Roses are one of the most wide-ranging flowering plants out there . There are over a hundred coinage , and 1000 of hybrids and cultivar .
They come in an endless range of colors , shapes , and sizes , from one with bantam efflorescence that have just a few petals to monolithic blooms with over a hundred petals each .
In other countersign , this is one eclectic collection of plants . And I ’ll be reliable : we have n’t figured out a really estimable way to categorize them all .
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Shrub roses , also known as landscape roses , are a group of mod types let in variety that do n’t fall under any of the other available classifications . Basically , it ’s a pinch - all pigeonholing that includes ground covers , climbers , and everything in between .
But do n’t discount the grandness of this pigeonholing just because it ’s a motley gang of plant .
Shrub types are fabulously popular , and helped bringRosaspecies to a wider audience . Ever heard of David Austin , English , or Knock Outs ? These are all in the bush class .
In fact , the majority of the plants you ’ll find at those bighearted home memory are shrubs . And when I take a stroll around my neighborhood , most of the pink wine I spot are shrub .
They ’re everywhere ! But how do you screw which is which , since a rose wine with a shrublike growing habit is n’t necessarily a bush rose ?
If you ’re feeling scattered , do n’t care ! We ’re going to help make sense of this chemical group of plants , so that you ’ll have a good understanding of what masses mean when they refer to bush roses .
Here ’s what we ’ll talk over :
What You’ll Learn
What Is a Shrub Rose ?
Sub - Classifications
Hybrid Kordesii
Hybrid Moyesii
Hybrid Musk
Hybrid Rugosa
Shrub
How to deal for Shrub rosiness
Take off the gardening baseball mitt , pull out up a cup of Camellia sinensis , and lease ’s dive into the wild , wondrous world of shrub roses .
I can guess what you ’re thinking : Are n’t all rose shrubs ?
Well , yes . From a botanical position , allRosaspecies are indeed shrubs . But when we speak about “ bush rose , ” we in reality entail a certain pigeonholing .
Huh ?
First , all type are grouped into one of three family , agree to theAmerican Rose Society(ARS ) , which oversees the categorisation of these plants around the globe .
These main categories are old garden , modern , and species . you may learn more about these groupings and how a metal money is put into a group in ourguide to rise classifications .
All shrubs decrease under the forward-looking grouping , and “ shrub ” is kind of a catch - all group for any that does n’t gibe into another advanced compartmentalization .
Shrub was an unimportant family with just a few plants in it , until well - make out breeder David Austin arrive along . When he set out engender his plants , he registered them with the ARS under the little - used bush category .
Some people refer toAustin ’s plantsas English roses , but formally , they ’re categorized as shrubs .
After his plants started becoming popular , other breeders started registering their specimen in the same category , and the shrub class became the most commercially pop of all the classification .
To further confuse the payoff , there are both classic and modern shrubs .
classic can be further sub - classified as hybrid kordesii , intercrossed moyesii , hybrid musk , or hybrid rugosa , which are all hybrid that were bred out of old world metal money .
Then there ’s the advanced shrub sub - category , which admit anything that does n’t fit in the authoritative category .
But do n’t discombobulate the Hellenic shrub compartmentalization with the full term “ classic roses . ” Some people use the term “ classic ” to consult to old garden species and hybrids .
To be clear , the condition “ shrub ” does n’t inevitably describe maturation riding habit . There are low - mature , earth cover version bush rose , and there areclimbing typesthat reach up to 15 feet improbable .
Shrubs are generally hardier , tougher , and easier to grow than old garden type , which can be finical . But they ’re less immune to pests and diseases than species ( or gaga ) case .
They can manage humid conditions as well as temporarily desiccate conditions and abbreviated periods of drought . The size of the blossoms are somewhere in between those of old garden and species eccentric . The blossoms usually develop in groupings rather than singles .
In other words , they unite a lot of the characteristics of older and metal money rosebush , such as the showy , dramatic blossom of erstwhile garden , and the well-fixed care of species .
While they were bred to do well in the garden with consistent and pretty blossoms , you normally wo n’t find those massive , elegant flowers like you ’ll find on tea rose bushes . But life ’s about compromise , right ?
permit ’s break down the various subcategories so that we can really have a good understanding of what this classification encompasses .
I ’ll also urge a few unlike stand - out options from these subclassifications , in casing you ’re in the market for some exceptional specimen .
loanblend kordesii ( Rosa kordesii ) are commonlyknown as Kordes .
They were hybridise in the early to mid-1900s at a German nursery called The House of W. Kordes Sohne , which was found by Wilhelm Kordes in 1887 , in the city of Elmshorn .
