How to Identify Hedge Roses: A Field Guide to Common Varieties

Overview

Popular in Europe, rose hedges create dramatic, attractive landscape borders—friendly "fences" between properties. Rose bushes include hybrid tea, floribunda, grandiflora, shrub/landscape, tree, miniature, and climber types. Hedges most commonly use hybrid tea, floribunda, grandiflora, and shrub/landscape varieties. Miniatures appear in low border hedges.

Identification Steps

Step 1: Hedge Height

2-5 feet typical. Hybrid teas reach 5 feet; floribundas 3-4 feet; grandifloras to 6 feet; miniatures only 2 feet.

Step 2: Bloom Color

White, yellow, orange, pink, red, purple. Floribundas are generally most colorful.

Step 3: Bloom Size

Miniatures: 2 inches. Floribundas, grandifloras, hybrid teas: 4-5 inches.

Step 4: Blooms Per Stem

Hybrid teas: typically one per stem. Floribundas: clusters of 3-15.

Step 5: Growth Habit

Floribundas: bushier. Hybrid teas: more upright. Shrub/landscape: lower, spreading. Miniatures: dense, compact.