Roses are one of the most popular flowering shrubs you can add to your flower garden. There are so many different types – each one having its own unique color, size, and scent. The one thing they all have in common is the beauty and elegance they add to any garden!
I’ve listed 21 gorgeous types of rose bushes that you can plant to brighten up your garden space. Keep reading to learn more!
21 Types of Rose Bushes
1. The New Dawn Rose
The New Dawn Rose is a soft blush rose that can climb up to 20 feet! Fun fact – in 1931, it was the first plant to receive a patent.
2. The Chicago Peace Rose
The Chicago Peace Rose is a hybrid rose variety that has pink blooms with a yellowish-orange center. These award-winning types of roses work great in arrangements.
3. The Don Juan Rose
The Don Juan Rose is a climbing type of rose bush that blooms in a deep, romantic red shade with a strong floral scent. These roses can grow around 10 feet, so they need room to spread.
4. The Mister Lincoln Rose
The Mister Lincoln Rose is a hybrid tea rose with a true red shade. If you enjoy a classic Valentine-red rose, this may be the variety for you!
5. The Tiffany Rose
The Tiffany Rose is a hybrid tea rose that grows perfect, bubblegum-pink blooms in an upright stature. That makes this rose perfect for cutting and making arrangements with.
6. The Sterling Silver Rose
The Sterling Silver Rose is a lavender hybrid tea rose. The beautiful blooms of these types of roses have a citrusy scent, and the plants are relatively thornless.
7. The Peace Rose
The Peace Rose, a hybrid tea rose, features soft-pink petals with a yellowish center. This rose has glossy green foliage, and it tends to bloom all season long.
8. Iceberg Roses
The Iceberg Rose is another stunning type of floribunda rose bush with medium-sized white blooms that can also have a pink tint. They grow up to four feet in height.
9. Purple Roses
Purple Roses are unique among the types of rose bushes. Some different purple varieties you can plant include Violet’s Pride, Arctic Blue, and Lavender Veranda.
10. The Purple Tiger Rose
The Purple Tiger Rose is a low-growing floribunda rose variety that features unique purple and white stripes on every bloom.
11. The Joseph’s Coat Rose
The Joseph’s Coat Rose is a climbing type of rose bush that changes tints of pink, orange, and red as it blooms. Even though the stems are thorny, this rose blooms all season long.
12. The Tropicana Rose
The Tropicana Rose is another hybrid tea rose that has double blooms in a striking coral hue. These types of roses can be trained to grow into a bush or tree.
13. The Abraham Darby Rose
The Abraham Darby Rose is a stunning David Austin shrub rose that blooms in shades of apricot and yellow and then slowly turns coral and pink.
14. Rainbow Roses
You can get rainbow roses in a couple of different ways. The first way is to artificially dye white blooms. The other way is to find some “rainbow” types of rose bushes such as Rainbow Sunblaze or Rainbow Happy Trails.
15. The White O’Hara Rose
The White O’Hara Rose is a French rose with large white blooms with a blush-tinted center. They work beautifully as cut flowers for weddings.
16. The Midnight Blue Rose
The Midnight Blue Rose is a deep blackish-purple shrub rose that has a spicy clove fragrance and semi-gloss foliage.
17. The Jude the Obscure Rose
The Jude the Obscure Rose is an English rose bred by David Austin. The heavily-petaled apricot blooms have a nice fruity fragrance.
18. The Queen Elizabeth Rose
The Queen Elizabeth Rose is a silverish-pink Grandiflora rose. It can grow up to 10 feet tall, and it blooms all season long.
19. The Secret Rose
The Secret Rose is a pinkish-yellow hybrid tea rose that looks beautiful in any garden. It’s a prolific bloomer and maintains a dense, bushy shape.
20. The Queen of Sweden Rose
The Queen of Sweden is a beautiful English shrub rose bred by David Austin. The soft-apricot blooms have a large cup shape with a myrrh fragrance.
21. The Black Magic Rose
The Black Magic Hybrid Tea Rose has scentless, deep-red blooms that make great cut flowers for bouquets. They grow upright in heights of up to seven feet tall.
What to Consider When Choosing Types of Rose Bushes
Growing Zone
Luckily, no matter what USDA hardiness zone you live in, you can usually find roses that thrive in your area. If you live in zones seven through nine, you should be able to grow nearly any rose. If you have a primarily colder or warmer climate, look for roses that will grow prolifically under those temperatures.
