Roses are a timeless symbol of beauty, loved for their elegant, fragrant blooms and ability to bring romance and charm to any garden. With a diverse range of forms, colors, and growth habits, these versatile plants can suit any landscape, from formal gardens to casual mixed borders. At Gurney’s, we offer a selection of high-quality rose varieties—each with unique characteristics—to help you find the perfect fit for your space. Whether you’re looking for classic hybrid tea roses, abundant floribundas, or low-maintenance groundcovers, there’s a rose for every gardener. Let’s explore the different types of roses available and how they can enhance your outdoor space.
Hybrid Roses
Hybrid roses are a symbol of classic elegance. They are known for their large, single blooms on long stems and the traditional fragrant rose smell. These roses are ideal for cutting gardens and floral arrangements. Some popular varieties include the Double Delight Hybrid Tea Rose, the Mister Lincoln Hybrid Tea Rose, and the Blue Girl Hybrid Tea Rose. Hybrid Roses will require regular fungicide applications since they are susceptible to black spot and powdery mildew. When properly cared for, Hybrid roses can last for decades.
Floribunda Roses
Floribunda roses produce clusters of flowers with repeat blooming. Floribundas are easy to grow and are great for adding continuous color to garden beds. This variety thrives when planted in large groups in garden beds or in mixed borders. However, they are more prone to diseases compared to Hybrid Roses. Popular Floribunda options include the Julia Child Floribunda Rose, the Ketchup and Mustard Floribunda Rose, and the Frida Kahlo Floribunda Rose.
Grandiflora Roses
Grandiflora roses combine the best features of hybrid tea and floribunda roses, offering elegant, large blooms arranged in clusters on tall, sturdy stems. These roses are ideal for cutting gardens and landscape focal points, providing continuous blooms throughout the season. With their upright growth habit and ability to reach heights of 5-7 feet, grandiflora roses make an impressive statement in any garden. Their disease resistance and cold-hardiness vary by variety, so selecting the right one for your climate ensures a thriving, long-lasting display of color. Popular options include the Quest for Zest Grandiflora Rose and the Queen Elizabeth Grandiflora Rose.
Shrub Roses
Also called landscape roses, shrub roses provide hardy and low-maintenance beauty to your home. These roses can grow between 5 and 15 ft. in any direction with long-lasting blooms. This variety is one of the few rose varieties that may not require winter protection depending on your hardiness zone. Shrub roses are also naturally more disease resistant to common rose diseases, so they do not require fungicide applications like other roses. Popular Shrub rose options include the Top Gun Shrub Rose, the Home Run Shrub Rose, and the Sweet Hips Rugosa Rose.
Groundcover Roses
Groundcover roses are a great way to make a statement to your walkway or a front border. The low-growing and spreading habit makes it ideal for erosion control and large spaces. Grondcover roses offer continuous blooms with minimal maintenance. Our popular Groundcover rose varieties include the White Meidiland Groundcover Rose, the Red Ribbons Ground Cover Rose, and the Rainbow Happy Trails Ground Cover Rose.
Miniature Roses
Miniature roses are a scaled-down, more compact size of roses. The compact size makes it ideal for container gardening, planting in a smaller space like a patio or balcony, or edging. These varieties can even be grown indoors for a short period of time. Though miniature roses are smaller in size, they come in the same wide range of colors and forms as full-sized roses, ensuring you won’t have to compromise on variety. Our most popular options for miniature roses include the Midnight Fire Miniature Rose, the Whimsey Miniature Rose, and the Lemon Drop Miniature Rose.
Climbing Roses
Climbing roses, or rambling roses, produce long, sturdy canes that require support. They don’t “climb”, but they can be trained onto vertical supporters like fences, trellises, or pergolas. They must be tied to the vertical structure to grow upwards, otherwise they will grow outwards. Most varieties are not considered winter hardy, so you will need to research what the hardiness level is and what hardiness zone it is most suitable for. We offer popular varieties of Climbing roses like the Blaze Improved Climbing Rose, the Golden Showers Climbing Rose, and the Pearly Gates Climbing Rose.
Tree Roses
Tree roses are a unique and elegant addition to any garden, combining the beauty of traditional roses with the structured form of a small tree. These roses are created by grafting a rose variety onto a tall, sturdy trunk, resulting in an eye-catching display of blooms elevated above the ground. While tree roses require regular pruning and winter protection, their striking appearance and abundant blooms make them a worthwhile investment for rose lovers. We offer popular varieties like our Neptune Hybrid Tea Rose, Livin’ Easy Floribunda Rose, and our Ebb Tide Floribunda Rose as tree rose options.
Choosing the Right Rose for Your Garden
It’s important to choose the right rose for your garden, based on factors like climate, bloom preference, and maintenance style. Below is a useful chart on how each rose varieties compare to one another when trying to select the best rose for your home.
| Rose Type | Growth Habit | Bloom Style | Best Use | Sun Requirement | Winter Hardiness | Maintenance Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hybrid Tea Rose | Tall, upright | Single large blooms | Cut flowers, formal gardens | Full sun | Zones 5-9 | Moderate |
| Floribunda Rose | Compact, bushy | Clusters of flowers | Mass planting, borders | Full sun | Zones 5-9 | Moderate |
| Shrub Rose | Large, spreading | Large, continuous blooms | Hedges, large landscapes | Full to partial sun | Zones 3-9 | Low |
| Groundcover Rose | Low-growing, spreading | Continuous small blooms | Ground cover, erosion control | Full sun | Zones 4-9 | Low |
| Miniature Rose | Compact, small | Miniature single or cluster blooms | Containers, small spaces | Full sun | Zones 4-9 | Moderate |
| Climbing Rose | Long, arching canes | Clusters or single blooms | Arches, trellises, fences | Full sun | Zones 4-9 (varies by variety) | Moderate to High |
| Tree Rose | Grafted, upright trunk with bushy top | Clusters or single blooms depending on variety | Formal gardens, patios, walkways | Full sun | Zones 5-9 (requires winter protection in colder zones) | High (requires pruning and winter care) |
| Grandiflora Rose | Tall, upright with strong stems | Clusters of large blooms, similar to hybrid teas | Cut flowers, garden focal points | Full sun | Zones 5-9 | Moderate to High |
Regardless of the rose variety you choose, we offer the tools and supplies you need to maintain a healthy rose plant, including a rose-specific fertilizer, rose collars, and fungicide control. Shop now to add a rose to your home today!
