When we think of roses, we think of romance; of love and passion; of a Valentine’s Day bouquet. Roses – particularly red ones – have become an intrinsic element of lovers’ lives, and it seems as though it has always been that way.
Shakespeare used the rose as a literary device hundreds of years ago, comparing it to women’s beauty and establishing it as the epitome of sweetness and love.
In fact, the red rose has been used so frequently to symbolize love that – if we are honest – it has become a bit of a cliché (not that we’d complain if we got gifted some, though…).
Because of the red rose’s symbolic history, there is not much attention given to its brother and sister flowers.
I bet you didn’t know that the rose is an ancient flower, which grew for thousands of years all over Asia, long before it became the highlight of our Western world’s florists.
Do you know anything about roses that is unrelated to the red rose? Wouldn’t you like to plant a flower in your garden that has the same beauty as the red rose?
Imagine that all the attributes of a rose can be found with all colors of the rainbow; imagine pink roses, orange ones, white roses and purple ones!
Well, we are here to tell you that you do not have to imagine these flowers, because there are literally hundreds of rose species that you can plant today.
Read on to see a list of all our favorite types of rose flowers, and discover your next shrub investment.
1. Damask Rose
Also referred to as Turkish Rose, Castile Rose, or Arab Rose, this hybrid flower is renowned for its incredible fragrance.
It is a common ingredient in perfumes, and is harvested to make rose water. What’s even cooler about this flower is that it is edible!
Most of these roses have a sweet light pink color, but can range to a deep pink or even a very light red. This shrub can grow up to over 7 feet tall, and comes in two different hybrid varieties: Summer Damasks and Autumn Damasks.
We think this flower is stunning!
2. Rosa ‘Mister Lincoln’
Although the name of this flower isn’t so pretty, the actual flower is. This dark red rose is a hybrid, which became one of the best selling roses in the United States in the last century.
It grows between 4 and 7 feet tall, and its velvet-like flowers bloom repeatedly throughout the year. This is a classic red rose.
3. Dog Rose
We are not sure why so many roses have such unflattering names, but this one is a true beauty nonetheless. The plant is a climbing species, and can grow up to nearly 17 feet tall.
This flower does not share the typical layered shape of roses, but instead has one row of delicate petals. The petals are a delicate pale pink, but can range in color from a vibrant pink to white.
They are complemented by a bright yellow center where the stamens grow.
4. Rosa Chinensis
More commonly known as the Chinese Rose, this flower is native to – you guessed it – China.
The petals can blossom in shades of pink, from dark pink to pale pink, all of which are breathtakingly vibrant. This plant can grow in hedges, and its flowers can be used as a flavorful herb!
5. Eden Rose
This climbing species of plant boasts one of our favorite rose flowers. The flowers slightly resemble peonies in their full and multi-layered shape, and their color reaches the most sweet and delicate pale pink.
The light tones of the petals contrast with the deep green color of the plant’s leaves, to create a dramatic and romantic shrub that can suit any type of garden. This beauty can climb to a height of 10 whole feet.
6. Rosa Peace
The color of these roses is phenomenal. Once they bloom, the petals open up to display the prettiest primrose yellow color.
Although yellow is not a color often associated with roses, or with romance, we think these flowers are super cute. The plant is a bush rose, and it can grow up to 4 feet tall and around 3 feet wide.
7. Multiflora Rose
This Asian rose plant is a climber, and can grow up to 16.5 feet tall. The flowers that grow on this plant are relatively small, and its petals are either white or light pink.
Similarly to the Dog Rose, this flower does not have layers of petals, but just one row. The flower is most frequently used as ornamental decoration.
8. Rosa Korbin
This German rose is often called the Iceberg Rose, most probably due to its bright white petals.
The flowers are multi-layered and can have up to 35 petals on each one, making them look full like a typical rose. The plant tends to grow around 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide.
9. Rosa Gallica
This plant is native to places in Europe, and is sometimes called the French Rose. It was one of the very first rose plants to be grown in the middle of Europe, and has since become a parent to many newer species.
These flowers have only one layer of petals, consisting of five or more, all of which display a gorgeously saturated purple-pink color, a little like a magenta. These flowers give off the most amazing scent, making it look and smell the part.
10. Rose Of York
This hybrid rose is an ancient plant which has been famous for its flowers’ sweet fragrance for years. The flowers have so many petals that their shape is not that of a typical rose, but it is beautiful all the same.
They can grow in either a sweet light pink shade, similar to that of the Eden Rose, but can also be a pure white color. The white roses look so elegant and would be a great addition to any garden that can cater to their tall height, which can reach up to 8.5 feet.
11. Knock Out Rose
Finally, a funky name that actually does the flower justice! These knock out roses have a few sparse layers of delicate petals, and come in a range of amazing colors. Cherry Red is our favorite shade of this rose, because it is so vibrant that it almost looks artificial!
Nature is amazing, huh? This rose also comes in a coral pink color with a yellow middle, and a bright yellow and white color, among others. These plants grow as wide as they do tall, and can be used as a hedge, or even to frame an archway or door!
12. Rosa Glauca
When we think of drawing a simple cartoon flower, this is what we think of. It is a humble flower with five petals in one row, all of which bear a playful pink-purple color.
The center of the flower is yellow, and they bloom in summer. These plants climb or spread, and can grow up to 8.5 feet tall and wide. They do not look like a classic rose, but are equally as lovely to look at.
13. Gertrude Jekyll Rose
This plant is an English shrub that was cultivated in 1986, but which looks and smells like it has always been a classic rose. Its fragrance is strong and used widely as a quintessential rose fragrance, smelling like Old Rose.
The flowers are large and showy, and have bright pink petals that are plentiful and delicate. We think these flowers are just stunning, and that their amazing scent is just the cherry on top of the cake.
14. Rosa ‘Julia Child’
Also known as the Floribunda Rose and the Rosa ‘Soul Mate’, this shrub plant grows up to 3 feet tall, so it is small but undeniably cute.
The flowers of this plant are eye-catching, to say the least; they are a bright and intense yellow color, and have up to 35 petals which ruffle and wrap around each other to give a full cupped shape.
Alongside their amazing looks, these flowers have a brilliant smell, which many people compare to that of licorice!
15. Abraham Darby English Rose
This English shrub rose was cultivated by the same person that bred the Gertrude Jekyll Rose, and you can see their similarities. The petals are numerous and multi-layered, and the flowers grow large. What is unique about the flowers on this plant is their brilliant Apricot color!
As if by magic, these flowers change color and fade to a light coral pink as they age.
Their orangey fruity color is furthered by their juicy fragrance, which is strong and sweet. They tend to grow to 5 feet in height and width, and their flowers bloom from spring through to winter.
16. Rosa ‘Violet Carson’
This hybrid rose plant was named after an actress from the cast of Coronation Street. Why? We are not sure. What we do know, though, is that these flowers are so pretty, and have a tender peachy color that is full of pink and orange tones.
Their fragrance is musky and sweet, and can range from being weak to strong. These plants tend to grow around 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide, so are compact but cute!
Final Thoughts
While we have only glossed over a few of our favorite rose flowers, we are sure you will agree that these plants are amazing. They can be admired, smelled, used for perfumes, and even eaten!
We love that roses come in an array of colors and shapes, and that there is so much more out there than just a classic red rose. Although red roses are classy and undeniably beautiful, the rose species have a lot more to offer.
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