Lost in a sea of rose categories and classifications? You’re not alone. With all the jargon on the internet, searching for the perfect rose can feel like trying to navigate a foreign country. In this post, we’ll decode the types, classes, and varieties of roses so you can understand what they mean before selecting the right one for your garden.
Quick Answer: How Many “Types” vs. How Many “Varieties”?
First, let’s differentiate between rose types, classes, and varieties. Many gardeners use them interchangeably, but there are important distinctions to be aware of.
Types
This refers to the broadest types of roses – the 3 major ones being modern roses, species or wild roses, and old garden roses.
Classes
Within these types of roses lie several classes. Modern roses break down into hybrid teas, floribundas, climbing roses, and many others. The old garden rose type contains gallicas, damasks, and tea roses – just to name a few.
Varieties/Cultivars
The rose world breaks down even further – with thousands of varieties/cultivars derived from approximately 300 wild rose species. These rose varieties have been developed through centuries of crossbreeding – combining characteristics like color, fragrance, and bloom form.
Species (Wild) Roses
Wild roses don’t mirror the full, layered blooms we associate with modern roses. At first glance, you might not guess they’re roses at all. Their flowers are simple – typically a single bloom of 5 pink petals. These natural beauties flower just once in early summer and produce rose hips that attract friendly pollinators like bees, butterflies, and birds.
Modern Roses (Post-1867)
Think of modern roses as the upgraded old garden roses. Bred after 1867, they possess more desirable characteristics than their older counterparts – such as strengthened disease resistance through hybridization, larger blooms, and continuous flowering. Let’s explore the most popular types of modern roses you’ll find on the market today.
Hybrid Tea
The hybrid tea rose is a garden standout – featuring one pointed, high-centered bloom on a long, upright cane. They bloom continuously throughout the season and have an extensive color palette. Excellent for cutting and floral arrangements, it’s no wonder this rose is so popular among florists.
April & Ashley’s recommendation: Hearts
Floribunda
A beautiful cross between hybrid teas and polyanthas, floribunda roses bloom repeatedly in huge clusters with abundant rounded flowers on each cane. Any beginner gardener can successfully grow a floribunda rose that will provide color in their garden from late spring through autumn.
April & Ashley’s recommendation: Anuschka
Grandiflora
Combining the classic look of a hybrid tea with the cluster blooming habit of a floribunda, grandiflora roses deliver the best of both worlds. Their tall, upright growth habit and abundant flowers make them ideal for hedge or border planting.
April & Ashley’s recommendation: Popstar
Shrub Roses
Shrub roses mature into an open, outward-reaching shape and bloom abundantly all season long. They’re versatile, disease-resistant and easy to care for – making them a desirable choice for beginner gardeners.
April & Ashley’s recommendation: Berliner Morgen
Polyantha
A crossbreed of hybrid teas and wild roses, polyanthas blend rugged beauty with modern charm. They bloom prolifically from spring to autumn and are impressively resilient to common rose diseases like blackspot and powdery mildew.
Miniature & Miniflora
Blooming small yet vibrant, miniature roses are suitable for planting in pots or containers. They add charm and beauty to compact living spaces – such as a deck, patio or veranda. They flower in clusters repeatedly throughout the season and are available in a wide range of color and fragrance.
April & Ashley’s recommendation: Halo
Climbing Roses
With their long, arching canes, climbing roses are vigorous plants that can be trained to transform walls, fences, and other garden structures into beautiful floral displays. These repeat bloomers boast large, refined flowers – exuding an air of sophistication in your garden.
April & Ashley’s recommendation: Perfume Breeze
Rambling Roses
More closely related to wild roses, rambler roses achieve that “untamed beauty” aesthetic. They’re once-bloomers with even longer, more flexible canes than climbers. They can be trained to sprawl over vast spaces in your garden or home – such as long fences, pergolas, or trees.
April & Ashley’s recommendation: Perenial Domino
Groundcover / Landscape Roses
Low-growing and repeat-blooming, groundcover roses transform the garden floor into a sweeping floral carpet. They’re often disease-resistant, low-maintenance, and great at suppressing weeds.
