Quick answer: Different types of rose species offer a wide range of growth habits, flower forms, and care needs, making it possible to choose the perfect rose variety for any garden style, size, and experience level.
Roses are among the most beloved and instantly recognisable plants in the world, with a history spanning centuries, cultures, and continents. Today, they remain among the most commercially valuable and emotionally significant flowers, generating hundreds of millions of dollars in global sales each year. While roses are most famously associated with romance, celebration and symbolic gestures of love, their value in the garden goes far beyond bouquets and special occasions.
In garden settings, roses are remarkably versatile plants. Different rose species and varieties can be used to frame pathways, soften fences, climb pergolas, fill borders with colour or provide structure and fragrance throughout the growing season. From compact patio roses perfect for containers to vigorous climbers that transform bare walls into living features, there truly is a rose for every type of gardener and outdoor space.
Despite their reputation for being high-maintenance, modern breeding has produced rose varieties that are hardy, disease-resistant and surprisingly easy to care for. Understanding rose categories is key to choosing the right rose species for your garden and ensuring long-term success.
This guide explores the different types of rose species and varieties, explains their unique characteristics and helps you confidently select roses that suit your climate, garden layout and gardening goals.
Rose species are typically grouped into several major categories based on their growth habit, flower form and breeding history. While individual varieties may vary, each category has defining traits that make it suitable for specific uses.
Hybrid tea roses are perhaps the most iconic and recognisable rose type. When people imagine a “classic” rose, it is usually a hybrid tea: tall, elegant stems topped with large, perfectly shaped blooms. These roses are bred to produce individual flowers rather than clusters, making them particularly popular for cutting gardens and floral arrangements.
The blooms of hybrid tea roses are typically high-centred, with tightly layered petals that unfurl slowly, creating a dramatic and refined appearance. Flowering usually occurs in flushes from early summer through to autumn, provided the plant is regularly deadheaded and well-fed. Their upright growth habit and long stems make them ideal for planting in formal beds or dedicated rose gardens where structure and symmetry are important.
Many hybrid tea roses are also richly fragrant, although scent strength can vary. They tend to require a little more care than other rose types, including regular pruning, feeding and disease monitoring, but the reward is unmatched elegance and quality.
Hybrid tea roses also include several stunning lighter and white-toned varieties, such as:
Silver Wedding
A Whiter Shade of Pale
Twice in a Blue Moon
These varieties are particularly effective in elegant garden schemes, moon gardens or mixed borders where softer tones bring welcome balance.
Floribunda roses combine the best qualities of hybrid tea roses and polyantha roses, offering reliable flowering and impressive garden performance. Rather than producing single blooms on long stems, floribundas create clusters of smaller flowers that cover the plant in colour over an extended period.
Their bushy, compact growth habit makes floribunda roses ideal for borders, beds and mass planting. They flower continuously from early summer through to late autumn, creating vibrant, long-lasting displays that require less intervention than hybrid teas. While their individual blooms may be smaller, the sheer number of flowers more than compensates.
Floribunda roses are also known for being robust and disease-resistant, making them a popular choice for gardeners seeking reliable results with minimal maintenance. Fragrance tends to be lighter than that of hybrid teas, but wide varieties still offer a pleasant scent.
Popular floribunda rose varieties include:
These roses perform particularly well in mixed borders, where their steady flowering helps maintain colour and interest throughout the growing season.
Patio roses are essentially dwarf versions of floribunda roses, bred for compact spaces and container gardening. They maintain the clustered-flowering habit of floribundas but on a much smaller, neater plant, making them ideal for decorating patios, balconies, terraces and entranceways.
Despite their size, patio roses are surprisingly floriferous, producing generous clusters of blooms that can rival larger roses for colour impact. They are best grown in containers with good drainage, where their compact root systems can be easily managed.
Patio roses are perfect for gardeners with limited space or those looking to add a romantic touch to paved areas. They also work well as accent plants, flanking doorways or paths.
Popular patio rose varieties include:
With proper feeding and regular watering, patio roses can flower continuously for months, making them an excellent choice for decorative planting.
Climbing roses are prized for their ability to transform vertical spaces into dramatic, flower-filled features. Rather than climbing independently, these roses produce long, flexible canes that can be trained and tied onto supports such as trellises, fences, walls and pergolas.
Depending on the variety, climbing roses may flower once spectacularly or repeatedly throughout the season. Their blooms range from small and delicate to large and showy, often accompanied by a strong fragrance. When in full bloom, climbing roses create a breathtaking visual effect that adds height, depth and romance to the garden.
Climbing roses are ideal for softening hard structures and creating natural divisions within the landscape. With proper training and annual pruning, they can live and perform beautifully for decades.
Common climbing rose varieties include:
These roses are especially effective when used to frame entrances or create focal points.
