Types of Roses

There are many varieties of roses to choose from when planning your garden and the selection can be confusing. To aid in your selection, roses are broken into eight main categories that basically describe the growth behavior and final product. Within those categories exist a dizzying array of varieties, but if you make type decisions first based on the overall results you are looking for, you will not be disappointed.

The first type of roses is the Old Garden Rose or Old Fashioned Rose. These are the earliest type and typically mean any variety that predates the introduction of the Hybrid Tea Roses in the late 1800s. They tend to be very hardy and easy to grow, but they are most notable for the heavy fragrance they tend to produce. Historically, they were used to make perfume and medicines. These are the roses that you see growing in large bushes even when neglected near older homes and properties.

The second type is the Hybrid Tea or Modern Rose. This type was introduced in 1867 and is the most common rose grown today. They tend to have long stems and high centered blooms and come in a wide variety of colors. This is the perfect rose for cutting for a vase and they can be fragrant as well. The Hybrid Tea tends to produce well for an entire season.

The third type of rose if the Floribunda. They are a cross of the Polyantha rose and the Hybrid Tea and as a result produce clusters of medium sized blooms on long stems. They are hardy and tend to bloom continuously from spring through frost in most zones. With an overall size of two to three feet and the constant color provided by these roses, they make a good choice for planting in front of taller roses.

Polyanthas make up the fourth category of rose types and have been displaced in popularity by their showier relatives.

They are very hardy and flower continuously, but often have little or no scent. This bush has small flowers and is nice in containers or in borders.

Grandifloras are the result of the Queen Elizabeth Rose, which is a combination of the Hybrid Tea and the Floribunda. The Grandiflora blooms and stem length tend to fall midway between the parent qualities, slightly larger and longer than the Floribunda and slightly smaller and shorter than the Hybrid Tea. The biggest difference is in overall plant size, where the Grandiflora outgrows both Hybrid Tea and Floribunda by three to six feet. This, of course, makes them perfect for the back of the rose bed.

The sixth category of rose is the Climbing Rose. The climber is not as hardy as the previously mentioned types, but the effect is outstanding. Cover an arbor or trellis with this beautiful long caned rose, or run it up a wall with supports and you can dress up any area with the many blooms produced. They may need a little more care in colder zones during the winter, but are considered fairly hardy.

The Miniature Rose makes up the seventh category of rose and were developed by crossing the fairy rose with the Floribunda and Polyantha. They are an excellent choice for indoor planting as they can be kept in pots but will need a lot of sun. However, they do work well outside too and can be used as borders and groundcover.

The last type of rose is the Tree Rose. The Tree Rose is striking when used as an accent, but they require a lot of work and maintenance. These roses were developed by grafting a hardy root stock onto a long stem that is grafted onto a rose bush at the top of the stem. As a result they need support by stakes when planted, but offer the variety of any of the bushes mentioned above.