The Best Types of Roses for Your Garden

FLORIBUNDA

First developed around 1940, these hybrids combine the free-flowering nature and compact habit of polyanthas with the vibrance and color range of hybrid teas. Flowers are smaller than hybrid teas, but are borne in profuse clusters on bushy plants, creating a striking effect in the landscape. These are suitable in mixed cottage-style borders, massed along a slope for erosion control, as privacy hedging, or in containers. The easy-care nature and hardiness makes these a good choice for beginning gardeners.

Zones: 4-10
Height/Spread: Compact bushy habit, 2-5 feet tall and 2-4 feet wide
Bloom time: Repeat or continuous bloom from early summer to fall
Color: Flowers are white, yellow, pink, gold, lavender-blue, burgundy, apricot, orange, red or bicolored
Try: ‘Cinco de Mayo’ (pictured), ‘Iceberg’, ‘Bonica’, ‘Amber Queen’, ‘Sunsprite’, and ‘Julia Child’

HYBRID TEA

Hybrid teas, which are a cross between tea roses and hybrid perpetuals, became the first modern rose type when introduced in 1867. The wide range of flower colors and large fragrant blooms, which are each borne on a long single stem, make these a favorite of seasoned gardeners, exhibitors, and florists. Hybrid teas can be higher maintenance and more susceptible to pests and diseases than other types. Plant in a mixed border, mass planting, container, or as a stand-alone accent.

Zones: 5-9
Height/Spread: Upright bushy habit, 3-8 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide
Bloom time: Repeat or continuous bloom from late spring to fall
Color: Flowers are white, yellow, pink, gold, lavender-blue, burgundy, apricot, orange, red, bi- or multi-colored
Try: ‘Double Delight’ (pictured), ‘Peace’, ‘Mister Lincoln’, ‘Fragrant Cloud’, and ‘Just Joey’.

GRANDIFLORA

These taller shrub types, which were introduced in the 1950s, are a cross between hybrid teas and floribundas. They are characterized by clusters of 5-7 large, showy blooms on robust stems. Use in a mixed border, as hedging, or as a striking focal point in the landscape. Makes an excellent cut flower.

Zones: 5-9
Height/Spread: Upright bushy habit, 3-8 feet tall and 2-5 feet wide
Bloom time: Repeat bloom from late spring to fall
Color: Flowers are purple, red, orange, white, pink, or yellow
Try: ‘Dick Clark’ (pictured), ‘Gold Medal’, ‘Tournament of Roses’, ‘Mother of Pearl’, 'Octoberfest’, and ‘Cherry Parfait’.

POLYANTHA

Developed in the late 19th century, these exceptionally tough roses are similar in stature to floribundas, though smaller, with a dense growth habit and clusters of 1- to 2-inch blooms that are rarely fragrant. Though most are shrubs, some are climbers. Use as edging along a pathway, at the front of a mixed border, as hedging, or in containers. Virtually carefree and disease-free.

Zones: 4-10
Height/Spread: Compact, spreading or climbing habit. Shrub forms grow 2-4 feet tall and wide. Climbers such as ‘Cecile Brunner’ can reach up to 10 feet tall and 3-6 feet wide.
Bloom time: Repeat bloom from early summer to fall
Color: Flowers are white, pink, red, apricot, lavender, or crimson
Try: ‘The Fairy’ (pictured), ‘China Doll’ ‘Marie Pavie’, ‘Cecile Brunner’, ‘Perle d’Or’.

SHRUB

Shrub roses are an easy-care alternative to more fussy hybrid teas. This diverse group includes hybrid musk, Kordesii, and English roses. The informal sprawling habit makes these a good choice for larger landscapes, mixed borders, mass plantings and slopes. Learn more about growing shrub roses.

Zones: 3-11
Height/Spread: Mounding, bushy, spreading or groundcover habit, 1-20 feet tall and 1-15 feet wide
Bloom time: Bloom time varies according to variety. These include one-time bloomers from late spring to early summer, as well as repeat and continuous bloomers that flower from late spring to frost.
Color: Flowers in nearly every color except green, blue, or black; green, blue, or purple-tinged foliage.
Try: Oso Easy® series (Oso Easy Peasy®, pictured), Knockout®, Flower Carpet®, ‘Hansa’, ‘Carefree Delight’, ‘Buff Beauty’, and ‘Distant Drums’.

CLIMBERS

These are the romantic vining types that are seen growing up pergolas and arbors and trained along fences. Unlike true vines, they don’t climb on their own and need careful training and sturdy support. These include Noisette and climbing forms of hybrid tea, Bourbon, floribunda, grandiflora, and tea roses. Climbers are best used as screening and to provide vertical interest in the landscape.

Zones: 2-10
Height/Spread: Climbing spreading habit, 6-12 feet tall (or long) and 3-4 feet wide
Bloom time: Late spring to frost
Color: Flowers are pink, white, yellow red, orange, lavender, purple, burgundy and apricot; green foliage
Try: ‘Eden’ (pictured), ‘Cl. Iceberg’, ‘Fourth of July’, ‘William Baffin’, ‘Zephirine Droughin’.

MINIATURE

Bred for their compact size and diminutive one-inch blooms, the name is somewhat deceiving, as some varieties can grow as large as floribundas. Profuse flower clusters occur on sturdy plants in shrub or climbing forms. Suitable for small spaces, raised beds, rock gardens, as pathway edging, and as a stand-alone accent in a container.

Zones: 4-11
Height/Spread: Compact, upright, spreading or climbing habit. Shrub forms grow to 1-3 feet tall and 2 feet wide. Climbers can reach 3-6 feet tall.
Bloom time: Late spring to fall
Color: Flowers are white, pink, red, burgundy, yellow, orange, and lavender; green foliage.
Try: ‘Rainbow’s End’ (pictured), ‘Lavender Delight’, ‘Tiddly Winks’, ‘Hot Tamale’, ‘Gourmet Popcorn’, and ‘Angel Wings’.

ENGLISH (DAVID AUSTIN)

Though not officially recognized as a separate class, English roses are among the most popular with home gardeners. These hybrid shrubs or climbers combine the full-petaled flower form and intense fragrance of old roses with the wider color range, repeat bloom and disease-resistance of modern roses. Also known as David Austin roses for the breeder who introduced them in the 1960s, these do best in milder regions with cooler summers. Use in a mixed border, containers, as hedging, or a stand-alone focal point. Makes an excellent cut flower.

Zones: 4-11
Height/Spread: Upright, bushy or climbing habit, 4-12 feet tall and 3-5 feet wide
Bloom time: Repeat or continuous bloom from late spring until fall
Color: Flowers are white, pink, apricot, yellow, red, coral, burgundy, orange; foliage is green or blue-green.
Try: ‘Graham Thomas’ (pictured), ‘Abraham Darby’, ‘Heritage’, ‘Mary Rose’, ‘Lady of Shalott’, and ‘Gertrude Jekyll’.