Guide To Roses

Hybrid Tea – the most popular modern roses, with some of the largest flowers. Many hybrid teas are quite fragrant, and they are available in virtually every color (except blue, of course!) These roses mostly bloom with one large flower at the end of a straight stem (frequently used as cutting roses in arrangements).

Floribunda – these rounded, bushy roses mostly bloom in clusters of several small or medium-sized flowers. Most have fragrance (some are quite strong), while there are some without much scent. Easy to grow, and provide abundant color throughout the season.

English – also called ‘David Austin’ roses after their creator, these combine the fragrance, form and charm of Old Garden Roses with the colors and repeat blooming of modern roses. Most are graced with rich, complex fragrance. These roses may take a bit more care and maintenance, but are well worth it.

Shrub – or landscape roses, these are tough, low maintenance, easy-to-grow roses that provide lots of color throughout the summer. Most don’t need deadheading to rebloom over and over again. They look great when planted en masse or along borders.

Climbing – these are a beautiful way to cover an arbor, scramble up a trellis, or cover a sunny wall. Modern climbers come in a wide array of colors, and some are also fragrant.

Rugosa – sometimes called “wild” roses (although most are modern hybrids), these are the toughest, most resilient roses for our climate. Most have a strong spicy fragrance. Rugosa roses can take conditions that most roses don’t like (thin soil, nearby salt water, on slopes). Many also make bright orange or red hips in the fall. Their thick, thorny canes make rugosa roses attractive to birds and small wildlife.