DIY Network

Types of Roses Roses by other names--shrubs, climbers, ramblers and teas From "Dirt On Gardening" episode DDOG-105

Hybrid tea

Roses can grow in every part of the US--even Alaska--but there are many varieties from which to choose. When selecting roses, it's important to remember that some grow better in specific zones than others. Check with your local nursery, or with your local chapter of the American Rose Society, to find out which varieties are best suited for your area of the country.

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Hybrid tea roses are the most popular type.

Rose Varieties

Here is a summary of some of the basic and popular categories of roses:

Hybrid teas comprise the most popular category of roses in the US. When most non-gardeners think of "roses", it's the hybrid tea varieties they're probably picturing. The classic form and long stems for cutting have made these roses favorites at florists and flower markets. However, hybrid teas can be among the most demanding to maintain, so they may not be the best choice for beginning growers. If you do want to try your hand with these, a good one to start with might be 'Elle' (a 2005 AARS winner). Other varieties of hybrid tea include:

• 'Opening Night'
  
• 'French Perfume'
  
• 'Pearl Essence'
  
• 'Rio Samba Voodoo'
  
• 'Aperitif'

Floribunda

Floribunda and grandiflora varieties both produce clusters of flowers. They have great value in the garden where masses of color are needed. They're usually extremely vigorous and come in a range of colors. A recommended grandiflora variety is 'About Face' (a 2005 AARS winner). Floribundas include:

• 'Love Potion'
  
• 'Honey Perfume'
  
• 'Our Lady of Guadalupe'
  

  Miniature rose

Shrub rose

Shrub rose varieties comprise the most varied group of roses. Some of the most winter hardy and easy-to-care-for roses are found in this category. If you're looking for roses that do well without spraying, have a long bloom period and produce the most color in the landscape, they'll most likely come from the shrub class.

The roses in this category come in a wide variety of sizes and forms, but flower form is typically more open and "casual" as compared to the hybrid tea. The 'David Austin English' roses are part of this group, as well as many roses suitable for mass planting in the landscape--ground cover roses and rugosas, for example. Two good English roses are 'Gertrude Jekyl' and 'Golden Celebration'. A newer and low-maintenance shrub is 'Daydream' (a 2005 AARS winner).