By the mid-1900s , they were one of the large rose suppliers and breeders in Europe .
These hybrids were later polish by Dr. Felicitas Svejda in the sixties , who developed the Canadian Explorer Series by using these hybrid and also hybrid rugosas .
Svejda was a federal scientist in Canada who wanted to produce a plant that could survive Canada ’s notoriously cold wintertime .
If you ’re looking for a winter hardy grow that is tough and has exceptional disease underground , these are a good choice . Most are hardy down to Zone 3 .
Here are a few noteworthyR. kordesiioptions :
‘ Alexander MacKenzie ’ is part of the Canadian Explorer series , named for the Canada - born explorer who is credited as being the first European descendant to cut through the North American continent from the east to west .
This plant grows to about six feet tall , or taller in ideal grow conditions , and is absolutely brood in the summer from capitulum to toe in vibrant , double , raspberry red blossoms .
Hardy in zona 4 - 9 , this works can survive in Zone 3 with wintertime auspices .
This well - loved single - blossom plant is a stand - out Kordes climber . The blossom has mysterious red petals with a white eye , and they appear on the plant from mid - spring to Robert Frost .
It grows up to 10 foot marvellous and sport glossy , deep green foliage . With yearly pruning , you’re able to grow it as a freestanding shrub at about six feet grandiloquent . This industrial plant require steady deadheading to blossom all time of year long .
If you like to reap the hips , this has with child orange 1 , which not only have a good sapidity but bestow winter colour and involvement to the garden as well . It ’s hardy down to Zone 5 .
Another one from the Canadian Explorer series , you might mistake ‘ Lambert Closse ’ for a hybrid Camellia sinensis because of its large , frilly , double , bright pink peak with 54 petal . It blossom all summer long and into the pin .
This plant , the outcome of a ‘ John Davis ’ kordesii being queer with an ‘ Arthur Bell ’ floribunda , stays thickset at just three feet marvellous when mature , and is hardy down to Zone 3 .
Hybrid moyesii plant were bred from stout metal money roses known as Moyes ( R. moyesii ) , which are aboriginal to western China .
These were crossed with old garden cross and specie to make various young hybrids . The plants attain the US market in the early 1900s .
These plants are passing disease resistive , except to black slur , which may cause issues in humid domain . Most are hardy to Zone 3 or 4 and have little thorn .
They all feature large orange pelvic arch and fern - same foliage that place upright out from that of other species .
This is one of the most popular hybrid moyesii variety out there , and “ Botanica ’s Roses ” calls it one of the best moyesii for the garden because it stays stocky and does n’t require much by way of maintenance .
By the way , while “ Botanica ’s Roses ” has n’t been updated in a few years , this book remains one of the good resources for rosaceous buff . It lists over 2,000 character , along with tip and entropy about grow these beloved plant .
Botanica ’s Roses
If you want to tote up an first-class resourcefulness to your base library , apprehend a transcript of this book from Amazon . It ’s worth have around .
‘ Geranium ’ has promising red , single blossoms on foresightful stalk . It ’s super pest and disease resistant , and grows to about eight understructure tall .
The pelvic arch are just as notable as the flowers , which is smashing , since these only flush once and then they ’re done for the time of year . The hips are large , glossy , and red with a bottle - like form .
‘ Highdownensis ’ is another one of the most well - known moyesiis varieties . With bright cherry-red single blossom , the climb plants reach about eight feet long when mature . The large , bottle - shaped hips are brilliant orangish and red .
This hybrid can manage poor grunge , drought , and is disease and pest immune , so if you dreamed of give birth these beautiful bloom but your microenvironment is n’t idealistic , now ’s your chance .
This plant pull ahead the RHS Award of Garden Merit in 1994 .
Hybrid musks are hybrids of the original musk species ( R. moschata ) . musk are make love for their intense , intoxicating scent that is used in fragrance , candle , and cosmetics .
But they ’re also known for being a bit – okay , extremely – fussy .
In the early 1900s , breeders worked to make a intercrossed thatsmelled greatbut had more disease resistance . Enthusiast Reverend James Pemberton is credited with breeding the first of these hybrids .
These grow and bloom in fond Dominicus stipulation and many are nearly thornless . They can be climbers or bush that grow between four and six feet tall . They are tough , hardy , and disease immune .
Most are hardy to Zone 5 and have foresightful , graceful canes , which makes them pure for cutting .
On a personal Federal Reserve note , hybrid musk are some of my favorites because they are beautiful , fragrant , and do n’t take too much work to keep them healthy and fertile .
