose options to consider for your garden.
Why Choose Disease Resistant Roses?
Roses. especially hybrid tea roses are prone to several debilitating diseases including
- Black spot – Causes black or purplish spots on leaves and can lead to defoliation
- Powdery mildew – Covers leaves in white fungal growth
- Rust – Reddish fungal growth on leaves
- Botrytis – Grey fungal growth on flowers
These diseases are caused by fungi and spread easily in humid climates. Regular fungicide spraying is often needed to keep roses healthy, which can be time consuming, expensive, and exposes you and beneficial insects to chemicals.
That’s why planting disease resistant rose varieties is a great solution These roses have genetic traits that make them less susceptible to common rose diseases, reducing or even eliminating the need to use fungicides. You’ll spend less time and money on disease management and more time enjoying healthy, vigorous roses
Top Disease Resistant Rose Varieties
Through selective breeding rose hybridizers have developed many beautiful fragrant, and carefree roses that resist diseases. Here are some of the best options to consider
Rosa ‘Knock Out’
The Knock Out series features vibrant red blooms on bushes reaching 3 to 5 feet tall and wide. They bloom all season long with little to no black spot or powdery mildew. These extremely low maintenance roses thrive with minimal care and bloom even in intense summer heat.
- ‘Knock Out’ – Cherry red, single blooms
- ‘Pink Knock Out’ – Soft pink, single blooms
- ‘Double Knock Out’ – Double cherry red blooms
- ‘Pink Double Knock Out’ – Double pink blooms
- ‘Blushing Knock Out’ – Light pink blooms that fade to white
- ‘Rainbow Knock Out’ – Blends of yellow, pink and red
Drift Roses
Drift roses are groundcover or miniature varieties reaching just 1 to 2 feet tall and wide. They produce profuse clusters of petite blooms and resist disease while requiring minimal care. Some top disease resistant Drift roses include:
- ‘Drift Red’ – Cherry red blooms
- ‘Drift Coral’ – Orange-coral blooms
- ‘Drift Blush’ – Soft pink blooms
- ‘Drift Popcorn’ – Creamy white blooms
Easy Elegance Roses
Bred by Bailey Nurseries, Easy Elegance roses combine disease resistance with gorgeous, nostalgic blooms on compact 2 to 4 feet tall bushes. Some varieties to consider:
- ‘Easy Elegance All the Rage’ – Velvety crimson-red double blooms
- ‘Easy Elegance Coral Cove’ – Apricot-orange blooms
- ‘Easy Elegance Sweet Dream’ – Creamy blossoms edged in pink
- ‘Easy Elegance Tequila Sunrise’ – Yellow buds opening to apricot blooms
David Austin English Roses
Famous for their old-fashioned, romantic blooms and intense fragrance, several David Austin varieties also offer excellent disease resistance:
- ‘The Poet’s Wife’ – Elegant yellow blooms on a 4 foot shrub
- ‘Desdemona’ – Pale pink, chalice-shaped blooms
- ‘Lady of Shalott’ – Apricot-orange blossoms fading to pale pink
- ‘The Albrighton Rambler’ – Clusters of small, bright pink flowers on a rambling vine
Other Notable Varieties
Some other disease resistant roses to consider include:
- ‘Bonica’ – Abundant clusters of baby pink flowers on a compact, mounding shrub.
- ‘Flower Carpet Roses’ – Groundcover roses in shades of red, pink, white, yellow, and coral.
- ‘Oso Easy Roses’ – Low-growing landscape shrub roses including pink, red, peach, orange, and yellow varieties.
- ‘Marie-Luise Marjan’ – Fully double, salmon-pink blooms with intense fragrance.
- ‘Bubble Double’ – Clusters of petite, double white blooms.
Growing Tips for Disease Resistant Roses
While disease resistant roses are lower maintenance, provide them with proper growing conditions and care for the healthiest and most vigorous plants:
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Full sun – At least 6 hours of direct sun encourages more prolific blooming. Morning sun is ideal.
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Well-drained soil – Roses require very good drainage and will decline in heavy, soggy soil that encourages fungal diseases. Mix in compost to improve drainage.
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Regular water – Roses should receive at least 1-2 inches of water per week, ideally from drip irrigation or soaker hoses rather than overhead watering. Mulch helps retain soil moisture.
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Fertilizer – Applying a balanced fertilizer in early spring and again in early summer will fuel growth and maximize blooms.
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Prune – Remove spent blooms and shape bushes in early spring. Prune lightly and avoid overpruning disease resistant varieties.
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Protect new growth – Cover plants with breathable fabric if frost threatens in spring to avoid dieback of tender new growth.
Dazzling, Low Maintenance Roses
While no rose is 100% immune to disease, these modern shrub and landscape roses offer outstanding resistance. Their vibrant colors, nostalgic blossoms, and lovely fragrances provide all the beauty of roses without the high maintenance. For gorgeously healthy roses that practically take care of themselves, be sure to include some disease resistant varieties in your garden.
Rosa ‘Thomas á Becket’
A repeat-flowering shrub rose resembling a wild rose, Rosa ‘Thomas á Becket’ is healthy and vigourous. It bears loose rosettes of crimson flowers with an old rose fragrance and a hint of fresh lemon. H x S: 100 x 120cm.
Rosa “Mortimer Sackler” has been changed to Rosa “Mary Delany” to get rid of the link to the Sackler family, who own Purdue Pharma. It is a tall shrub rose with small, dark green leaves and few thorns. It bears soft pink, cup-shaped double flowers with an ‘old rose’ fragrance. As each flower matures the petals open, gradually exposing its bright yellow stamens. H x S: 360 x 130cm.
More advice for growing roses:
With this short video guide, the experts at David Austin Roses talk about the best ways to grow roses, such as how to water them so that disease doesn’t spread. Video ID: “d851606cc08f47d6f75380826ef5fc6cdecd47e6” Mix ID: “” Player ID: “qAUyOzk5” If the player doesn’t show up in a few seconds, the Player ID or License Key (set in IM Green Video settings) might not work.
Browse our pick of disease-resistant roses, below.
8 Hardiest Roses out of 400 / 5 Kordes, 2 Meilland, 1 David Austin / Most Disease Resistant Roses
Are roses disease-resistant?
However, there is a catch: Disease-resistant roses are rarely fragrant; fragrance is a characteristic passed on from a recessive gene, which is often lost during hybridization. There’s no denying the appeal of hybrid teas.
What is a disease resistant rose?
Just what the name says – it is a plant’s ability to fend off disease. In general, roses identified as disease resistant are hardy varieties that have been bred to resist attacks from disease-causing organisms. While given just the right conditions a disease resistant rose may succumb to infection, but they are much less likely in most situations.
Are disease-resistant roses Fragrant?
Rose breeders have been hybridizing for this characteristic for decades, so there is a profusion of options from which to choose. However, there is a catch: Disease-resistant roses are rarely fragrant; fragrance is a characteristic passed on from a recessive gene, which is often lost during hybridization.
Which roses are best for health?
Each rose is highly rated for health and, unless otherwise indicated, do great in a variety of climates. Let’s get started! ‘Bliss Parfuma’ is a top-performing rose with beautiful apricot-pink flowers and a delightful vanilla peach fragrance. Roses from German breeder Kordes are known for vigorous growth and health.
