pink rose bush

Everything’s Coming Up Roses

Roses are one of the most popular and iconic flowers around the world. They come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, making them a versatile choice for gardens, floral arrangements, and gifts. There are thousands of varieties of roses and within those varieties are different types. Each type of rose is distinctive, often growing and performing differently in your garden. The types of roses require subtle variations in care as well. To help you imagine what type of rose could be growing in your garden, here are some basic characteristics of a few types of roses available.

Hybrid Tea Roses

Hybrid Tea Roses are the classic rose variety that most people envision when they think of roses. These roses have a long stem with a single bloom at the top, making them popular for cut flowers and arrangements. They come in a variety of colors, including red, pink, yellow, orange, and white. Hybrid Tea Roses bloom in the late spring and early summer and require regular pruning to maintain their shape and promote healthy growth.

'Princess Alexandra Of Kent' Rose

Floribunda Roses

Floribunda Roses are a cross between Hybrid Tea Roses and Polyantha Roses. They have smaller blooms than Hybrid Tea Roses but produce them in large clusters of smaller blooms. Floribunda Roses come in a wide range of colors and are known for their hardiness and disease resistance. They bloom in the late spring and early summer and require minimal pruning. They are a popular choice for landscape and are traditionally easier to grow in comparison to other types.

Grandiflora Roses

Grandiflora Roses are a cross between Hybrid Tea Roses and Floribunda Roses. They have large blooms like Hybrid Tea Roses but produce them in clusters like Floribunda Roses. Grandiflora Roses come in a variety of colors, including pink, red, and yellow. They bloom in the late spring and early summer and require regular pruning to maintain their shape. Like the floribunda, it makes a great landscape rose.

'Tess of the D'Urbervilles' David Austin Rose

Climbing Roses

Climbing Roses are a type of rose that grows upward and can reach up to 20 feet tall. Their pliable canes are ideal for trellises, walls, and arbors and come in a variety of colors, including red, pink, yellow, and white. Climbing Roses bloom in the late spring and early summer and require regular pruning to maintain their shape and promote healthy growth. Climbers are generally categorized as: large flowered, ramblers, and sports of hybrid tea, floribundas, and other roses.

Shrub Roses

Shrub Roses are a hardy and low-maintenance variety of roses. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, ranging from small bushes to large shrubs. Shrub Roses produce blooms in clusters and come in a variety of colors, including pink, red, and white. They bloom in the late spring and early summer and require minimal pruning. Shrub roses are reliably hardy and repeat bloomers.

Miniature Roses

Miniature Roses are a type of rose that is ideal for small gardens and containers. They have small blooms (1/2 in.–2 in.) and come in a variety of colors, including red, pink, yellow, and white. Miniature Roses bloom in the late spring and early summer and require minimal pruning.

Al’s carries the highly sought after David Austin roses which are very fragrant and ground cover roses. In conclusion, roses come in many different types and colors, each with their own unique characteristics. Understanding the different types of roses and their distinctive blooms and growing habits seasonally can help you choose the right roses for your garden or floral arrangements. Whether you're looking for a classic Hybrid Tea Rose or a hardy Shrub Rose, there's a rose variety for every gardening style and preference. For a complete list of the roses Al’s carries, check out our growing guides for more information.


1 comment


  • Victoria Fuller

    Very nice article although a photo representative of each type of rose might be helpful to novice rose growers.


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