31 Outstanding Red Rose Varieties to Grow in Your Garden
Blooms with brilliant color, rich scent, and low-maintenance charm for every landscape.
Red roses are more than just iconic symbols of loveâthey are cherished for their rich hues, adaptability, and showy presence in home landscapes. With a vast array of forms from tidy shrub roses to vigorous climbers and striking teas, red roses can elevate any bed, border, or container. Explore this comprehensive guide to 31 remarkable red rose varieties, their unique features, and essential tips to help you choose the perfect red rose for your garden.
Why Grow Red Roses?
Red roses are celebrated for their deep, romantic symbolism and vibrant color. For centuries, theyâve represented love, respect, admiration, and celebration, and have been the subject of poetry, art, and tradition across the globe. Beyond their visual impact, many red roses exude a captivating fragrance, further enhancing their allure in the garden.
- Symbolism: Love, passion, respect, and celebration.
- Birth Flower: Juneâs official bloom, symbolizing joy and gratitude.
- Garden Impact: Dramatic focal points, versatile for borders, hedges, containers, and climbing features.
- Diversity: From classic hybrid teas to floribundas, climbers, and compact shrubs to suit any garden size or style.
Choosing the Right Red Rose Variety
The sheer range of red roses means thereâs a perfect match for every gardenerâs needs. When deciding, consider the plantâs growth habit (climbing, shrub, compact, or ground cover), ultimate size, bloom style, fragrance, and disease resistance. Many newer varieties excel in ease of care and continuous blooming, while older cultivars may offer unmatched fragrance or flower form.
Top 31 Red Rose Varieties for Every Garden
Explore these standout varietiesâeach with their own charm and characteristicsâto find the ideal red rose for your landscape:
âRoxanne Verandaâ
| Botanical Name | Rosa ‘KORfloci46’ |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Perennial |
| Sun Requirements | Full Sun |
| Height | 2ââ3â |
| Hardiness Zones | 5â9 |
This compact yet vibrant rose offers dense clusters of true-red Floribunda blooms, perfect for containers or small garden borders. Noted for its disease resistance and ease of maintenance, âRoxanne Verandaâ provides a continuous display throughout the season, even though it has little fragrance. Part of the âBloomablesâ collection, it’s a superb choice for tight spaces.
âLady in Redâ
| Botanical Name | Rosa ‘WEKvaldoam’ |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Perennial |
| Sun Requirements | Full SunâPart Shade |
| Height | 8ââ10â |
| Hardiness Zones | 4â10 |
For pure, scarlet blooms, âLady in Redâ stands out. Its elegant, frilly old-fashioned flowers climb pillars or splay along trellises, offering both privacy and vibrant color. With a light raspberry fragrance and remarkable color retention, this rose is ideal for high-traffic zones where its dramatic display can shine.
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29 More Outstanding Red Rose Varieties
- âDon Juanâ: Deep, velvety-red climber with a strong sweet fragrance; perfect for trellises and arches.
- âMr. Lincolnâ: Hybrid Tea classic; long-stemmed, intensely fragrant, and ideal for cutting gardens.
- âVeterans’ Honorâ: Bold, cherry-red blooms with fantastic vase life and disease resistance; pays tribute to service members.
- âBlack Baccaraâ: Striking, near-black, velvety petals and upright growthâprized for its unique color.
- âIngrid Bergmanâ: All-America Rose Selection winner; large, high-centered, vivid red blooms and sturdy stems.
- âCrimson Gloryâ: Powerful damask fragrance and velvety dark red blooms; bush or climber forms available.
- âChrysler Imperialâ: Deep crimson, strong scent, and an enduring favorite for both gardens and bouquets.
- âEuropeanaâ: Vigorous Floribunda with semi-double scarlet blooms in abundant clusters.
- âEternal Flameâ: Unique blend of cherry-red and glowing gold at the heart; excellent repeat bloomer.
- âOklahomaâ: Large, hybrid tea with a classic shape and intense red-to-maroon color; strong, sweet fragrance.
- âFirefighterâ: Lush, velvety-red and intensely perfumed; a tribute rose with outstanding vigor.
- âTess of the dâUrbervillesâ: English rose known for its cupped, old-fashioned crimson blooms and fruity scent.
- âDarcey Bussellâ: Compact, repeat-flowering shrub with rich crimson, nearly magenta blooms.
- âRed Edenâ: Fast-growing climber with double, ruffled scarlet blossoms and long blooming period.
- âRed Driftâ: Low-growing ground cover; best for borders, containers, and mass plantings.
- âMiracle on the Hudsonâ: Exceptional disease resistance and vivid, classic red colorâideal for low-maintenance areas.
- âWildfireâ: Bright, fiery red-orange blooms and compact habit for smaller gardens.
- âKardinalâ: Long-lasting, non-fading redsâfavored for cut flowers and floral arrangements.
- âLet Freedom Ringâ: Stately Hybrid Tea with large, high-centered bright red blooms; perfect for patriotic displays.
- âAdmiral Rodneyâ: Classic hybrid tea form, vigorous growth and profuse blooming.
