There are over 30,000 types of roses, so it’s easy to lose track of them. To make things a little easier, the roses are divided into rose classes so that they can be grouped together. A distinction is made between wild roses and cultivated roses, also known as garden roses, and these in turn are divided into old and modern roses. Often they are divided according to growth forms, i.e. into climbing roses, bed roses, shrub roses or dwarf roses. An extensive list of rose varieties from A to Z at: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_von_Rosensorten There is a picture of the varieties, the breeder and the year of breeding.
Table of Contents
Old roses
The rose varieties cultivated before 1867 belong to the old roses. They are also called historical roses. They include Alba roses, Bourbon roses, China roses, Damascus roses, Gallica roses, Noisette roses, Portland roses, Remontant roses, tea roses and moss roses. These rose classes are differentiated according to their origin, either old European roses or old roses with a Chinese influence.
- Alba roses – white and pastel-colored pink peasant rose, ancestor of our garden roses, comes from Asia Minor, fragrant flowers in June / July, gray-green foliage, grows overhanging, bushy, up to 2 m high
- Bourbon roses – cultivated from Rosa × damascena ‘Bifera’ and Rosa × chinensis ‘Parson’s Pink China’, spherical, large, double flowers, flowering from June, more frequent, up to 1.5 m high, quite susceptible to disease
- China roses – thousands of years old rose from China, scented with tea roses, often blooming, not really frost hardy, often odorless, annual pruning necessary, China hybrids – cross between a frequently blooming China rose and a single blooming European rose
- Gallica rose – robust wild rose, also called vinegar rose, up to 1 m high, forms runners, flowering period June / July, fragrant flowers, light red to dark purple, forms rose hips
- Noisette roses – the first multiple-blooming climbing rose in the USA, different flower colors
- Portland roses – cross of a Gallica and a Damascus rose, compact growth, up to 1 m high, wonderful fragrance, well hardy, persistent flowering until autumn, flowers in pink and red, little susceptible to disease
- Remontant roses – bloom early and then again later in the season, mostly without fragrance, blooms in different colors
- Tea roses – come from China, initially insufficient winter hardiness, early and late varieties
- Moss roses – calyx and flower stalks look like moss, quite rare, falling apart, resistant to fungal diseases, somewhat sensitive to rain
Modern roses
The modern roses include the varieties that were cultivated after 1867, i.e. ground cover roses, English roses, musk roses, floribunda roses, climbing roses, rambler roses, polyantha roses, hybrid tea and miniature or dwarf roses.
- Ground cover roses – roses that grow flat and spread out over a large area, often permanently blooming, easy to care for and robust, flowers in different colors
- English roses – cross of old roses, modern hybrid tea and floribunda roses. Cup-shaped or rosette-shaped flowers, shrub-like growth, 1.2 to 1.5 m high, climbing roses up to 4.5 m, often without fragrance, mostly delicate flower colors
- Floribunda roses – particularly hardy, many new varieties, permanent flowering, many flowers, good cut rose, flowers darken afterwards, strong, bushy growth, mostly without fragrance, many flower colors, also two-colored
- Musk roses – modern shrub roses, often blooming, easy to care for, come from Asia, intense fragrance, unfilled flowers, wild rose character
- Polyantha roses – come from East Asia, multi-flowered, umbel-like inflorescences, odorless, single and frequent flowering varieties, different flower colors
- Climbing roses – stronger growth, 2 to 10 m high, blooming once or more often, all flower colors available, most of them need a support or a climbing frame
- Rambler roses – climbing roses with soft and flexible stems that can grow up to 10 m high, flower clusters of small, wild rose-like flowers, very easy to care for
- Hybrid tea – permanent bloom, many flower colors, prone to rose diseases
Classification according to growth habit
In the trade, roses are often classified according to their growth habit or possible use. Rose lovers can usually do more with these terms than with the division into old and modern roses. This is divided into hybrid tea roses, bed roses, small shrub roses, shrub roses, climbing roses, dwarf roses and ground cover roses.