For colder zones like zone two through four, look into varieties such as the Ramblin’ Red Rose, the William Baffin Rose, or the Hot Paprika Rose.
Garden Space
Depending on the type of rose you get, roses can grow anywhere from two to over 20 feet in height. Measure the available space in your garden and choose a rose bush that will stay within those parameters.
If you don’t have any space for a wide rose shrub but have vertical space, consider installing a trellis and purchasing a climbing rose. Climbing roses can be trained to climb trellises, arbors, fences, and walls, and they add lots of visual interest.
Types of Roses
There are types of roses, such as shrub roses, knockout roses, and hybrid tea roses, that grow similarly in size. If you’ve narrowed down how much space you have, you need to determine what type of bloom you enjoy.
Shrub roses usually have cupped blooms and dense petals. Knockout roses have fewer petals in the blooms but are lower maintenance. Hybrid tea roses have blooms with high centers, similar to what you see in flower arrangements.
Color
You can find roses in essentially every color. A lot of people like to purchase rose bushes that bloom in their favorite color, so they know they’ll enjoy the flower!
You can also pick a color that coordinates with the perennials in your garden. If you have lots of purple or pink in your garden already, such as lavender or echinacea, choose a rose in a yellow shade. If you have several yellowish-orange perennials, such as coreopsis or daisies, look for roses in shades of pink and red.
Potted or Bare Root
Roses are sold in several different ways. Most roses you find at the garden center or in the nursery are in pots. You can also get potted roses shipped to you on websites like Nature Hills. Potted roses are easy to dig a hole for and plant. Just make sure to follow the soil recommendations for that specific rose.
You can find bare root roses primarily online. Bare root roses come to you – as it sounds – with bare roots!
You can find tips on how to plant a bare root rose right here on our website! You will need to hydrate the roots of the rose, then plant them in a sizable hole. You then fill the hole with the original soil that was removed and water the rose well.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When should I plant a rose bush?
Roses can be planted in the spring or the fall. For spring planting, make sure to wait until all danger of frost has passed. This is usually around mid-April to May, depending on your zone.
For fall planting, make sure to get the rose in the ground around six weeks before the first average frost. Planting roses in the fall will help the roses establish roots before they go dormant.
2. Do I need to deadhead my rose?
Deadheading a rose is a good practice to keep your rose looking healthy and beautiful. This is especially important for repeat-bloomer types of rose bushes to encourage the next flush of blooms. Removing spent blooms also helps prevent fungus from growing on your plant.
To deadhead a rose, cut the stem of the rose right under the head of the bloom and above the first set of leaflets closest to the bloom. Make sure to use sharp shears to avoid damaging the bush.
3. Is pruning necessary?
Pruning is not required for roses, but it’s a good habit to get into. Giving your roses a good pruning during their dormancy helps encourage growth in the spring. For most rose varieties, including repeat-bloomers, prune in very early spring before new growth appears.
For climbing types of rose bushes, wait to prune until after the blooming season in summer to avoid cutting branches that will heavily flower. These roses grow on old growth.
4. What fertilizer can I use on my rose bush?
Roses are heavy feeders, so fertilizing your rose bush is a great idea. Look for fertilizers that contain nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. These are the three main nutrients that roses need.
Good choices for fertilizers include liquid fertilizers such as Alaska’s Fish Emulsion or granular fertilizers like Down to Earth All Natural Rose & Flower Bulb Fertilizer Mix.
Fertilize your roses when you see several inches of new growth, then apply throughout the growing season per the specific fertilizer’s instructions.
5. Can I transplant a rose bush?
Yes, but roses are prone to transplant shock if not handled correctly. For young rose bushes, try to transplant them during the dormancy season just before new growth.
For mature roses, transplant the rose bush after the first spring flush of blooms. But, before you move a mature rose bush, water it every day before transplanting to reduce shock.
Wrapping Up Different Types of Rose Bushes
Adding roses to your garden is a great way to put color and inspiration into your landscape. It’s also handy to have beautiful rose bushes in your perennial garden for making home arrangements and bouquets. I’ve listed 21 gorgeous and unique types of rose bushes that you can pick from.
Excited for more rose content? Then keep reading all about these beautiful flowers, how to take care of them, and more on our roses page!