My best 20 bets for your new rose garden
Here are a total of 20 rose choices that I’ve had good luck with. Each of the 20 were picked with the idea of buying 3 plants, which adds up to 60 bushes to make your first colorful rose garden. Not too many, just right: you’ll have tons of cut flowers for the home all season long, without tons of work over the next 10 years. Some bushes might be available at a discount in the fall.
Each is a hardy, disease-resistant rose within 4 colors. To break things up, I threw in 1 striped pink one and 1 energetic red climber just for fun. By mixing solid colors like these, you should be able to create both stunning vase bouquets indoors and glamorous borders outside.
Whether it’s a birthday celebration, a holiday dinner or any social gathering, glorious blooms can always elevate your occasion with the addition of great beauty right out of your own garden.
5 best red rose standards
The red rose has always been a classic beauty. Few things so clearly symbolize passionate love as the red rose, and they make stunning additions to our gardens. There are many different types of red roses: tea roses, bush roses, climbers, and even miniatures. Leave them in place to enjoy outdoors or cut them to make fragrant bouquets during these tough Covid-19 times.
Mr Lincoln
Dark red hybrid tea
Strong fragrance and blooms have up to 35 petals with an average diameter of 5″.
A vigorous grower into a tall bush with matte, dark green, leathery foliage and average thorns.
Height of 3′ to 6′ 8″ Width of 2′.
USDA zone 7a to 10b. It can be used for cut flowers or kept in garden borders and beds.
Spring Pruning:
Remove old canes and dead or diseased wood and cut back all canes that cross.
Disease susceptibility:
Hardy, vigorous grower, and heat tolerant.
Veteran’s Honor
Dark red hybrid tea
Mild, raspberry fragrance. Expect blooms with 25 to 30 petals and an average diameter of 5.5″.
Tall, spreading, upright bush with medium, semi-glossy, dark green foliage. Height of 4′ to 5′ Width of 3′.
USDA zone 6b and warmer. It can be used for cut flowers, or kept in garden beds and borders.
Spring Pruning: Remove old canes and dead or diseased wood and cut back all canes that cross.
Disease susceptibility: mildly susceptible to blackspot.
Florentina
Medium red climber with large flowers showing yellow stamens.
Moderate fragrance. Blooms start with rounded buds growing blooms of up to 70 petals with an average diameter of 3.25″.
Armed with average thorns, it’s an upright climber with medium, semi-glossy, dark green, leathery foliage.
Height of 6′ 7″ to 9′ 10″. Width of 3′ 3″ to 5′ 11″.
Occasional repeat of blooms later in the season.
Spring Pruning: Remove old canes and dead or diseased wood and cut back canes that cross.
Disease susceptibility: disease resistant plus hardy.
Double Delight
Red and white blend with red edges. Very large, very double, high-centered bloom form.
Strong, spice fragrance with up to 30 petals. Average bloom diameter of 5″. Blooms show white to red flushes throughout the season.
Large, matte, medium green foliage.
Height of 3′ to 5′. Width of 2′ to 5′.
USDA zone 7b to 10b. It can be used for dramatic cut flowers or kept in borders and beds in the garden.
Spring Pruning: Remove old canes and dead or diseased wood and cut back canes that cross. Protect from hard frosts.
Disease susceptibility: susceptible to mildew. Hard freezes may cause canker, die-back and death of the plant in cold climates.
Ingrid Bergman
Dark red Hybrid Tea. Large, double and full blooms in a high-centered form.
None to mild fragrance with 30 to 35 petals. Average bloom diameter of 4.75″. Blooms in red flushes throughout the season.
Medium, upright, well-branched bushes with medium, glossy, semi-glossy, dark green foliage.
Height of 2′ to 39″. Width of 2′ to 26″.
USDA zone 4b and warmer. Can be used for cut flowers or kept in beds and borders in the garden for color.
Spring Pruning: Remove old canes and dead or diseased wood and cut back canes that cross.
Disease susceptibility: very disease resistant plus heat & rain tolerant.
5 bright yellow roses
The yellow rose symbolizes sunshine, joy, and friendship. They perk up the garden outdoors, and create a golden indoor sun when used in bunches as a cut flower. There are many yellow rose varieties, from stately hybrid teas to huge grandifloras and these hold their color as well as any.