- Hybrid tea roses – also called hybrid tea, roses with particularly elegantly shaped flowers, usually only one flower per stem, mostly robust, long flowering time, very beautiful and delicate, many flower colors, also multi-colored
- Bouquet roses – often called floribunda roses, very different types of roses, can bloom in small flowers, but in umbels, have flowers similar to noble roses, grow stronger or weaker, flowering mostly over the entire summer, sprout stronger than hybrid tea roses, many flower colors
- Small shrub roses – often referred to as ground cover roses, grow low lying, but also bushy to arching overhanging, from different classes of roses, spread over an area, mostly very robust and less susceptible to disease, good permanent bloomer
- Shrub Roses – shrub-like appearance, between 1 and 3 m high, mostly originating from several species, blooming once or more often, some with a fragrance, some without, many varieties, many flower colors
- Climbing roses – mostly created from mutations, often large flowers, often with a good fragrance, mostly robust and healthy, very different climbing properties, some require a framework, some do not, often blooming more often, many flower colors, often rose hips
- Rambler roses – long, flexible shoot axes, can form shoots up to 10 m long, usually only blooming once, some with a strong fragrance, many flower colors, often rose hips
- Dwarf roses – small roses that grow up to 40 cm high, good for containers and even window boxes, abundant flowers, robust and healthy, some with fragrance, many flower colors
Roses by color
The choice of roses is a matter of taste. Which class, variety or color you choose depends of course on your own taste, but also on the location, how much space is available and how the rose looks at this point, the growth, but also the flower color. If you like it colorful, you will put many different roses in a rose bed and that can look good. If you like it more simple, stick with one or two colors. The scent of roses is often forgotten. It’s great when a rose not only looks good, but also smells beguiling. What is also crucial, of course, are the hardiness and health of the plants. ADR roses are recommended here. They have been tested and found to be very good. These roses are tough and usually do not cause any problems. What use is the most beautiful rose
Beautiful scented roses
- ‘Black Madonna’ – hybrid tea rose with velvety black-red flowers, but only a slight fragrance
- ‘Lavaglut’ – black and red double floribunda rose, good scent of wild roses
- ‘Acapella’ – cherry-red inside, silver-colored outside, hybrid tea with an intoxicating, strongly fruity scent
- ‘Duftrausch’ – violet-rose colored, very large flowers, hybrid tea with an exceptionally strong and spicy scent
- ‘Erotika’ – double, dark red flowers, hybrid tea with a spicy scent
- ‘Ave Maria’ – salmon-orange double flowers, hybrid tea with a strong, very pleasant scent
- ‘Freisinger Morgenröte’ – orange-yellow-pink flowers, shrub rose with a strong scent, very good-looking
- ‘Queen of the Roses’ – salmon-orange in color, golden yellow flowers on the outside, hybrid tea with a wonderful scent
- ‘Frohsinn 82’ – peach yellow flowers, hybrid tea with a strong, fruity, very pleasant scent
- ‘Sebastian Kneipp’ – creamy white, yellowish-pink flowers towards the center, hybrid tea with a strong, sweet fragrance
- ‘Glendora’ – soft pink and honey yellow flowers with a cream-colored border, hybrid tea with a very distinctive scent, similar to rose perfume
- ‘Speelwark’ – peach-yellow, reddish tinged flowers, hybrid tea with a rich, pleasantly lovely scent
Beautiful white roses
Beetrosen
- ‘Diamant’ – small shrub rose, flower diameter 6 cm, slightly double, particularly resistant to fungal diseases, ADR rose, no fragrance
- ‘Escimo’ – small shrub rose, flower diameter 4 to 5 cm, flowers from early summer to autumn, single-flowered, ADR rose, no fragrance
- ‘Medeo®’ – small shrub rose, flower diameter 3 cm, frequently blooming, light fragrance, ADR rose, light pink tinge
- ‘Eisprinzessin’ – slim, upright growing floribunda rose, half-double flower cups, 8 to 10 cm tall, light fragrance, often blooming, slightly tinged with pink
Shrub roses