Shrub roses are among the most versatile and low-maintenance rose types available. They typically have a broad, spreading growth habit and produce flowers that range from simple single blooms to richly petalled forms. Many shrub roses are resilient against weather fluctuations and less prone to disease.
Shrub roses often require minimal pruning, usually limited to shaping and removing dead or damaged growth. They are well-suited to informal gardens, mixed borders, and wildlife-friendly planting schemes, as they offer a wide variety of nectar and hips for pollinators and birds.
Miniature roses are compact plants that produce small, perfectly formed blooms on neat, bushy growth. Despite their delicate appearance, they are hardy and adaptable, making them suitable for containers, window boxes and even indoor displays with sufficient light.
Miniature roses are often used as decorative plants in small gardens or as gifts, but they also perform well outdoors when planted in sheltered, sunny locations. Regular watering and feeding are essential due to their limited root space, but their size makes them easy to manage.
Heritage roses, also known as old or historic roses, are varieties that predate modern hybridisation techniques. They are celebrated for their rich fragrance, intricate flower forms and romantic charm. Many heritage roses flower once per season, producing an unforgettable display in early summer, while others offer repeat flowering.
These roses are ideal for traditional and cottage-style gardens, where their character and scent can be fully appreciated. While they may not have the disease resistance of modern roses, their beauty and historical significance make them a favourite among rose enthusiasts.
|
Rose type |
Growth habit |
Flower style |
Best for |
Key benefits |
Notes |
|
Hybrid Tea Roses |
Upright, tall stems |
Large, single blooms |
Formal gardens, cutting flowers |
Classic rose shape, fragrant |
Need regular pruning and feeding |
|
Floribunda Roses |
Bushy, compact |
Clusters of smaller blooms |
Borders, beds, mass planting |
Long flowering period, disease-resistant |
Less fragrance than hybrid teas |
|
Patio Roses |
Dwarf and compact |
Clustered flowers |
Containers, patios, balconies |
Ideal for small spaces |
Best grown in pots with good drainage |
|
Climbing Roses |
Long, flexible canes |
Repeated or seasonal blooms |
Walls, fences, arches |
Vertical interest, dramatic displays |
Require support and training |
|
Shrub Roses |
Broad, spreading habit |
Single or semi-double flowers |
Low-maintenance gardens |
Hardy, easy care, wildlife-friendly |
Minimal pruning needed |
|
Miniature Roses |
Very compact |
Small, delicate blooms |
Indoor pots, small containers |
Decorative and space-saving |
Need bright light and shelter |
|
Heritage Roses |
Bushy or climbing |
Highly fragrant, classic forms |
Traditional gardens |
Strong scent, characterful blooms |
Often flower once per season |
Choosing the right rose species involves more than simply picking a colour you like. Understanding your garden conditions and expectations will help ensure success.
Different roses perform better in different climates. Some varieties are bred to withstand colder winters, while others thrive in warmer regions. Always consider your local growing zone and choose roses suited to those conditions.
Most roses require at least six hours of direct sunlight per day to flower well. Assess how much sun your garden receives, then select varieties suited to the light conditions and available space. Compact roses suit smaller spaces, while climbers and shrubs require more space.
Roses prefer fertile, well-draining soil. Heavy clay soils may need improvement with organic matter, while sandy soils benefit from compost to retain moisture. Good drainage is essential to prevent root rot.
Some roses require regular pruning, feeding, and monitoring, while others are far more forgiving. Be realistic about how much time you can dedicate to maintenance when selecting your roses.
Consider what you want your roses to achieve. Whether it’s cut flowers, garden structure, fragrance or wildlife support, there is a rose type perfectly suited to your goal.
If you’re looking to build your garden with beautiful, healthy roses, One Click Plants offers a wide selection of rose species to suit every garden style. From classic favourites to modern, low-maintenance varieties, you’ll find everything you need to create stunning displays. Explore the Knowledge Hub for expert advice on roses, plant care, and gardening inspiration.
With so many rose species available, choosing the right one is an exciting opportunity rather than a challenge. By understanding the differences between rose types and matching them to your garden’s conditions and your personal preferences, you can enjoy healthy, long-lasting roses that bring beauty and fragrance to your outdoor space year after year.
Roses combine beauty, fragrance, symbolism, and versatility, making them ideal for both ornamental gardens and meaningful floral arrangements.
Floribunda, shrub, and climbing roses are especially popular due to their reliability, long flowering periods, and adaptability.
Hybrid tea roses are the top choice for cutting thanks to their long stems and classic bloom shape.
Roses thrive in fertile, well-draining soil and need at least six hours of direct sunlight daily.
Shrub roses are hardy, broadly growing roses that require minimal pruning and offer excellent disease resistance, making them ideal for low-effort gardening.
