Rose Types
All You Need to Know about the Different Types of Roses
Roses hold a special place in many heart because of their beauty and fragrance and yet many of do not know that the floral name is a broad reference to many different types of roses. We know they come in different colors but most non-gardeners do not register the differences between the various kinds of plants that produce roses. Roses have been on earth for a long time and those who think of plant types in terms of history differentiate between the types of roses by talking of the original species roses, which have been around in the wild for a long time; the heritage or antique roses, which are part of the early experiments by gardeners prior to the mid-19th century and finally, the modern roses, which are the handiwork of all the innovations that have happened in the last 150 years.
Most of the roses we see today fit into the last category of modern roses and even these can be further subcategorized. If you are planning a rose garden or just on adding a dash of classiness to your landscape, you should consider all the options of roses and pick one that seems to best fit your requirements. Educating yourself about the types of roses is a great way to ensure that you are not disappointed by what you get during the blooming season.
“A rose by any other name…”
Hybrid Tea – This is arguably the most popular version of the rose. These are the plants that produce the long-stemmed flowers that are often used by florists. From the singe bloom to the classic bouquet these roses have become the ultimate symbol of romance. Hybrid tea produces one bloom pet stem and repeat blooms if dead-headed promptly. The plant has roses available in a variety of colors. The plant itself is described as long and narrow. The individual flower and bud have the classical rose shape.
Floribundas – These are roses that have all the drama of the hybrid tea but you get the benefit of heavy clusters rather than just one bloom per stem. They are bushy and the prolific blooms make them a great addition to any landscape. They tend to be hardier than the hybrid tea and some of them work well even in wintery conditions. They are occasionally susceptible to black spot. Floribundas make for great border planting or other kinds of group planting and they produce roses almost continuously during the blooming season.
Grandiflora – This type is often described as a cross between a floribunda and a hybrid tea because it has the classic bloom of the hybrid tea but produces more flowers like the floribunda. The plant is again tall and narrow and the stems of the flowers are shorter than in the hybrid tea. The flowers are large and this type is a repeat bloomer.
Climber – As the name suggests, these are the trailing rose plants that need a trellis or other forms of support as the plant grows larger. They make for an interesting addition to a well-planned landscape. They are beautiful and dramatic but do need maintenance. They do not take much ground space in the garden as their spread is more vertical than horizontal. Some of them are repeat bloomers.
Shrubs – This refers to a wide range of rose bushes found in many different landscapes. The range of blooms is also correspondingly varied. They are used as ground cover in many zones as they are winter resistant. The blooms are magnificent and the plants are disease resistant and low maintenance making these a popular choice for many a gardener.
Miniature – The perfection of the rose flower in a smaller scale is captivating on these miniature plants. They work well for container gardening or even in smaller plots of land. They are repeat bloomers in many cases.
Now that you know the variety of roses you have to decide between, consider your climatic conditions, space availability and the time you can devote to rose gardening and make your choice!