5 Exotic Rose Colors for a Beautifully Different Garden

We all love pink, red, yellow, and white roses, but sometimes it's fun to step outside the norm and go bolder—or funkier. How about lavender, peach, caramel, or roses with a hint of black? Most exotically colored roses start with typical hues but have added intensity making them almost otherworldly. Here are favorites—most are shrub roses, but look for climbers or miniatures for other garden areas.

1. Peach

Flowers range from peachy pinks to orange and bronze-red.

A glorious one: 'About Face', 2005 All American Rose Selection winner. Grows up to 6 feet tall, blooms 2–4 inches diameter, summer into fall. Best in USDA zones 7–9, easy care, disease resistant, with fresh apple scent.

Other peachy roses: 'Livin' Easy', 'Day Breaker', 'Sedona Coral'.

2. Purple

Look for lavender, purple, and bluish-red tones for offbeat charm.

'Purple Rain' is a hybrid tea with saturated purple-pink double blooms for zones 6–9. Small bush (2½ feet) with small blooms but packs a punch with strong fragrance and long bloom season spring through summer. Pest and disease resistant.

Other grapey hues: 'Rhapsody in Blue', 'Melody Parfumée', 'Sweetness', 'Burgundy Iceberg'.

3. Black

No true black roses exist, but deep crimsons and purple-blacks with inky undertones create instant drama and romantic darkness.

'Midnight Blue' has 2½-inch blooms saturated in dramatic purple-crimson. Grows up to 3 feet tall and wide in zones 6–10. Blooms spring into summer with repeat blooms. Spicy clove fragrance adds exotic appeal; pest and disease resistance makes it desirable.

Other options: 'Black Magic', 'Traviata', 'Black Cherry'.

4. Chocolate

I love flowers reminding me of food. Chocolate roses aren't truly brown—earthy oranges and creams leading to spicy or caramel blooms.

'Hot Cocoa' blends smoky chocolate and orange hues. Grows up to 5 feet tall and wide with large 3½-inch ruffled flowers repeating all season. Zones 5–9.

Other options: 'Laura Bush', 'Cinco de Mayo', 'Cinnamon Girl', 'Honey Dijon'. Hungry yet?

5. Two-Color

Add exuberance with bicolored roses—spots, stripes, or colored petal edges.

'George Burns' has creamy petals striped with cheery red and pink—like its namesake, evoking tongue-in-cheek humor. Stays compact (3x3 feet) with large doubled blooms and fruity scent. Zones 3–9, great disease resistance, reblooms all season.

More enchanting two-color roses: 'Gemini', 'Scentimental', 'Hot Tamale', 'Rio Samba', 'Love and Peace', 'Cherry Parfait'.

Shown: 'Cherry Parfait'