- âGrandiflora Queen Elizabethâ (red variant): Tall, sturdy bushes with clusters of vibrant red.
- âRed Intuitionâ: Unique, striped red petals; exotic look and long vase life.
- âUncle Joeâ: Classic, sweet-scented crimson petals on robust plants; reliably hardy.
- âSentimentalâ: Eye-catching red and cream striped blooms; great for both cutting and garden displays.
- âFlorentinaâ: Climbing rose with large, fully double deep red flowers.
- âOpening Nightâ: Vibrant red hybrid tea; abundant blossom throughout the season.
- âSatchmoâ: Floribunda that dazzles with clusters of scarlet, semi-double blooms on compact plants.
- âAltissimoâ: Rambling rose with single, bright red blossoms and impressive Cold hardiness.
- âTabooâ: Deep wine-red, almost black velvety petals over glossy green foliage.
What to Look for in Red Roses
Consider the following aspects when selecting red rose varieties for your space:
- Growth Habit: Shrub, climber, ground cover, or compact (âpatioâ) types.
- Bloom Style: Single, semi-double, double, high-centered, or old-fashioned form.
- Fragrance: Ranges from none to intensely sweet and spicy.
- Reblooming: Does the rose bloom just once per season or repeat throughout?
- Disease Resistance: Modern varieties are often selected for disease resistance, minimizing the need for sprays.
- Hardiness Zone: Select roses suited to your USDA zone for best winter performance.
- Intended Use: Consider if the rose will be a focal point, form a hedge, be used as a climber, or planted in containers or borders.
Growing and Caring for Red Roses
Roses are widely considered the queen of garden flowers, but modern breeding has rendered many varieties much more manageable than their finicky reputation suggests. Follow these care tips for thriving, beautiful blooms:
- Sunlight: Provide at least 6 hours of direct sunlight for optimal bloom and vigor.
- Soil: Plant in rich, well-draining soil amended with organic matter or compost.
- Watering: Aim for deep, consistent watering at the root zoneâavoid overhead watering to prevent disease.
- Feeding: Apply a balanced rose fertilizer, starting in spring and again after major flushes.
- Pruning: Prune annually in late winter to early spring to remove dead or damaged wood and shape the plant.
- Mulching: Maintain a 2â3â mulch layer to suppress weeds and conserve moisture.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the best type of red rose for small spaces or containers?
âRoxanne Verandaâ and âRed Driftâ are excellent choices for containers or limited areas, remaining compact while delivering vivid color.
Which red roses are most fragrant?
Top fragrant reds include âMr. Lincolnâ, âChrysler Imperialâ, âOklahomaâ, âCrimson Gloryâ, and âFirefighterâ. Their scents range from classic damask to spicy fruit notes.
What red rose climbs best on trellises or arches?
âDon Juanâ, âRed Edenâ, and âLady in Redâ are outstanding climbers, creating dramatic cascades of red blooms in vertical spaces.
How can I improve disease resistance in my rose bed?
Choose modern varieties specifically bred for disease resistanceâsuch as âMiracle on the Hudsonâ and âEuropeanaâ. Site plants with ample air circulation, mulch properly, and water at the base to minimize fungal issues.
Should I choose own-root or grafted roses?
Own-root roses are genetically identical from flower to root and are especially valuable in cold climates as theyâre less prone to winter dieback. Grafted roses typically establish faster but may occasionally send up rootstock suckers and can be more vulnerable in harsh winters.
Design Ideas for Red Roses
Red roses are versatile and adaptable to a range of garden styles and pairings:
- Cottage Gardens: Blend with white lilies, lavender, or coreopsis for a romantic, old-world effect.
- Formal Borders: Use as structured hedges or in symmetrical arrangements for classic charm.
- Climbing Accents: Train climbers on arbors, obelisks, or pergolas for dramatic vertical interest.
- Mixed Shrub Beds: Combine with evergreen shrubs or low perennials for year-round structure.
- Container Displays: Grow compact red roses as stand-alone patio features or mixed with trailing annuals.
Tips for Success with Red Roses
- Research the mature size and growth habit of each variety before planting.
- Give adequate space for good air movement to reduce disease risk.
- Deadhead spent blooms regularly to promote repeat flowering.
- Support climbing roses earlyâinstall trellises or fences before plants outgrow their space.
Summary Table: Iconic Red Rose Varieties
| Name | Type | Height | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roxanne Veranda | Floribunda | 2-3 ft | Excellent for containers, disease resistant |
| Lady in Red | Climbing | 8-10 ft | True red, tidy climber |
| Don Juan | Climbing | 10-12 ft | Velvety petals, strong fragrance |
| Mr. Lincoln | Hybrid Tea | 5-7 ft | Long-stemmed, intensely fragrant |
| Miracle on the Hudson | Shrub | 3-4 ft | Exceptional disease resistance |
Explore the World of Red Roses
Whether youâre designing a classic rose border, building a vibrant hedge, adorning an entryway arbor, or simply seeking a striking potted display, the perfect red rose is out there. With thoughtful selection and care, these iconic blooms will provide unmatched color, fragrance, and garden appeal for years to come.
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