Released in 1925 , ‘ Cornelia ’ is pest and disease resistant , even in high humidness . Depending on the heat and sun photo that it receives , the large , double blossoms can range from pallid pink to cryptic salmon .
It ’s best grown as a climber since the thornless cane grow up to 12 foundation tall , though you may prune it to maintain it as a bush . It also looks gorgeous crawling down walls .
Hardy to Zone 6 , this plant should be put somewhere where it wo n’t be hit with a ton of wind .
It meet an RHS Award of Garden Merit in 1993 .
‘ Felicia ’ is an absolutely fabulous prime , which is no doubt the reason that it won the National Rose Society Certificate of Merit in 1927 , and the RHS Award of Garden Merit in 1993 .
The massive , frilly bivalent blossoms are highly fragrant and dismal to pale pink , with the petals bit by bit wither from saturnine to light from the center to the exterior of the efflorescence .
They also have a strong , heady fragrance and contribute themselves nicely to cutting .
The flora starts out in the leap with a monumental salvo of efflorescence before taper off to a smaller flush of blossoms in the summer .
Once twilight arrive , you will have the biggest and longest - lasting flowers of the growing time of year , follow by big , round hips .
Hardy to Zone 5 , the graceful , arch cane are nearly thornless , multi - branched , and they can acquire up to 10 feet magniloquent . This cultivar may be grow as a bush or trained as a climber .
‘ Pink Prosperity ’ is a stunner even when it is n’t in full bloom . The bud are deep , dark reddened before opening move and evanesce to average garden pink . The flower petal on the exterior are darker pink , while the national petal are light-colored .
Pest and disease resistive , the plant can handle poor soil , drouth , and willblossom even in intimately full shade . This cultivar is hardy to Zone 4 .
Rugosas are known for being very cold hardy , highly fragrant , and extremely resistant to black situation . The most common commercial rugosas are in the Parkland series .
Most intercrossed rugosas have either individual or double blossoms that bloom repeatedly throughout the growing time of year , and large hips .
They can handle light shade and some drouth . Whether hybrid or otherwise , rugosas do n’t do well with pesticides , so avoid spraying any chemical substance on the foliage .
These hybrids were created by crossingR. rugosawith other mintage . By the way , rugosa means wrinkled , a point of reference to the plant ’s wrinkled , deeply - veined leafage . Typically , the leaves are cryptic , glistening green , which create a beautiful direct contrast to the flowers .
This gorgeous loan-blend is part of the Parkland series and has stemma red flower petal on double bloom . The canes grow up to 10 feet marvellous , but it stays smaller in cooler climate .
Speaking of which , this plant is hardy to Zone 3 . It can even mature in Zone 2 , though it will pall back in the wintertime there .
think the Canadian Explorer serial publication ? This is part of that series as well , but with rugosa rather than kordesii parentage .
The bush can tolerate part shade and hit about four foot marvellous when mature , with a thick , agglomerate - same growth habit .
Do n’t be surprised by the shape when this flora is untried . It ’s gangly and leggy for the first few years , but it fills out after it age . And it ’s hardy down to Zone 2 ( ! ! ) .
The fragrant semi - double blossoms are bright confect pink with yellow centre . This is a vigorous raiser and bloomer that is exceedingly insubordinate to disease .
‘ Linda Campbell , ’ also known as ‘ magniloquent Poppy , ’ was bred by celebrated rosarian Ralph Moore , who is know as the “ Billie Jean Moffitt King of miniature roses . ”
This is an intensely prolific works that blossoms with heavily scented , glum razz or deep red individual efflorescence .
Each flush is fairly small , but the President Bush grows up to six foot tall and it ’s absolutely covered in blooms from mid - outflow to pass .
Hardy in Zones 3 to 8 , this cultivar is super disease resistant .
This submarine sandwich - category is a snatch - all for shrubs that do n’t jibe in one of the groupings listed above . Remember that these are considered “ innovative ” bush .
David Austin and the Knock Outs are perhaps the most well - recognized varieties from this category , but there are lots more .
Alsolook for Griffith Buckand Harkness shrubs .
Dr. Griffith Buck was a professor at Iowa State University and a horticulturalist who engender roses that could thrive without pesticide or fungicides , and that could survive Iowa ’s cold winters and humid summers .
Harkness is a nursery found in England that is working to create hardy , gadfly - insubordinate , and disease - immune plants .
And by the way , if you ’ve ever heard the terminus “ English rose , ” that ’s one bred by David Austin . They are much an entire category unto themselves , but they ’re all officially categorize as bush .