- ‘Snow White’ – dazzling pure white flowers, double flowers, 8 cm in diameter, permanent blooming, light fragrance, 120 cm high, arching overhanging growth
- ‘Alba Meidiland®’ – double, cup-shaped flowers, light fragrance, up to 1.5 m high, but up to 2 m wide, continuously blooming from June to October
- ‘Dr. Martin Luther® ‘- large, slightly double flowers, slightly fragrant, flowering from June to frost, broadly bushy, 1.5 m high, 1.2 m wide
- ‘Gletscherfee®’ – slightly double, white, flat flowers with yellow stamens, slightly fragrant, often blooming, from June to frost, 1.2 m high
Climbing rose
- ‘Hella®’ – pure white, flower diameter approx. 9 cm, very vigorous, very healthy, ADR rose, light fragrance
- ‘Bobby James’ – fragrant rose, strong fragrance, flower diameter 4 cm, slightly double, up to 5 m high, fast-growing, single-flowering, plentiful, white flower clusters
- ‘Filipes Kiftsgate’ – Rambler rose, creamy white, single flowers, 4 cm in diameter, up to 8 m high, annual growth up to 3 m, intense scent,
- ‘Alaska®’ / ‘Future®’ – white double flowers, 8 cm diameter, often blooming, light fragrance, up to 2 m high, very good leaf health, moderate vigor
Hybrid Tea Roses
- ‘Memoire®’ – pure white flowers with cream-colored shades, diameter 11 cm, double flowers, intense fragrance, typical bridal rose, often blooming
- ‘Pascali®’ – dazzling white, well-filled flowers with tips on the leaf margins, slightly fragrant, often blooming, strong and bushy growing, good health
- ‘Ambiente®’ – creamy white, goblet-shaped, very noble flowers, not very fragrant, flowering from June to frost, strongly upright growth, up to 0.80 m
- ‘Polarstern®’ – bright white, very large and well-filled flowers, good, medium-strong fragrance, often blooming, vigorous, well branched, 70 to 120 cm high
Wildrosen
- Bibernell rose – white to light yellow flowers, single and 4 cm tall, good fragrance, forms dense shrubbery through runners, about 1 m high, blooming once
- White apple rose – brilliant white, simple flowers, 5 cm in diameter, blooming frequently, beautiful rose hips, 1.5 m high, rich fragrance
- Rosa omeiensis pteracantha – pure white, small, unfilled flowers in panicles, blooming once or often, scented wild roses, large spines, up to 2 m high, strongly bushy
- Rosa repens ‘Alba’ – medium-sized, unfilled flowers in clusters, slightly fragrant, up to 3 m long shoots, ideal as ground cover, because the shoots grow flat
Beautiful yellow roses
Beetrosen
- ‘Rose Friesia’ – bright golden yellow flowers, lightening as they fade, flowers 6 to 7 cm in size, strong, intoxicating scent, especially in the evening, blooming more often
- ‘Solero®’ – light lemon yellow, double flowers, 6 cm in diameter, 70 cm high, often blooming, broadly bushy, very healthy and robust, hardly any fragrance
- ‘Akzent’ – pure yellow, semi-double flowers, no fragrance, blooming more often, from June to frost, strong, broad, bushy growth, 80 cm high, robust foliage
- ‘Allgold’ – golden yellow, slightly double flowers, pleasant fragrance, not very strong, often blooming, bushy, compact growth, 60 cm high
Shrub roses
- ‘Lichtkönigin Lucia’ – strong lemon-yellow flowers, about 9 cm in diameter, often blooming, intense fragrance, up to 1.5 m high, bushy growing, rich floral flora
- ‘Postillion®’ – bright yellow flowers, 10 cm in diameter, abundantly flowering, intense fragrance, upright bushy growing, about 1.4 m high
- ‘Sterntaler®’ – medium yellow flowers, sometimes with a red border, well filled (quartered) and intensely fragrant, often blooming, healthy leaves, up to 1.2 m high
- ‘Goldspatz®’ – light yellow, semi-double flowers with a wavy edge, 9 cm in diameter, often blooming, arching overhanging growth, beautiful rose hips, no fragrance
Climbing roses
- ‘Golden Gate®’ – golden yellow flowers, 9 cm in diameter, intense fragrance, up to 3 m high, exotic character, frequently blooming
- ‘Moonlight®’ – lemon-yellow flowers, lightening with a pink tinge as they fade, 12 cm in diameter, often blooming, up to 2.5 m high, good fragrance, good health
- ‘Climbing Landora’ – dark yellow, large, slender flowers that bloom very slowly and are very durable, no fragrance, often blooming, up to 3.5 m high, vigorous
- ‘Dune®’ – normal yellow, double, large flowers, strong, fruity scent, often blooming, up to 3 m, likes climbing aids, bushy, upright growth