Julia Child
Butter-yellow floribunda. Medium full blooms in small clusters with cupped old-fashioned bud forms.
Strong, anise, licorice fragrance with 30 to 45 petals that average a diameter of 3″. Prolific grower with continuous blooms throughout the season.
Medium stems, armed with thorns in a compact and rounded bush. Dense glossy green leaves.
Height of 28″ to 33″. Width of 20″ to 26″.
USDA zone 5b to 10a. Can be used for container roses, cut flowers or kept in garden beds and borders.
Spring Pruning: Remove old canes and dead or diseased wood and cut back canes that cross.
Disease susceptibility: susceptible to blackspot but very mildew resistant and heat tolerant.
South Africa
Golden-yellow grandiflora that flowers in large clusters, with high-centered blooms.
It is very free flowering with large, double petals averaging 17-25 petals in each 4.5″ bloom. Prolific bloomer and, blooms in yellow flushes throughout the season.
Armed with thorns in an upright and vigorous bush. Has semi-glossy, dark green, leathery foliage.
Height of up to 5′. Width of up to 3′.
USDA zone 6b and warmer. Can be used for beds and borders, cut flower or garden.
Spring Pruning: Remove old canes and dead or diseased wood and cut back canes that cross.
Disease susceptibility: very disease resistant.
Lady of Shallott
Apricot and yellow to salmon-pink shading reverse shrub rose. Petals grow in very full, clusters within the blooms and the buds develop in small cluster forms.
Strong, apple, clove, tea fragrance. Average bloom diameter is 3″. Blooms in orange flushes throughout the season.
Medium thorns in an upright bush. Medium, semi-glossy, dark green foliage.
Height of 3′ 8″. Width of 3′.
Can be used for beds and borders, cut flower or beds and borders in the garden
Spring Pruning: Remove old canes and dead or diseased wood and cut back canes that cross.
Disease susceptibility: disease resistant but, the blooms tend to ball up in wet weather.
Molineux
Deep yellow English shrub rose.
It has medium sized petals that grow in an old-fashioned English rosette bloom. It also has unusually pointed, ovoid, rounded buds.
Excellent repeat bloomer as well.
Very mild tea/musk fragrance, but opinions vary. Traditional English Blooms average 110 to 120 petals with an average diameter of 2.75″. Blooms in orange to yellow flushes throughout the season.
Almost thornless with large, leathery foliage in 5 leaflets. Vigorous grower to a height of 4′ and width of 3′.
USDA zone 5b to 10b. Best used for beds, borders, or large containers – but requires spring freeze protection
Spring Pruning: Remove old canes and dead or diseased wood and cut back canes that cross.
Disease susceptibility: hardy, disease resistant – plus can tolerate partial sun locations.
Gold Medal
Medium yellow Grandiflora with golden-yellow centers and a copper edge shading that ages to cream. Full high-centered blooms grow in small clusters like hybrid teas.
Mild, fruity, spice, tea fragrance. 30 to 40 petals bloom with an average diameter of 4.5″. Blooms in yellow / copper flushes during the season. The buds are protected by unusually long sepals.
Tall, well-branched, almost thornless, and upright bushes. Large, semi-glossy, dark green, dense foliage.
Height of 2’6″ to 6′. Width of 3′.
USDA zone 7b and warmer. It can be used for cut flowers, garden borders, or bold arrangements.
Spring Pruning: Remove old canes and dead or diseased wood and cut back canes that cross.
Disease susceptibility: very disease resistant, plus heat tolerant which is unusual in yellow roses.
5 luscious pink roses
For many gardeners, the pink rose variety is at the top of the list. Pinks may from pale, romantic pastels all the way to bold, hot pinks and everything in between. If you enjoy pink roses, you’ll enjoy growing some of these 5 pink roses.
Queen Elizabeth
An exquisite medium pink grandiflora rose named for Her Majesty. Large, full blooms are in small clusters, and high-centered to form a cupped shape.
Moderate tea fragrance. Blooms can be up to 38 – 40 petals with an average diameter of 4″. Blooms in deep pink flushes throughout the season. New buds are strongly pointed.
Tall upright bush with large, almost thornless leathery, glossy, dark green foliage. Very vigorous grower.
Unusual height to 12′. (Not a typo, yes 12 feet.) Width of 2′ 6″ to 3′.
USDA zone 5b through 9b. It can be used for long-lasting cut flowers, a flowering hedge, or against a warm wall in your garden.
