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Rose types explained
- BBC Gardeners' World Magazine
Published: Monday, 21 September 2020 at 9:33 am
We take you through the different types of roses, including ramblers and floribundas.
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Roses are one of the broadest groups of plants, with lots of different types that can confuse new and experienced gardeners alike.
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Each type has its benefits, so you'll find it easy to find roses to grow in different spots, whether it's in a border, over a garden arch or in pots and containers.
Want to find out more about using roses in your garden? Discover rose planting combinations, roses for cut flowers and these five ways to grow better roses.
Where to buy roses
Get to grips with the different types of roses to grow below.
Hybrid tea
Hybrid tea roses were first created by crossing robust, vigorous hybrid perpetuals with the more tender, long-flowering tea roses. The result was the modern hybrid tea rose, which has large flowers held alone on straight stems. The flowers have a 'pointed' appearance. Most are fragranced and they're available in all colours except blue. Repeat-flowering and an open growth habit. Ideal for cut flowers.
Peach coloured hybrid tea rose 'Lynda Bellingham'
Polyantha
Polyanthas are small shrub roses, bearing clusters of small flowers. They have bushy growth and are robust, repeat flowerers. Most have some fragrance. Their relatively compact shape makes them great for edging borders.
Polyantha rose 'Little White Pet' bearing many small white flowers
Floribunda
Floribunda roses are the result of crossing hybrid tea and polyantha roses. They bear lots of flowers held in clusters and are generally bushier in form. Considered hardier and more resistant to disease than hybrid teas. Wide range of flower colours, though many have no scent. Repeat-flowering.
Stunning red-purple blooms of floribunda rose 'Hot Chocolate'
Patio
Patio roses are those that have been bred specifically to produce plants that are particularly compact, so they're ideal for growing in containers. Like polyanthas, they have bushy growth and clusters of small flowers. Repeat-flowering, often fragranced blooms.
Pink blooms of patio rose 'Letchworth Centenary'
Ground cover
As the name suggests, ground cover roses are generally wider than they are tall, though they can vary in size, from low growers like 'Partridge' to larger, bushier varieties like 'Raubritter'. Most are repeat-flowering, with lots of small flowers produced. Some are fragranced, some are not. Small but tough plants.
Maroon-flowering ground cover rose 'Suffolk' in a planter with clematis
Climbing
A number of factors separate climbing roses from ramblers. First, they have more structured, less vigorous growth, flower on growth produced in the current year and produce fewer but larger blooms. Some are repeat-flowering, particularly the newer varieties. Most are fragranced, and they can be divided into separate types, such as climbing Hybrid Teas.
Double, white blooms of the climbing rose 'Claire Austin'
Rambling
Rambling roses are much more vigorous than climbers, usually providing a single, magnificent flush of smaller flowers in June and July. To get more flowers, go for a repeat-flowering rambler. They flower on the previous year's growth, so they need pruning straight after flowering, with the old stems cut right back. Many are fragrant, and they're great for covering pergolas.
A magenta rambling rose growing over an arch
Damask
Damask roses are an old grouping considered some of the best for fragrance –indeed, they're still grown commercially for rose oil and to make rose water. These shrub roses are split into two groups – summer Damasks, which are larger, have white to pink flowers and bloom once a year, and Autumn Damasks, which are more compact, will repeat flower and have white, pink or deep pink-purple flowers.
Pink blooms of damask rose 'Le Ville de Bruxelles'. Getty Images
Gallica
Gallicas are arguably the oldest garden roses. They're relatively short, bushy roses, with double flowers that have a distinctively ruffled appearance. Blooms are usually pink, purple or red. Many are strongly perfumed, and all make lovely border roses.
Dark and light pink Rosa gallica 'Versicolor'
Alba
These old roses are considered to be some of the toughest you can grow. Their flowers are always white or pale pink, set against characteristic grey-green leaves. They are highly disease-resistant and require little pruning. They can be grown in partial shade.
Creamy rose 'Alba Maxima' (photo credit: Getty images)
Centifolia
Centifolias are characterised by their large, almost spherical flowers that are highly scented. Sometimes referred to as the Provence rose, owing to their cultivation in the region for the production of rose oil. They're shrub roses with an open growth habit. Flowers range in colour from white through to rich pink.
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Large, pink bloom of centifolia rose 'Chapeau de Nopal' (photo credit: Getty Images)
Broad, red rosehips of Rosa rugosa
Roses for hips
- Dog rose - Rosa canina (climbing)
- Rosa filipes 'Kiftsgate' (rambling)
- Rosa 'Fru Dagmar Hastrup' (rugosa)
- Rosa 'Madame Grégoire Staechelin' (climbing)
- Rosa rugosa 'Alba' (rugosa)
- Sweet briar (Rosa rubiginosa)
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