There are miniature Knock Outs , pinkish and jaundiced Knock Outs , and dual blossom Knock Outs , but this is the O.G.
This ruby , undivided prime has hot garden pink or cherry red red prime that appear from spring to fall . This is the flower that raised the Browning automatic rifle for breeders in terminal figure of upkeep .
Because this bush is disease resistant , drouth tolerant , and self - cleaning , it needs hardly any upkeep .
No marvel it has become a standard in the rose world !
Knock Out
If you want to land this garden staple home – and I extremely recommend you do if you are just beginning withRosaspp . – drumhead to Burpeeto pick up a bare root plant .
Or get tips on growing them here .
‘ Lichfield Angel ’ is absolutely heavenly , with wan peach to pick flower that have over 100 petals .
With long , closely thornless stanch gross for cutting , if you want to occupy your home with vase of creamy , musk - scented blossoms , this is one of the rank good selection .
And it ’s a achiever not just because the bloom are beautiful , but because the plant are pretty easygoing to care for too . They ’re vigorous growers , can plow partial sun , and are reasonably disease resistant .
‘ Lichfield Angel ’
This cultivar grows up to five feet marvelous in Zones 5 - 9 .
Again , our friends at Burpeecarry this exceptional option in bare root .
This German - bred hybrid is call “ believably the most underrated yellow bush that has ever been lift , ” according to “ Botanica ’s rosiness . ”
This vivacious , vigorous plant has massive cluster of twofold flush that seem to glow in the sun .
No wonder it earned the name “ Lucia , Queen of Light , ” or that it has maintain its status as a victor of the German rose trials , the Allgemeine Deutsche Rosenneuheitenprüfung ( ADR ) , since 1968 . It ’s one of the few to keep this status for that long .
It ’s fragrant , hardy to Zone 5 , goodish , disease - resistant , and a invariant bloomer all summer long .
This award - winner is a upbeat addition to the garden thanks to itsvibrant yellow blossoms , which have 120 petals . This base - out specimen won the RHS Garden of Merit Award in 2002 .
The bud start out orange before fading to their ripe color as the three-fold flowers open , and plant are brave in Zones 5 - 9 .
It smells and looks like a Camellia sinensis rose without the peevishness of a tea , since it is drouth tolerant and disease resistant .
‘ Molineux ’
Make this a part of your gardenby visiting Burpee , where you could pick upa unfinished beginning plant .
‘ Wiltshire ’ is a ground cover eccentric with clusters ofvibrant pink blossoms . It also makes a arresting addition to rock garden or trailing over walls . The extremely fragrant doubled bloom appear all growing season long .
This bloom has earned multiple accolade , including the Royal National Rose Society Certificate of Merit in 1991 , and the Glasgow Certificate of Commendation in 1994 . It stays under a foot tall , thrive down to Zone 4 , and is disease immune .
Now that we technically roll in the hay what they are , does caring for shrubs differ from what ’s involved with other pink wine ?
Only in thatthey can be plantedin a wider compass of environs , and do n’t ask as much sustainment as some other types . ( Hooray ! )
All bush types do well in full Dominicus and well - draining grease , but some can be mature in partial Lord’s Day or partial shade . Most can manage abbreviated drouth , but do n’t let them remain too dry for too long .
Water them whenever the top column inch of soil has dry out .
While many will keep blooming even if you do n’t deadhead them , deadheading will result in more bloom . Others may ask deadheading for a 2nd or third blush .
They should bepruned back annuallyin the early spring . edit out the cane back to about a foot or two above the ground , and dispatch any dead or diseased cane . slim down out any crossing or rubbing canes as well .
In the descent , you could light trim them back if they ’ve become overgrown , but leave the big pruning business for the spring .
Check out ourguide to guide to growing roses to learn more .
Not All Rose Shrubs Are Shrub Roses
rosiness are such fascinating , varied plants , but let ’s be honest … receive into the existence ofRosaspecies and hybrids can be a bit overwhelming .
This family is incredibly popular and undeniably convoluted . Even nurseries are n’t sure how to label plants in this category .
Do n’t occupy if you manoeuver to the store and are n’t sealed if what you ’re look for is a bush rose , or one with a shrublike grow habit . For most of us , we do n’t care how it is classified as so long as it grows well , looks lovely in the garden , and ticks all our box .
It ’s all just a name , right ? ( And a climb by any other , and so on and so away . )
Hopefully this pathfinder cleared things up for you . If so , you might want to get into the weeds with some of our othercomprehensive arise articlesnext :
© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . to begin with publish May 29th , 2021 . Last update February 17th , 2025 . production photo via Burpee . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
About
Kristine Lofgren
