Roses

Beauty, Versatility, and Ease of Care

Roses

Possibly the nation’s most popular flower, roses are also some of oldest plant families in cultivation. This means endless varieties are available to lure the gardener with the promise of large and small blooms, vibrant color, and fragrance that ranges from mild to bold. At Farmer John’s, all the roses you find have all been selected for quality, desirable traits, and the ability to succeed in Michigan conditions.

easy roses to grow

for beginners

Three of the easiest types of roses to grow, Shrub, Miniature, and Groundcover Roses are famous for their hardiness and non-stop bloom power. They stand out well amongst other shrubs, though they display particularly well when planted in large groups as a colorful hedge. These roses are incredibly low maintenance and are disease resistant. They perform best when cut back in early spring after the last threat of frost has passed.

shrub Roses

Also known as Landscape Rose, these beauties are every landscaper’s favorite, given the continuous blooms, disease resistance, and bushy, vigorous habit. They are excellent for defining borders and providing show-stopping color.

Space 2-4′ apart | Own-root roses.

Miniature Roses

Miniature Roses bloom prolifically from spring to fall and offer good disease resistance. They grow well in pots or along the front borders of the landscape. Due to their compact habit and easy maintenance, Miniature Roses are the perfect plant to be grafted into Rose Trees.

Space 1-2′ apart | Own-root roses.

Groundcover Roses

Perfect for small gardens and combination planters, groundcover roses brighten borders, fill empty spaces, and spread delicately around established plants. Their spreading habit covers quickly and easily, and they bloom prolifically for fast color. They possess good disease resistance and winter hardiness.

Space 2-4′ apart | Own-root roses.

easy care

shrub roses

easy care

miniature roses

easy care

groundcover roses

intermediate care

take it up a notch

Climbing and Floribunda Roses both offer tremendous bloom power! While they do require a little more care than shrub roses, they’re still fairly easy to grow. Both appreciate full sun and require pruning to maintain growth and encourage new blooms.

Intermediate Care

Climbing roses

Intermediate Care

floribunda roses

Climbing Roses

These gorgeous roses are vigorous-growing, repeat bloomers. Climbing rose varieties vary widely from single to multi-petal blooms in a rainbow of colors. Some varieties bloom once in a big display and others are excellent repeat bloomers. Their vining growth will need to be loosely tied to an arbor or trellis to train their habit upwards. Climbing roses will go as far as you allow, so we recommend pruning consistently if you prefer to restrict them to a specific area of the garden.

Space 4-5′ apart | Grafted and own-root roses.

Floribunda Roses

The second-largest class of roses, Floribunda’s feature a compact, bushy habit with stems that produce flowers in clusters. Varieties are available in a spectacular range of colors with varying fragrance levels. They are fantastic for cutting gardens, with one stem creating an entire bouquet.

Space 2-3′ apart | Grafted roses.

roses for advanced gardeners

Worth the Effort

Often viewed as the gold standard in the floral industry, Hybrid Tea and Grandiflora are typically the roses grouped as classic, cutting style roses. Classic cutting roses appreciate full sun, fertilizer, and pruning of spent flowers to encourage new flushes of flowers. Though they require a little extra maintenance, their large, showy, fragrant blooms make it worth the effort!

Hybrid Tea Roses

Hybrid Tea Roses develop as tall bushes, producing classic cutting roses with large, gorgeous blooms held above long, vertical stems. Part of the largest class of roses with a broad variety of fragrances and colors, these beautiful bloomers are definitely worth the effort.

Space 2-3′ apart | Grafted roses.

Grandiflora Roses

Often classified with the Hybrid Tea Rose, Grandiflora Roses sport the same large, showy flowers. They also possess a similar upright habit, but they are formed in clusters on short cutting stems.

Space 2-3′ apart | Grafted roses.

Advanced Care

hybrid tea roses

Advanced Care

grandiflora roses

grow roses

Like a Professional

Now that you know the differences between each type of rose that we sell, it’s time to get planting so you can enjoy their blooms for years to come. Looking for more information on rose gardening? We’re here to help! Check out our rose care sheet for more information on planting, pruning, and fertilizing.

Click Here for more rose information