Hybrid Tea Roses
- ‘Limona®’ – light yellow, elegantly shaped flowers in small umbels, 7 to 8 cm in diameter, often blooming, good leaf health, around 80 cm high, upright, bushy growth
- ‘Sunny Sky®’ – honey-yellow flowers, darker inside, getting lighter on the outside, 10 cm in diameter, often blooming, vigorous growth, good leaf health, delicate fragrance
- ‘Winter Sun®’ – light yellow flowers, darker inside than outside, 8 cm in diameter, bushy, compact growth, very good leaf health, light fragrance, 70 cm high
- ‘Berolina®’ – lemon-yellow flowers with a red tinge, 11 cm in diameter, frequent, free-flowering, upright bushy growing, 1 m high
Beautiful red roses
Beetrosen
- ‘Black Forest Rose®’ – bright red flowers in an attractive shape, 6 cm in diameter, free-flowering, often flowering, small shrub rose character, ADR rose
- ‘Cherry Girl®’ – cherry-red, richly double flowers, nostalgically shaped, 6 cm in diameter, rich fragrance, frequently blooming, 70 cm high, ADR rose
- ‘Out of Rosenheim®’ – romantically shaped and double red flowers, 8 cm in diameter, no fragrance, often blooming, very good leaf health
- ‘Rotkäppchen®’ – dark red, overflowing, nostalgic flowers, 7 cm in diameter, often blooming, broadly bushy, well-branched growth
Shrub roses
- ‘Roter Korsar®’ – dark red, bright, open flowers, 9 cm in diameter, often blooming, ADR rose, no fragrance, 1.5 m high, arching overhanging growth
- ‘Uetersens Rosenkönigin®’ – salmon-red double flowers with a wavy edge, 11 cm in diameter, often blooming, 1.5 m high, arching overhanging growth
- ‘Burghausen®’ – light red, slightly double flowers with a wavy edge, 8 cm in diameter, often blooming, arching overhanging growth, up to 2 m high
- ‘Grandhotel’ – bright blood-red flowers with a velvety shimmer, 12 cm in diameter, free-flowering, often flowering, 1.8 m high, upright growth
Climbing roses
- ‘Sympathy’ – velvety dark red flowers, 9 cm in diameter, often blooming, intense fragrance, up to 3 m high, robust and healthy, very frost hardy
- ‘Amadeus®’ – blood-red, double, bright flowers, 8 cm in diameter, often blooming, good leaf health, up to 2.5 m high
- ‘Florentina®’ – red, double flowers in a nostalgic shape, 9 cm in diameter, very blooming, often blooming, good leaf health, only 2 m high
- ‘Dortmund®’ – bright blood-red flowers with white eyes, large, simple and in umbels, wavy leaf margins, large inflorescences, often blooming, good for rough areas
Hybrid Tea Roses
- ‘Duftzauber®’ – dark red, lush double flowers, 11 cm in diameter, rich, intense scent, often blooming, 70 cm high, upright, bushy growth
- ‘Bellevue® – purple flowers, 10 cm in diameter, early flowering, frequent flowering, 80 cm high, upright growth, good leaf health, hardly any fragrance
- ‘Burgund81®’ – bright blood-red flowers with a velvet shimmer, 12 cm in diameter, blooming frequently, lush autumn flowers, hardly any fragrance, robust, very hardy
- ‘Grande Amore®’ – bright red, large flowers with a wavy edge, 10 cm in diameter, often blooming, hardly any fragrance, ADR rose, good cut rose
Beautiful pink and fuchsia roses
Beetrosen
- ‘Constanze Mozart®’ – delicate cream-pink, strong and nostalgic shaped flower bowls, 8 cm diameter, intoxicating scent, often blooming, upright growing, 80 cm high
- ‘Ponponella®’ – dark pink, densely double flowers, 6 cm in diameter, fairy-tale rose, often blooming, weak fragrance, 80 cm high, upright, bushy growing
- ‘Rosenfee®’ – salmon-red bud, princess pink flower, fully filled, nostalgically shaped, 7 to 8 cm in diameter, free-flowering, light, fresh scent, 70 cm high
- ‘Larissa®’ – pink flowers, darker inside than outside, double flowers, 5 cm in diameter, often blooming, no fragrance, very good self-cleaning, small shrub rose
Shrub roses
- ‘Alexandra-Princesse de Luxembourg®’ – pink, double, romantic flowers with an intense fragrance, 10 cm in diameter, often blooming, arching overhanging growth, 1.5 m high
- ‘Cinderella®’ – soft pink (porcelain pink) lush double flowers, 10 cm in diameter, intense fragrance, often blooming, fairy-tale rose, arching overhanging growth
- ‘Köllner Flora’ – large, pink, nostalgically shaped flower balls, 8 to 10 cm in diameter, intoxicating scent, often blooming, 1.2 m high, growing arching overhanging
