Shrub Roses: Rugged Beauty for the Landscape

Roses are perhaps the most beloved flowers, esteemed throughout history for form, color, and fragrance. Until recently, gardeners focused on hybrid teas—elegant modern roses with a stylish bud on a long stem. Lately, old roses (alba, damask, Bourbon, China) have made a strong comeback. Also popular are modern shrub roses—rugged plants that function as landscape shrubs and offer long-lasting bloom.

You don't need to study rose history to appreciate them, but including an assortment of types maximizes enjoyment. Below are seven popular varieties out of thousands available. Most nurseries carry hybrid teas and other modern roses; old roses are increasingly offered—if your local nursery doesn't stock them, ask for mail-order suppliers.

Seven Popular Shrub Rose Varieties

'Ballerina' (1937)

Mounded shrub to 4 ft high and wide (larger in warm climates), covered all season in single, white-centered pink blossoms. Glossy, elongated leaflets are disease resistant. Classed as a hybrid musk, considered by many as the ideal shrubby rose with profuse bloom.

'Graham Thomas' (1983)

One of the first English roses, bred to combine modern colors and repeat bloom with old rose floral style. Plump, red-tinted yellow buds open to large, cupped, butter-yellow blossoms on arching canes to 10+ ft.

'Iceberg'

If you think you can't grow roses, try 'Iceberg'. Vigorous, sparsely thorned, rarely bothered by pests and diseases. Floribunda class, 2½–4 ft tall. Available in climbing form.

'Kaleidoscope' (1999)

Small (2–2½ inch) double flowers transform from orangy-tan with yellow center to mauve-pink as they age. Shrub rose, 2–4 ft tall, easy care, long bloom without fuss. No spraying needed, little pruning to stay shapely.

'Mister Lincoln'

For many, the one rose to have. Perfectly formed buds, beautiful open blossoms, wonderful fragrance. Unlike many hybrid teas, this forms an attractive urn-shaped shrub.

'Peace' (1945)

So well known it hardly needs description. Full, ovoid buds of yellow touched with pink or red unfurl to extra-large blossoms with pink-rimmed yellow petals. Vigorous hybrid tea, 4+ ft tall and wide. Large, glossy, disease-resistant leaves.

'Sunset Celebration' (1998)

Lovely chameleon-like hybrid tea, colors vary from rich peach to apricot-umber burnished with cream. Cross between unnamed seedling and 'Pot O' Gold'. Bushy 4-ft plants with deep-green foliage and excellent disease resistance. Flowers 4½–5½ inches, 25–30 petals in formal spiral.