Roses: 11 Sensational Varieties to Consider

The long canes of climbing roses are well adapted to inching their way up pillars, fences, arbors and gazebos. Most of them are mutations or variations on bush roses, and they develop either large, single flowers or clustered blooms on a stem. Loose anchoring to a support will encourage young plants to climb.

Shrub roses are strong roses; they take the most durable traits of the rose species and combine them with repeat blooming and diverse flower forms, colors and fragrances. They make a great addition to any landscape, and believe it or not, some new breeds need little to no maintenance!

These came about thanks to the advent of shrub roses. Low-growing ground cover roses are perfect for mass planting in a border or under a tree; line a path, or mix in with annuals, perennials and shrubs. 

Miniature roses are perfect for small gardens, and adapt well to flowerbed edging and low hedges. Master miniaturists have created many jewel-like varieties featuring perfectly shaped tiny blooms on clean, healthy plants that generally stay under 2 feet.

A cross between Rosa gigantea and the China Rose, tea roses bring delicate beauty to yards thanks to their high, urn-shaped blossoms and graceful stems. They don’t do well in winter, though, so give them extra care during cold months. 

Small floribunda roses look like elegant hybrid tea blooms but appear in clusters instead of one flower per stem. They combine hardiness, free flowering, and showy, usually fragrant blooms. Plus, the foliage on floribunda roses tends to shrug off diseases, making for a low-maintenance plant that delivers maximum impact with its continuous bloom cycles. 

Tree roses are basically rose bushes on a hardy stem. They add elegance to walkways or in the yard, but require a lot of attention to ensure their survival through the winter. 

Grandiflora roses blend the best traits of hybrid teas and floribundas; they produce the same elegantly shaped blooms as hybrid teas, but in long-stemmed clusters that continually repeat, like floribundas. They are typically tall (they can reach 7 feet), hardy, and disease-resistant. 

Ramblers are characterized by long, sprawling, pliable canes which can be trained as a climber or left to cover wide areas. Though their leaves can have a susceptibility to mildew, ramblers can easily overtake a structure and even climb trees. 

Landscape roses are shrub roses used to landscape yards. They must be hardy, repeat-flowering, pest and disease-resistant with little to no care to qualify as a “landscape rose.”

Bill Radler introduced the Knock Out in 2000, and the flower won the prestigious All American Rose Award the very first year of distribution. It has since sold by the millions and continues to do so. Knock Outs are incredibly reliable, hardy, disease resistant and a great choice for first-time rose gardeners. 

For tips on how to grow and maintain all of these gorgeous roses, be sure to read How To: Care for Roses, part of our 30 Days of Easy Summer DIY series.