5 Red Roses to Ignite Passion in Your Garden

Who doesn't love a red rose? This timeless classic signifies love, passion, and courage—and the number of roses sends a message too. One shows love, a dozen signifies gratitude, 25 conveys congratulations, and 50 means unconditional love. Don't forget the little red rosebud, representing youthful love and beauty. Now that you're captivated, here are standout red roses for your garden.

A garden of red roses is vibrant and lively. Hot red hues pop from the landscape, making a bold statement. Go all-red or combine with evergreen shrubs and other flowering perennials. Add white for classic contrast, blue and white for patriotic flair, pink for monochromatic appeal, or yellow for stark contrast.

1. Best Climber: 'Benjamin Britten'

Available as a medium shrub or climber growing 8 to 10 feet tall—perfect for smaller trellises. This English rose has hints of orange in its petals, a fruity scent, and repeats bloom throughout the season. Deeply cupped, full flowers with densely growing dark green foliage. Benefits from light summer pruning. Grows best in USDA zones 5 to 10.

Other great red climbers: 'Don Juan' Climbing and 'Blaze Improved Crimson'.

2. Best Scent: 'Double Delight'

Could win in several categories with its unusual bicolor petals, but the scent is knockout. This hybrid tea rose has a strong spicy-sweet fragrance, grows 3 to 4 feet tall, with full double flowers that repeat bloom. Great for zones 5 to 9.

Additional scented reds: 'Memorial Day', 'Mister Lincoln', and 'Munstead Wood'.

3. Easy-Care Favorite: 'Home Run'

One of the easiest roses to grow—this shrub rose reaches 4 feet tall and wide with excellent disease resistance. Black spot? Powdery mildew? Downy mildew? 'Home Run' scoffs at them. Heat? Cold? Bring it on. Requires no deadheading and grows in zones 4 to 9.

Additional low-maintenance reds: 'Knock Out', 'Little Mischief', and 'Flower Carpet Scarlet'.

4. Best Cut Flower: 'Traviata'

A hybrid tea rose with deeply cupped blooms in clusters, lovely for cutting and displaying. Densely growing shrub with attractive dark green foliage, up to 5 feet tall in zones 5 to 9. Fair number of thorns—use caution when cutting.

More cut flower suggestions: 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles' and 'William Shakespeare'.

5. Best Color Variation: 'Cherry Parfait'

Is it a white rose with cherry red edges, or a red rose with a white center? No matter—it's a stunner with bicolor petals and dense green foliage. Tuck it into the back of your border for nearly ceaseless seasonal bloom. Rounded, loose habit makes it perfect for large containers or mixed with other flowering perennials and shrubs. Hardy to zone 6.

Additional unusual red roses: 'Double Delight', 'Fourth of July', and 'Rock & Roll'.