Shrub Rose
Rosa spp.
Other names: Landscape rose, garden rose
Shrub roses are bushy, repeat-flowering roses bred for garden performance. They include English roses and modern landscape series. They give months of bloom and are more disease-resistant and easier to prune than hybrid teas. Hardiness varies by variety, so check the label for your zone.
How to grow shrub rose
Light
Roses need at least six hours of direct sun. Morning sun is especially valuable because it dries the leaves early and reduces disease.
Watering
Water deeply once or twice a week, giving about 1 to 2 in (2.5–5 cm) in total. Water the soil, not the leaves.
Soil and feeding
Dig in compost before planting and mulch each spring. Feed with a rose fertilizer when growth starts and again after the first flush of flowers. Stop feeding six weeks before the first expected frost.
Planting and pruning
Prune in late winter or early spring as the buds begin to swell. Remove dead, damaged and crossing stems, then shorten the rest by about one third, cutting just above an outward-facing bud. Deadhead through summer.
Propagation
Take semi-ripe cuttings in late summer or hardwood cuttings in fall. Many modern varieties are protected by plant patents and may not be propagated for sale.
Common problems
- Black spots, then yellow leaves that drop
- Black spot fungus. Choose resistant varieties, clear fallen leaves and keep foliage dry.
- Clusters of small green insects on buds
- Aphids. Knock them off with a jet of water. Ladybugs and lacewings usually finish the job.
- Skeletonized leaves and chewed flowers
- Japanese beetles. Pick them into soapy water in the early morning.
Questions about shrub rose
When is the best time to plant roses?
Plant bare-root roses in late winter or early spring while dormant. Container roses can go in from spring to early fall if kept watered.
How do I get more blooms?
Give full sun, feed after each flush and remove faded flowers by cutting back to the first leaf with five leaflets.
Plant details
| Botanical name | Rosa spp. |
|---|---|
| Family | Rosaceae |
| Native range | Asia, Europe and North America |
| Plant type | Trees and Shrubs. Deciduous shrub |
| Soil | Fertile, well-drained loam |
| Flower color | Red, pink, white, yellow, orange |
- Fragrant
- Good cut flower
- Attracts pollinators
- Pet-safe