Spring Pruning: Remove old canes and dead or diseased wood and cut back canes that cross.
Disease susceptibility: yearly reliable – plus it’s very hardy and very disease resistant.
Gertrude Jekyll
Large pink shrub rose with large, old-fashioned English rosette blooms growing in clusters. Can be trained as a short climber also.
Strong, old rose fragrance. Average bloom diameter of 4.25″. Blooms in flushes throughout the season.
Vigorous grower and a strong repeat bloomer. Unusual height to 10′. Bushy width to 6′.
USDA zone 5b to 10b. It can be used for cut flowers, a flowering hedge, on arbors, in large containers, and even to hide the shed.
Spring Pruning: Remove old canes and dead or diseased wood and cut back canes that cross.
Disease susceptibility: very hardy
Pretty Lady
Deep pink hybrid tea named for Lady Rose in the Downton Abbey series. It has large, very full mostly solitary flowers, that grow in small clusters, with a cupped form.
Mild, sweet spice fragrance. Blooms have 33 to 70 petals and an average diameter of 3.75″ and pointed, ovoid buds. Blooms in strong pink flushes throughout the season.
Short, compact, well-branched bushes with glossy, leathery foliage in 3 to 7 leaflets.
Height of 4′ to 6′. Width of 3′ 6″ to 4′ 5″.
USDA zone 5b to 8b. It can be used for cut flowers, a flowering hedge, or as a small and bright filler in garden borders.
Spring Pruning: Remove old canes and dead or diseased wood and cut back canes that cross.
Disease susceptibility: very good, plus hardiness.
Pretty in Pink Eden
A deep pink climber edged in creamy white.
Mild floral vintage rose fragrance. Blooms have 70 to 80 petals and a large average diameter of 5″.
Vigorous grower. Medium semi-glossy, green foliage with average thorns.
Climbing height to 10′. Bush width of up to 8′.
USDA zone 5 to 9. It can be used for clusters of cut flowers, a flowering hedge, or trained over a garden arbor or fence.
Spring Pruning: Remove old canes and dead or diseased wood and cut back canes that cross.
Disease susceptibility: very good and hardy when in full sun.
Sweet Madamoiselle
Rose-pink and very fragrant hybrid tea with orange-pink shading that intensifies with heat, depending on your growing zone. Its parentage includes the classic ‘Love and Peace’ rose.
Exceptional and strong complex of anise, apple, apricot or peach, damask, fruity, lemon fragrances. Blooms can have 48 to 68 petals filling an average diameter of 5″. Blooms in pink flushes throughout the season, beginning with small buds.
Vigorous grower into full but compact bushes with leathery foliage in 3 to 7 leaflets. Good repeat bloomer during a long season.
Height of 3′ to 6′. Width of up to 3′.
USDA zone 5 to 9. It’s especially useful for its fragrance: as very fragrant indoor cut flowers, in containers on the patio, or near an entry.
Spring Pruning: Remove old canes and dead or diseased wood and cut back canes that cross.
Disease susceptibility: very disease resistant, plus hardy.
5 bold orange roses
Orange may be perceived as the color of caution to some, but as flowers, they carry a number of meanings. To the family they are a symbol of appreciation and respect, the perfect shade for someone seeking a casual floral gift – but to a lover, they can represent adoration and passionate love. Seems perfect for your first rose garden.
About Face
Blended orange reverse grandiflora, with a deep orange-gold upper and burnished red reverse. Perfect exotic accent for your home’s flower arrangements.
Mild to strong, apple, fruity fragrance. Blooms have 26 to 30 petals with an average diameter of 4″. Blooms in flushes throughout the season, beginning on pointed ovoid buds.
Vigorous and tall, armed with average thorns in an upright, well-branched bush with large, semi-glossy, dark green foliage.
Height of 5′ to 6′. Width of 3′ to 4′.
USDA zone 6b to 9b. It can be used for cut flower or garden accents.
Spring Pruning: Remove old canes and dead or diseased wood and cut back canes that cross.
Disease susceptibility: very resistant plus hardy.
Chihuly
Orange, red, and yellow blended floribunda. Medium to large petals grow as double flowers in small clusters continuously through the season.
Mild, tea fragrance. Large, vibrant blooms beginning in yellow, then blushing to orange & finishing in red have 17 to 25 petals with an average diameter of 4″.
