If you love roses, and who doesn’t, but don’t have a large garden or space in the border don’t despair. You can grow roses in pot or container. In fact, just about any variety of rose can be successfully grown in a pot. You just need to ensure the pot you use is large enough for the rose you’re planting. Don’t try and squeeze a rose into a small container. But, don’t worry the pot doesn’t have to be massive - just large enough for the volume of soil needed.

Most roses will be supplied in three or five litre pots. The container you’re going to plant them in only needs to be large enough to hold that amount of soil plus an extra litre or two to allow for growth and a thin layer of gravel for drainage. 20-24 inches across and the same depth should be more than adequate in most cases. Though I’ve also successfully grown roses in fairly shallow troughs.

Why you should consider growing roses in a pot

As we mentioned above if you’re restricted for space growing roses in pots is a great way to get your gardening fix. But it’s not the only reason.

If you have a patio or decking area adding pots of roses will add a splash of wonderful colour. If you group three  containers with roses together, they will combine to make an amazingly colourful feature. And don’t forget the lovely fragrance roses can produce.

Roses in pots will add an extra dimension to your patio and add to the levels of relaxation you feel when you're sipping a drink on a summer’s evening surrounded by beautiful and fragrant blooms.

Maybe you’ve got a favourite corner of the garden with a bench where you like to sit and relax? Adding a pot with roses to each end of the bench will make it an even more restful spot.

Tips on growing roses in containers

As we mentioned earlier make sure the container is big enough for the plant and its roots. Don’t forget to use good quality potting soil. This drains better. Speaking of which.

Make sure there is at least one drainage hole in the bottom of the pot. If the pot doesn't drain properly the plant could be attacked by root rot. Add a half to one inch of gravel to the bottom of the pot to assist with drainage.

If you do  grow roses in a pot don’t forget they will need watering more often than those planted in the ground. Water daily in summer and every few weeks add a soluble fertiliser to the water.

You can see more tips on growing roses on our  Ask the Expert page or for more check out this article to discover container gardening tips.

Five of the best roses to grow in a pot

We’ve got lots of different roses in the nursery at the moment. Here’s just a few that will look wonderful in your garden and all can be easily grown in containers.

Arthur Bell floribunda

A beautiful yellow rose which is very fragrant. It has a very bushy growth habit and will reach a mature spread of 70cm and a height of 80cm. Perfect for pots on the patio. It will flower from summer to autumn and flourishes in full sun or semi-shade.

Myveta floribunda rose bush

Beautiful and very large pink blooms make this rose a natural centrepiece and perfect for growing in a pot. It will flower throughout summer and will do well in either full sun or semi-shade. Very bushy with a spread of around 80cm this is a really attractive rose.

Burgundy ice floribunda

As it has very few thorns this is an ideal rose for the patio. It bears deep purple flowers and has a very sweet fragrance. A slightly smaller rose than many it will reach a mature height of around 60cm with a similar spread. It’s a repeat flowerer so you can enjoy its flowers time and time again. Performs best in full sun.

Rosia fragrant delight

The clue is in the name. This is a very fragrant rose so will be a wonderful addition to any seating area. Aside from its lovely aroma it bears salmon-coloured flowers in summer. It can reach a mature height of 90cm and does well in full sun.

Rosa alpine sunset

A lovely hybrid tea bush rose. It’s very bushy and produces enormous double pink and yellow blooms. It looks wonderful in a container. It’s a smaller rose and will reach a mature height of 45cm with a spread of around 30cm. It does well in full sun and will flower summer through autumn.

If you would like to see our full selection of roses to grow in a pot  click here. They’re all waiting to be picked and packed by our specialist team to deliver fresh to your door.