Shrub roses / RHS Plant Guide

Shrub roses

RHS Genus Guide

Tough, hardy Shrub roses with an 'old rose' character, flower generously from summer to autumn and usually to the first frosts. Many are ideal in a wild garden or towards the back of a large border, planted in isolation, or as informal hedging.

We have grouped old-fashioned shrub roses and modern shrub roses (including the 'English' shrub roses) together in this section as they have a similar appearance and the care of both is the same.

Old-fashioned roses include those originating before the 18th century. Modern shrub roses begin in the early 20th century and have been bred, often from the old-fashioned roses, for a greater range of colour, repeat-flowering and disease resistance not always found in the old-fashioned types.

David Austin Roses

Appearance

Shrub roses have an open and spreading shape, often with arching prickly branches that flower along their length. Flowers are single, semi-double or fully double in a huge number of colours – many shades of white, cream, yellow, pink, red, crimson, purple, peach and orange.

Preferences

Shrub roses thrive in fertile soil in full sun, with space to achieve their full potential. Some will tolerate less than ideal conditions, for example, Rosa rugosa and wild roses are usually happy in poor, dry soil and a little shade.

Dislikes

Most Shrub roses will struggle to flower in deep shade and will not thrive in permanently damp soil.

Did you know?

Some Shrub roses with flexible, arching stems can be treated as short climbers, ideal where space is restricted, trained against a wall or fence or over an obelisk, arch or pergola.

RHS Growing Guide