Choose rose type: shrub, standard, climbing or ground cover rose

Which rose type fits your garden?

Roses come in four totally different forms. Not every form fits every garden. Choosing without knowing what you get brings disappointment. This guide helps: which form, how tall, how much maintenance, where to place.

There's one right type for your spot. It's about choosing well.

Comparison: 4 rose types

TL;DR: Shrub = all-in-one; Standard = formal elegant; Climbing = height against wall; Ground cover = compact low.

Shrub roses

Best for: most gardens, borders, plant groups.

Height: 60-150 cm, very variable. Modern roses: 80-120 cm.

Form: wide, full ball. Grows broad.

Bloom: June to first frost (October). Very long. Repeating (blooms multiple times).

Cultivars: 'Knock Out' (dark red, very reliable, very long bloom), 'Coral Drift' (orange-pink, compact), 'Westerland' (orange-yellow, very fragrant, 150 cm).

Maintenance: regular pruning (hard March), water (regular dry), compost (March, July). Some diseases (mildew, rust) but manageable.

Front garden: groups of 3-5 roses. Very attractive, long bloom.

Downside: maintenance-sensitive. Not self-sufficient without pruning.

Standard roses

Best for: formal design, accent points, small garden as solo feature.

Height: 80-120 cm stem (stem height), total 150-200 cm with crown.

Form: perfect ball on thin stem. Very elegant.

Bloom: June to first frost. Very long, repeating.

Cultivars: 'Knock Out' standard (dark red standard), 'Coral Drift' standard (orange-pink), 'Jasmina' (white, very elegant).

Maintenance: harder than shrub. Stem must be supported (stake). Crown must be regularly trimmed to maintain shape.

Front garden: as solitary (one in centre). Very striking, formal elegant. Perfect for small gardens.

Downside: very maintenance-intensive. Expensive plant. Stem can break in wind.

Climbing roses

Best for: walls, fences, pergolas, creating height.

Height: 200-400 cm, very fast-growing (30-50 cm/year).

Form: slender upward, branches sideways. Can climb any support.

Bloom: shorter (June-July mostly). Not long-repeating like shrub. Single bloom (many types).

Cultivars: 'Sympathy' (dark red, very popular, very long bloom), 'Polka' (orange, very strong, very fragrant), 'Felicité Perpétue' (white, very old, very reliable).

Maintenance: moderate. Tie to support first year, then grows itself. Prune only if excessive.

Front garden: against wall, fence, pergola. Very effective for privacy and height effect.

Downside: bloom shorter (many climbing June-July only). Slow first year.

Ground cover roses

Best for: slope, border foreground, solo cover, low format.

Height: 20-40 cm. Very low.

Form: wide low, quickly expanding. Grows wider than tall.

Bloom: very long (June to frost). Repeating.

Cultivars: 'Knock Out' ground cover (dark red, very popular), 'Fairy' (pink small-flower, very reliable), 'Pink Drift' (pink, very dense).

Maintenance: lowest of all roses. Rarely needs pruning. Fewer diseases.

Front garden: border foreground, slope, under trees. Very effective, low maintenance.

Advantage: very low maintenance, very long bloom, very compact.

Downside: some cultivars not really fragrant.

Which rose for which spot?

Small formal garden: Standard rose 'Knock Out' (centre) + Shrub rose 'Coral Drift' (group 3 around).

Slope or foreground: Ground cover 'Fairy' (5 plants, covers 3x3 metres in 2 years).

Against wall, privacy: Climbing rose 'Polka' (very fragrant, very strong).

Large front garden: Shrub rose groups (groups of 3 different cultivars).

Planting and care

Plant roses October to March. In heavy soil: sand it. First year: regular water. Feed: three times yearly (March, May, July).

Pruning: Shrub hard in March (to 60 cm). Standard very selective (crown maintains shape). Climbing: light prune after bloom. Ground cover: rarely prune.

Rust and mildew: check regularly, spray may be needed summer.

Frequently asked questions

Are all these roses fragrant?

Shrub/Standard/Climbing: many very fragrant (check cultivar). Ground cover: some ('Fairy' fragrant, 'Drift' slight). Check cultivar info.

Can climbing rose climb any wall?

Yes, but needs support (trellis, ropes, lattice). Against brick wall itself: difficult, hold rope against.

How old do roses get?

Shrub: 10-15 years good. Standard: 8-12 years. Climbing: 20-30 years possible. Ground cover: 10-15 years.

Which rose is lowest maintenance?

Ground cover >> Shrub > Climbing >> Standard. Ground cover wins.

Your rose garden

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