Medium and full bushes with average thorns, and medium glossy deep green foliage.
Height of 3′ 6″ to 4′. Width of 3′ to 4′.
USDA zone 6b to 9b. It can be used for garden beds and borders or bright cut flowers.
Spring Pruning: Remove old canes and dead or diseased wood and cut back canes that cross.
Disease susceptibility: Very good, plus hardy.
Above All
An orange blend climber with medium to large flowers, mostly solitary, in large clusters. A continuous bloomer throughout the season.
Stunning salmon-orange. Moderate, fruity fragrance. The blooms have 23 to 38 petals with an average diameter of 3″.
A vigorous grower that climbs easily, with glossy foliage on 3 to 7 leaflets. Height to 14′. Width of 3′.
USDA zone 5a and warmer. Can be trained as a climber on arbors and walls.
Spring Pruning: Remove old canes and dead or diseased wood and cut back canes that cross.
Disease susceptibility: disease resistant plus hardy.
Tropicana
Orange and orange-red hybrid tea with large pointed double blooms in flushes throughout the whole season.
Vermilion flowers with salmon-pink undertones. Strong, fruity fragrance. Blooms have 30 to 35 petals with an average diameter of 5″.
Semi-glossy green foliage in a spreading bush with average thorns. Height of 3′ 6″ to 6′. Width of 3′.
USDA zone 7b and warmer. It can be used for bold garden beds and borders or bright cut flowers.
Spring Pruning: Remove old canes and dead or diseased wood and cut back canes that cross.
Disease susceptibility: susceptible to mildew. Requires spring freeze protection too.
Tangerine Skies
Orange to peach to yellow climber with a medium double bloom form typical of climbing roses.
Strong fruity fragrance. Blooms have up to 25 petals with an average diameter of 4″. Good repeat bloomer through the whole season.
Vigorous grower with glossy, dark green foliage and average thorns.
Height of up to 8′. Width of up to 4′.
USDA zones 5b to 9b. It can be used for clusters of cut flowers, a flowering hedge, or trained on a garden arbor or fence.
Spring Pruning: Remove old canes and dead or diseased wood and cut back canes that cross.
Disease susceptibility: Very resistant plus hardy.
* Bonus Roses
Here you will find 2 roses with dynamic colors to help you walk on the wild side. Mix their blooms with the traditional solid colors and varieties and you will always create glamorous rose bouquets.
Dazzle someone in your garden today with these extra choices. Whether you prefer the red and white like ‘Daring Spirit’ in a bouquet or modern arrangement – or the more vivacious hot pink of ‘Rosanna’ robustly covering an arbor, each of these is indeed a bonus baby.
Daring Spirit
Carmine pink hybrid tea with cream streaks or flecks. Useful as an arrangement accent.
Moderate, spice fragrance. Blooms have 26 to 40 petals with an average diameter of 5″. Good re-bloomer throughout the whole season.
Glossy, dark green foliage with average thorns. Height of up to 5′. Width of up to 4′.
USDA zone 5a to 10b. Often used for cut flowers or as a garden accent near a walkway.
Spring Pruning: Remove old canes and dead or diseased wood and cut back canes that cross.
Disease susceptibility: very resistant plus hardy
Rosanna
Robust and vigorous salmon pink climber with large, double blooms growing in clusters.
Moderate, spice fragrance. Blooms have 17 to 25 petals with an average diameter of 5″. Good re-bloomer throughout the spring and fall seasons.
Vigorous grower with glossy, dark green foliage and average thorns. Height of up to 15′. Width of up to 3′.
USDA zone 6b to 9b. Useful for training on arbors or fences, plus bold cut flowers indoors.
Spring Pruning: Remove old canes and dead or diseased wood and cut back canes that cross.
Disease susceptibility: disease resistant plus hardy.
Modern roses come in almost every shade of every color imaginable – red, pink, orange, and yellow – just to name a few. I’ve had good luck with the roses on this list among others, so I hope you have good luck with them also. Before you buy one, see it in bloom in a garden – private or public if possible.
More on what to consider before buying a rose bush.
Growing and sharing your roses can be one of the most satisfying things about gardening. Pass it on . .
Sources: HelpMeFind, American Rose Society, Jackson and Perkins, David Austin Roses, Palatine Roses, Heirloom Roses,
