The Most Romantic Roses You Can Grow at Home
With their beautiful colors, forms, and scents, it’s easy to see why people want to grow romantic roses at home. There are plenty of low-maintenance options for growers with limited time, as well as those that require more attention. Experienced gardener Sarah Jay discusses the most fascinating ones here.
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There’s nothing like the graceful rose bush, whether it’s a garden hedge or a specimen. The myriad forms and fragrances that roses bring to the growing space are testaments to how they stand the test of time. And you can grow romantic roses at home, even without in-ground space.
As you decide which roses to grow, think about your garden’s parameters. Consider the space available, the type of soil, and the amount of rainfall. Then ponder what you want your rose garden to be. Should it be aromatic, a beautiful sight, or even a low-maintenance rosarium?
Whatever you decide, it’s great that there are so many options available from breeders all over. This is largely due to the popularity of the rose and the need to fill the market with options for gardens everywhere. Here are a few to think about in that regard.
Parfuma® Summer Romance
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botanical name Rosa ‘KORtekcho’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 4’ |
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hardiness zones 5-9 |
The Parfuma® series is full of floribunda and hybrid tea roses that pack a real punch in the scent department. Summer Romance is an exceptional member of the series, with deep pink petals fully cupped and densely arranged.
When you grow romantic roses like Summer Romance, you bring an in-ground container-friendly duo with an anise-apple scent to the garden. This rose continually blooms throughout the growing season, bringing more and more amorous profusion as it goes.
Peggy Martin Climbing Rose
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botanical name Rosa ‘Peggy Martin’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 6-15’ |
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hardiness zones 4-9 |
I’ve seen this rose in many gardens in recent years, and it’s such a beautiful sight. In the gardens I visited, Peggy Martin climbed up a wall, or it was trained on a trellis. When in bloom, the vines are covered with small candy-pink blooms that turn the garden into a wonderland from spring to fall.
This rose does well in North Texas, and it does just as well at a certain homestead in San Diego, California. The two climates are totally different. This really speaks to what Peggy Martin is capable of across her hardiness range.
This long-blooming appeal that comes from growing romantic roses like Peggy Martin is coupled with extensive hardiness. This rose handles heat here in Texas like a champ, and it handles harsh weather conditions, just as it did during Hurricane Katrina. This rose’s name comes from Peggy Martin, an active member of the New Orleans Old Garden Rose Society.
Double Knock Out®
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botanical name Rosa ‘Radtko’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 3-4’ |
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hardiness zones 5-11 |
Knock Outs® have a reputation for being hardy, low-maintenance additions to the growing space. Growing romantic roses like Double Knock Out® gives you all this, plus bright red-fuchsia double blooms. They’re disease-resistant, drought-tolerant, and bloom continuously, too.
The only issue that arises with Knock Outs® is that they lack a significant fragrance. They’ve been bred and interbred over and over for other traits, which limits their ability to throw their aroma around the garden.
What they lack in scent, they make up for with their carefree nature. These upright shrubs grow densely, pairing with their floriferous tendencies. They handle black spot, rust, and powdery mildew with ease. If you live in a region where diseases are a problem for roses, this is a good choice.
The Champion™ Sunblush
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botanical name Rosa ‘Meititika’ PP31710 |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 4’ |
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hardiness zones 5-11 |
This rose provides single-petaled bliss in both pink and yellow. It’s easy to grow, no matter your skill level with roses, and it fills the garden with a delightful scent that gives romance, no matter where it’s planted. Sunblush blooms from spring through summer, and adapts to both garden beds and containers.
Because of its single petals, Sunblush is a great rose for wild gardens and pollinator-centric plantings. It’s perfect for placing next to walkways and entryways, as guests are greeted by its strong and cheerful aroma. If you want romance lining your walkways, or fragrance that greets you on a spring day, this is the rose for you.
Cinnamon Hearts™
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botanical name Rosa x ‘VLR13003’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 2-3’ |
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hardiness zones 3-9 |
If you want to grow romantic roses that are crimson red with stunning yellow centers, choose Cinnamon Hearts™. Described as a “love letter to your garden,” it really doesn’t get more romantic than this. Plant this one in a container or in a garden bed, and enjoy its compact size.
This rose has a rich, cinnamon-like fragrance unlike any other rose. It continuously blooms from spring through fall. Then its flowers fade, and its leaves drop off the plant, leaving just the bare structure of the plant. This makes it easy to prune in dormancy.
Parfuma® Earth Angel
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botanical name Rosa ‘KORgeowim’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 5’ |
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hardiness zones 5-9 |
Last on our list is Parfuma® Earth Angel, a densely blooming pastel white-pink rose with exceptional fragrance. As the flowers age and fade, their color deepens, turning fully pink. Descriptions of its scent include lemon, champagne, elderflower, and raspberry.
As your shrub ages, the scent matures as well, becoming stronger every year. If you like cut flowers, this is a standout rose to include in your arrangements. Its shape is akin to peonies. Its blooms have a form a bit like Duchesse De Brabant, with a scent to match.
