There are around 150 species of rose. The cultivars can be divided into Old Garden and Modern roses and these into several well recognized sub groups. For those unfamiliar with roses, the wide variety of roses available can be a bit overwhelming. The following is a description of some of the different Modern type of roses.


Hybrid Teas

Hybrid Teas dominate modern rose gardens and have long, pointed buds. They grow up to 3 to 5 feet tall and produce semi double to double flowers and repeatedly during the season. Examples are Paradise, Peace, Polarstern, Pristine etc.

Climbing Roses

Tall plants generally grow from 8 feet to 20 feet or more. They are grown on walls & fences, trellises. Climber flowers are large with only a few per cluster. They require very little pruning, and nearly all are repeat bloomers. Eg. Blaze, Don Juan, Dortmund, Climbing Iceberg etc

Miniature Roses

These rose plants grow up to 2 feet or less in height with small blooms. Colour range includes all the shades found in modern hybrid teas, in flowers that range from informal to hybrid tea style. Miniatures are grown on their own root. Some of the Miniatures are Rainbow's End, Red Beauty, Rise 'N' Shine. There are certain types of climbing miniatures derived from crosses of miniatures with climbing roses. eg. Laura ford

Shrub Rose

Shrub roses are hardy, have a tolerance to less than optimum growing conditions, and needs only low maintenance. Flower size vary from small to large, can be single or double. This plant may be 4 to 10 feet tall or taller and bloom all season long. You can use them as borders, hedges etc. E.g.. are Bonica,Frau Dogmar Hartopp, Abraham Darby, Golden Wings etc.

Floribundas

Floribundas are bushy plants that grow from 2 to 4 feet high. Individual flowers, may be single or double and are borne in clusters. Good for borders or containers, floribundas provide an almost constant show of color. Eg; Impatient, Angel Face, Ivory Fashion

Grandifloras

These are tall elegant plants 5 to 8 feet high. Grandiflorars bloom repeatedly during the season. This type has been derived from crosses between Hybrid teas and Floribundas. Medium to large flowers usually comes in small clusters. Eg; Aquarius, Gold Medal, Pink Parfait etc.


Standard or Tree Roses

Tree roses or standard roses are small plants from 2 to 3 feet high. This is a bush rose budded on to a under stock stem to produce a rose tree. The standard tree rose has full-sized flowers. Many popular rose varieties are available in tree form.