April & Ashley’s recommendation: Rose de Tende
Old Garden Roses (Pre-1867)
Bred before 1867, old garden roses are the epitome of timeless beauty and nostalgia. Generally more fragrant than modern roses, they add romance and charm to the gardens of today. Although most are once-blooming, many newer classes of old garden roses have become repeat bloomers over time – becoming even more desirable to gardeners who prefer season-long color.
Care note: Old garden roses are known for their lush, heavy blooms. Prune lightly and avoid heavy cuts to help them maintain their natural shape.
Gallica
With their rich fragrance, gallicas have been used for perfumes and oil since the 12th century. They grace the garden once in early summer with shades of purple and pink, tightly-clustered blooms. Low-growing, compact, and exceptionally hardy – they’re great for groundcover or hedge plantings.
Damask
Known for their intense spicy-sweet scent, damask roses are on par with gallicas in the fragrance category. Within damasks are 2 varieties – the Summer Damask & the Autumn Damask. The Summer Damask blooms once in early summer (like most old garden roses), while the Autumn Damask’s pink-to-white double flowers will make an appearance in both summer and fall.
Alba
Alba roses may look delicate with their graceful pale-pink or white petals, but they’re known for being exceptionally cold-hardy and disease-resistant. They’re perfect for beginner gardeners or those who live in lower rose hardiness zones.
Centifolia (“Cabbage”)
Also known as “cabbage roses,” centifolias feature tightly-packed, large blooms – so large that they cause the stem to droop. Their resilient, highly fragrant pink/white petals show up once in early summer.
Moss
Moss roses have a unique superpower: they produce a sticky, moss-like covering that acts as a shield from common pests – such as aphids. Not only does this substance prevent infestations, but it releases an earthy, pine-like fragrance into the garden. They bloom once in early summer with full, cup-shaped flowers – available in almost every color.
China
With a long history of hybridization, China roses are one of the few old garden roses that bloom repeatedly. While they’re disease-resistant, their petals are thin, silky, and delicate – making them better suited to warmer climates.
Tea
An ancestor of the iconic hybrid tea rose, the tea rose is a repeat bloomer that gets its name from its lovely tea-like scent. They produce disease-resistant, large flowers in a variety of colors.
Bourbon
Unlike most old garden roses, many bourbon rose varieties stand out for being nearly thornless – making them ideal for entrance/pathways and other high-foot-traffic areas in the garden. They’re reliable repeat bloomers with full, richly-fragrant flowers.
Portland
A cross between the Autumn Damask and gallica rose, Portland roses are repeat bloomers that grow vigorously yet compact. They have uniquely short stems that make it appear as though its flowers rest “on the shoulder” of the foliage. They’re commonly found in shades of magenta, pink, crimson, and white.
Noisette
Noisettes are vigorous repeat bloomers that produce clusters of small white or pale pink flowers. They’re highly fragrant and can grow up to 20 feet tall – making excellent climbing roses.
Fun fact: This was the first rose type to originate in the USA!
Visual Picker: Choose by Use/Placement
Already have the perfect place in mind for your next rose, but still unsure which class to choose? We’ve made it simple with our quick choose-by-use guide. Here are a few quick ideas:
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Cutting garden roses: The long stems of hybrid teas and grandifloras are great for cutting and creating stunning floral arrangements.
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Front of house roses: With their compact and bushy growth form, shrub roses beautifully accentuate the facade of any home.
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Arches & trellises: Climbing roses have long, flexible canes that can be trained to weave a floral tapestry onto any garden support.
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Large structures/naturalizing: Rambling roses have even more flexible canes that can be trained to cover larger spaces – like long fences, walls, pergolas, and even trees
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Small spaces/containers: With their compact growth form, miniature roses are perfect for potting and decorating decks, patios, and verandas.
Untangling the Rose Universe
With the types, numerous classifications, and thousands of varieties, the rose universe can seem quite complex. Once you determine which characteristics are most desirable to you – such as fragrance, color, bloom time, and disease resistance – refer back to this guide to make the right choice. Then visit April & Ashley to browse our countless varieties of premium rose bushes – shipped directly from our farm to your home.