Lots of Winners for Your Garden
These roses tend to be good choices for a rose garden. In general, they are vigorous growers with fewer disease problems. Though some in this list are old standbys that have withstood the test of time, others are new, promising varieties bred for easier maintenance.
Experts recommended finding these roses at nurseries, which tend to have larger selections and better quality.
When looking for high-quality roses, it’s also a good idea to check for the AARS seal of approval--each year a nonprofit judging organization chooses All-America Rose Selections. This organization was created by the rose industry in 1938 to recognize introductions and promote high-quality roses. Roses undergo two-year, rigorous, standardized trials in test gardens throughout the United States, and one of the top criteria is disease resistance.
The list is by no means all-inclusive.
Hybrid Teas
* ‘Crimson Bouquet’: This plant has deep-red flowers and grows 4 to 4 1/2 feet tall (AARS recognized in 2000).
* ‘Gemini’: An eye-catcher that grows 4 to 5 1/2 feet tall with long-lasting coral pink, blushing to cream flowers (AARS, 2000).
* ‘Veterans’ Honor’: Considered an exquisite cut rose, this plant’s deep red flowers are very large. It is a vigorous grower and was hybridized in honor of America’s veterans, and part of the proceeds from its sale go to support veterans’ health efforts.
* ‘Color Magic’: An old favorite with bicolor pink fragrant blooms. It grows 4 to 5 feet tall (AARS, 1978).
* ‘Double Delight’: One of the most popular hybrid tea roses of all time, this one’s stunning flowers are white with pink edges and extremely fragrant. It grows 3 1/2 to 4 feet tall (AARS, 1977).
* ‘Olympiad’: A vigorous repeat bloomer, which constantly produces crimson-red blooms. It grows 4 feet tall (AARS, 1984).
* ‘Moonstone’: Introduced in 1998, this plant has huge blooms that are white with pink edges. A good repeat bloomer and very disease resistant. It grows 4 1/2 to 5 feet tall.
Grandifloras
* ‘Love’: This plant’s red and white flowers are excellent for cutting. It blooms repeatedly and grows 4 to 5 feet tall (AARS, 1980).
* ‘Tournament of Roses’: Always in bloom, the two-tone pink, fragrant flowers come in small sprays and make good cut flowers. It grows 6 to 8 feet tall.
* ‘Gold Medal’: Blooms deep yellow; grows 5 to 6 feet tall.
Floribundas
* ‘Outrageous’: A disease-resistant rose growing 3 to 3 1/2 feet tall with fragrant, vibrant peach-orange blooms.
* ‘Iceberg’: Considered one of the best roses of all time, this lends itself to any garden situation. Always in bloom and self-cleaning, it has pure white, fragrant blooms.
* ‘Betty Boop’: This self-cleaning rose came on the scene last year. Produces a profusion of attractive yellow and red blooms. It grows 3 feet tall.
* ‘Sexy Rexy’: It is a good repeat bloomer and produces gorgeous pink blooms. It grows to about 4 feet.
* ‘Show Biz’: Reaching only 3 1/2 feet tall, this rose produces an abundance of dark red flower sprays.
* ‘Play Girl’: Released last year. Stunning single, deep-pink flowers. It grows 4 feet tall.
Shrub Roses
* ‘Bonica’: This low-growing (3 to 4 feet) shrub rose always seems to be in bloom. Flowers are pink.
* ‘Knock Out’: Introduced last year, this cute shrub rose has striking cherry-red blooms. It grows 3 feet tall and wide.
* Simplicity Hedge Roses: A group of shrub roses from Jackson & Perkins that can be grown into a full hedge. They are self-cleaning, requiring only light pruning. The pink variety is the most vigorous, growing 4 to 6 feet tall. Other colors available include white, red, yellow and purple.
Climbers
* ‘Sombreuil’: Actually classified as a hybrid tea, this rose climbs 12 to 16 feet and blooms almost all year. Its extremely fragrant flowers are white and multi-petaled. It is an old-fashioned rose that has been around since the 1850s.
* ‘Altissimo’: A large-flowered climber that grows like a very large shrub, reaching 5 to 7 feet in width. The single flowers are a deep, dark red.
Miniatures
* ‘Just For You’: This rose has urn-shaped red buds that look like miniature hybrid teas. It grows 16 to 18 inches tall.
* ‘Sequoia Gold’: The yellow flowers on this plant look fresh even when they age. It grows 16 inches high and wide.
* ‘Rainbow’s End’: No flower on this showy little rose ever looks faded because the blooms change colors as they age, going from yellow edged in red, to orangy, to pink, to solid red. Grows 16 to 18 inches tall.
* ‘Jacquie Williams’: New on the market, this rose has perfect blooms that are white with dark red edges. Good, long-lasting cut flower. Grows 16 inches tall.
* ‘American Rose Centennial’: Exquisitely shaped white flowers with a pink edge. Grows 16 to 18 inches tall and wide.
* ‘Renny’: The cascading growth habit of this rose makes it great for hanging baskets and containers, as well as for a ground cover. It has medium-pink, long-lasting flowers. Spreads 2 to 2 1/2 feet and grows 18 inches high.
* ‘Gourmet Popcorn’: Also good for hanging baskets and pots, this white-flowered mini blooms in large sprays. It is self-cleaning and grows about 2 feet wide and 18 inches tall.
