You’ve heard the term shrub, and you know what a rose is, but what in the world is a shrub rose? Aren’t shrubs those plants that you grow as hedges to screen you from your neighbor? Or some type of woody plant? Sunset’s Western Garden Book describes shrubs as “woody plants that live for many years. They are typically planted to provide long lasting features to a landscape, forming a framework to help unite the garden’s various elements.” Well, that is actually a pretty good description of a shrub rose.
The term shrub rose was created by the American Rose Society to encompass bushy roses that did not fit any other category. The class includes several major subclasses – the hybrid musks, hybrid Rugosas, hybrid moyesii, hybrid kordesii, the unique group first developed by David Austin, commonly called English roses, and others that just don’t fit into any other classification. Many are modern varieties, others old, and some ancient. They are considered to be hardy and easy-care plants. Some make good groundcovers; others make good hedges and screens while still others fit well in a flowering border or in a container. Many of the modern shrubs bloom continuously throughout the season, and some old varieties have a single flush of flowers in the spring. You can find all types of flower forms from single (four to eight petals) to full double blooms, and in many different colors and shades.
Shrub roses are impressive for many reasons – their natural disease-resistance, their willingness to grow in a variety of climates with a minimum of attention from the gardener, their growth habit that may require little pruning, not to mention the great beauty of their flowers. Whether you are a beginning rose grower or an experienced rosarian, shrub roses are surely to find a place in your garden.
All That Jazz, 1991, ARS 7.8; large, semi-double, orange-pink cluster-flowers with a moderate, damask fragrance; prolific, blooms in flushes throughout the season.
Bonica, 1985, ARS 8.3; medium, full soft pink flowers with darker edges in large clusters; mild fragrance, prolific bloomer. The first shrub rose to be the World Rose Hall of Fame (WRHF) winner in 2003.
Carefree Beauty, 1979, ARS 8.7; large, pink aging to light pink semi-double to double, cupped-to-flat bloom form with a strong, sweet fragrance.
Gartendirektor Otto Linne, 1934, ARS 8.6; full, carmine-pink full blooms with a white center and darker edges in large clusters throughout the season, mild fragrance.
Graham Thomas, 1983, ARS 8.2; deep lemon-yellow cupped blooms, with a strong tea fragrance, WRHF winner in 2009.
Knock Out, 1999, ARS 8.3; large, single to semi-double, cluster-flowered cherry-red blooms with a mild spice, tea fragrance, WRHF winner in 2018.
Lavender Dream, 1984, ARS 8.5; small, single to semi-double pink to lilac blooms in clusters throughout the season.
Lyda Rose, 1994, ARS 9.0; white single form with pink edges, pink reverse, yellow stamens, and a strong fragrance; can be trained as a climber and is shade tolerant.
Sally Holmes, 1976, ARS 8.8; huge trusses of blush to white blooms that resemble hydrangeas, can be grown as a shrub or climber, WRHF winner in 2012.
ARS Ratings – 2024 American Rose Society Handbook for Selecting Roses
By Nanette Londeree, Master Rosarian