Good things often come in small packages and that’s true of miniature roses. These little jewels have the great attributes of their full-sized counterparts on a petite scale. Ranging in height from 15 to 30 inches with well-proportioned stems, leaves, and blossoms, most are grown on their own roots and are hardy in our climate. There are upright, climber, and groundcover types, along with pint sized bushes. Flowers can be single to very double and everything in between. Myriad colors including unusual mauves, russets and blends, stripes, picotees – and yes, there are fragrant varieties as well.
While the plants may be small, miniature roses can have a big impact in the landscape providing an abundance of color while taking up a minimum of space in the garden. Ideal for planting in containers, mixing in flowerbeds, edging walkways, or planting at the base of your bigger roses. They are great in arrangements – corsages, in lapel pins, or just in a glass on the kitchen table, and can be major award winners at the exhibition table!
Thought to be descendants of R. chinensis minima, these little plants were being sold in European markets well over a century ago commonly planted in pots or window boxes. The progenitor of practically all the modern miniatures is Rosa rouletii, named to honor a Colonel Roulet who spotted its potential when he saw it in a Swiss village at the start of the twentieth century. In the early 1930s there were only four well-known miniatures generally available – R. rouletii, R. indica pumila, ‘Pompon de Paris’ and ‘Oakington Ruby.’ In 1935 Dutch hybridizer Jan de Vink created a rose name ‘Peon,’ renamed ‘Tom Thumb’ by Robert Pyle and introduced into the US. After that, many hybridizers joined in the business, none more renowned than Ralph Moore, aptly named the “Father of the Modern Miniature Rose.” In his more than 60-year career, the American Rose Society (ARS) has registered more than 300 miniatures that he hybridized, including some of the ARS Hall of Fame alumni, ‘Beauty Secret,’ ‘Magic Carousel,’ and ‘Rise ‘n Shine.’
Today there are two categories of these little roses – miniatures and mini-floras. The American Rose Society introduced the new category of mini-flora in 1999 to capture roses that were generally larger than most miniatures and smaller than floribunda roses.
Don’t let their delicate appearance fool you – these plants are generally pretty rugged. Caring for them is really no different than any other roses with a few minor exceptions. When grown in pots, check to make sure they are evenly moist, as pots can dry out quickly especially on warm days. They may also defoliate more rapidly than full sized roses either due to fungal diseases like blackspot or rust, or to spider mites. The good news is that even if they drop all their foliage, they’ll usually put out a brand-new set of clean new leaves in a matter of weeks.
One final bonus – because of their size, they can be purchased practically year-round. There are literally hundreds of different varieties of miniature roses available from local nurseries, home improvement retailers, and mail order rose catalogs, with dozens of new ones released each year. Only your imagination limits the uses you can find for these versatile little roses.
Some of the American Rose Society top rated miniatures and mini-floras include:
- Jeanne Lajoie, 1976, ARS 8.9, climbing, medium pink
- Jean Kenneally, 1984, ARS 8.8, apricot blend
- Irresistible, 1990, ARS 8.7, white
- Perrine, 1988, ARS 8.7, orange-pink
- Violet Hour, 2016, ARS 8.7, mauve single (hybridized by Marin Rose Society member Gail Trimble!)
- Giggles, 1987, ARS 8.6, medium pink
- Minnie Pearl, 1983, ARS 8.6, pink blend
- Gourmet Popcorn, 1987, ARS 8.5, white
- Cupid’s Kisses, 2016, ARS 8.4, medium pink
- Sweet Chariot, 1984, ARS 8.4, mauve
- Autumn Splendor, 1999, ARS 8.3, mini-flora, yellow blend
- Maroon Eight, 2015, ARS 8.3, mini-flora, dark red
By Nanette Londeree, Master Rosarian