- ‘Topolina®’ – open, pink flower with a yellow center, 3 to 4 cm in diameter, often blooming, good self-cleaning, grows lying flat, bee magnet
Climbing roses
- ‘Laguna®’ – bright pink, nostalgically shaped flowers, 10 cm in diameter, intoxicating scent, often blooming, up to 2.5 m high, ADR rose
- ‘Apple Blossom’ – pale pink, simple flowers with a yellow center, 4 cm in diameter, rambler rose, rich florets, blooming once, up to 5 m high, pleasant fragrance
- ‘Jasmina®’ – violet-pink, slightly double flowers, 6 to 7 cm in diameter, intense fragrance, rambler properties, up to 3 m high, free-flowering, often flowering
- ‘New Dawn’ – delicate creamy pink flowers, slightly double and intensely fragrant, frequently blooming, up to 3 m high, long-lasting abundance of flowers, very robust and frost hardy
Hybrid Tea Roses
- ‘Beverly®’ – delicate pink, elegantly shaped flowers, 10 cm in diameter, often blooming, strong, intoxicating scent, upright growth, 80 cm, susceptible to powdery mildew
- ‘Parole®’ – strong pink flowers with a hint of lilac, 14 cm in diameter, intoxicating scent, often blooming, 80 cm high
- ‘Wedding Bells®’ – pink flowers, 10 cm in diameter, light fragrance, frequently blooming, upright bushy growth, 80 cm high
- ‘Sweet Parole®’ – delicate pink flowers, very large. 14 cm in diameter, intoxicating scent, often blooming, 80 cm high, upright growth
Wildrosen
- ‘Rose de Resht’ – wild rose hybrid, fuchsia-red, ponpon-like flowers, 5 cm in diameter, intoxicating scent, frequently blooming, 1 m high
- Pike rose – pink, wide-open flowers with a yellow center, 4 cm in diameter, blooming once, but very rich, 2 m high, arching overhanging growth, beautiful rose hips, blue-green foliage
- Sand rose – light pink, very open flowers with a yellow center, 4 cm in diameter, blooming once, colorful autumn leaves, rounded rose hips, 1 m high
- Apple-rose / potato-rose – lilac-pink to pink-red flowers, 5 cm in diameter, blooming frequently, intense fragrance, great autumn colors, large rose hips, 1.5 m high
Frequently asked questions
What to look for when choosing a rose for the garden?
There are big differences in quality when it comes to roses. Although mass-produced goods are cheap and can also grow well, when it comes to roses, it is worth investing in quality. If you want a large selection of varieties, you will usually find something on the Internet at mail order companies. On-site nurseries usually have a limited choice. If you are looking for a certain variety, you have to order it. You can also take it into your own hands.
Health is important when choosing. Most of the time you only get pleasure from disease-prone roses for a short time. Winter hardiness is just as crucial. Depending on the area in which you live, this must be more or less high. When buying on site, it is essential to pay attention to quality.
- High quality roses have at least 3 basic shoots. Mass-produced roses usually only have 2.
- Firm, smooth shoots with a slight sheen
- Pot roses should have well-rooted soil.
- Pay attention to grade A.
- To be on the safe side, buy ADR roses
- Bark stains and wrinkles are a sign of poor quality
- Slightly score the bark with the thumbnail. If juicy, green tissue appears, the shoot is healthy.
How good are bare-root roses?
In most cases, nurseries recommend planting container roses. These would grow better. Bad experiences with bare-root roses are often given, which I cannot confirm. What is important is the planting date. The bare-root specimens should be purchased and planted as soon as they are available. Then they are fresh and the soil is still warm enough for them to grow well. I order my roses from reputable rose suppliers like Kordes and I’ve never had any problems. All without exception have grown and the quality has always been good. Anyone who buys bare-root roses in spring needs to know that they are stored without soil for the whole winter. This is of course stress for the plants, as it can lead to failures.
There are also a few things to consider when planting bare-root roses. The instructions are usually included in the package. If you stick to it, you won’t have any problems with the roses growing well.
Bare-root roses are significantly cheaper than container roses. Instead of one in a container, you can buy three bare-roots for the same price.