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Shrub, Species and Old Garden Rose Varieties

This is by no means a complete list of roses available. It's just a short list of some that have good ARS ratings and we have growing in our gardens. Check out the reviews below by some of our members. We may not all be champion rose growers yet, but we know what we like and what works for us. Feel free to let us know if you've had different experiences with the roses we review.

Main Varieties Page
Shrubs
-|- Hybrid Tea/Grandifloras -|- Floribundas -|- Miniatures -|- Climbers

Name

ARS Classification

Color

Petal
Count

Year Introduced

ARS
Rating


Apricot

Autumn Sunset bud bloom bush

shrub

ab

20

1986

8.1

Buff Beauty bloom

hybrid musk

ab

50

1939

8.1

Carding Mill bloom bush

shrub

ab

very full

2004

7.8

Perdita bud bush

shrub

ab

very double

1992

7.8

Tamora bloom bush

shrub

ab

very full

1992

7.8

Sweet Juliet bud bloom bush

shrub

ab

very double

1994

7.8

Westerland bloom

shrub

ab

20

1969

8.2


Mauve

Day Dream bloom bloom bush

shrub

m

10

2005

7.7

Distant Drums bud bloom bush

shrub

m

40

1985

8.0

Fragrant Plum bud bloom

shrub

m

25

1990

7.8

Lavender Dream bloom bush

shrub

m

16

1984

8.3

Lavender Lassie bloom

hybrid musk

m

double

1960

8.0

Magnifica bloom

hybrid eglanteria

m

semidouble

1916

8.2

Mary Rose bloom

shrub

m

very double

1983

8.5

Outta The Blue bloom bush

shrub

m

full

2000

7.9

Purple Pavement bloom bush

hybrid rugosa

m

semidouble

1984

8.0

Reine Des Violettes bloom bush

hybrid perpetual

m

75

1860

8.2

Sven bloom bush

shrub

m

double

2008

-

Tuscany bloom bush

hybrid gallica

m

semidouble

pre 1598

8.5


Oranges: Orange Pink, Orange

Orange Impressionist bloom bush

shrub

ob

25

2004

 

Pat Austin bloom bush

shrub

ob

50

1997

7.7

Serendipity bloom

shrub

ob

23

1978

7.5

Tangerine Jewel bloom

hybrid brachteata

ob

single

2002

7.3

- - - - - - - - - - -

Abraham Darby bud bloom

shrub

op

very double

1990

8.0

Barn Dance bud bush

shrub

op

23

1975

 

Honeysweet bud bloom bush

shrub

op

30

1984

 

Prairie Princess bloom bush

shrub

op

semidouble

1972

8.5

Summer Wind bloom

shrub

op

single

1975

7.9

- - - - - - - - - - -

Morden Fireglow bloom

shrub

or

30

1989

 


Pinks: Light Pink, Medium Pink, Dark Pink, Pink Blend

Astrid Lindgren bloom

shrub

lp

semidouble

1991

 

Blushing Knockout bloom bush

shrub

lp

single

2004

8.3

Cecile Brunner bud bloom

polyantha

lp

double

1881

8.4

Country Song bloom

shrub-Buck

lp

30

1984

 

Heritage bloom bush

shrub

lp

double

1985

8.4

Lena bloom bush

shrub

lp

single

2007

-

Martin Frobisher

hybrid rugosa

lp

double

1968

7.3

Mayor of Casterbridge bloom

shrub

lp

very double

1997

 

Morden Blush bud bloom bush

shrub

lp

51

1988

8.1

Ole bloom bush

shrub

lp

semi-double

2008

-

Queen of Sweden bush

shrub

lp

very full

2004

7.8

Rosa Eglanteria bush

species

lp

single

pre 1551

8.4

St Swithun bloom bush

shrub

lp

very double

1994

7.3

The Fairy bloom bush

polyantha

lp

double

1932

8.7

Wanderin' Wind

shrub-Buck

lp

semidouble

1973

 

- - - - - - - - - - -

Amiga Mia bloom

shrub

mp

30

1978

7.7

Aunt Honey bloom

shrub

mp

38

1984

 

Autumn Damask bud

damask

mp

 

pre 1967

8.2

Ballerina bloom

hybrid musk

mp

single

1937

8.7

Basye's Blueberry bloom bush

shrub

mp

 

1982

7.6

Bonica bloom

shrub

mp

double

1985

8.4

Carefree Beauty bud bloom bush

shrub

mp

15-20

1977

8.6

De Montarville bloom

hybrid kordesii

mp

25

1999

 

Gertrude Jekyll bloom bush

shrub

mp

 

1986

7.6

John Davis bloom bush

hybrid kordesii

mp

40

1986

8.6

Lambert Closse bud bloom bush

shrub

mp

25

1995

 

Lillian Gibson bush

shrub

mp

 

1938

 

Madison (Bayern) bud bloom bush

shrub

mp

17-25

1999

 

Mary Rose bloom

shrub

mp

very double

1983

8.3

Morden Centennial bloom bush

shrub

mp

40

1980

8.3

Pink Knockout bush

shrub

mp

single

2004

8.3

Prairie Dawn bloom

shrub

mp

double

1959

7.0

Prairie Joy bud bloom bush

shrub

mp

30-40

1990

 

Polar Joy (Northern Encore)bloom bush

shrub

mp

4-8

2005

 

Rosa Arkansana bud

species

mp

 

1880

 

Rosa Carolina bloom

species

mp

 

1826

8.0

Rosa Glauca bloom bush

species

mp

 

1789

8.8

Royal Bonica bloom bush

shrub

mp

double

1994

7.7

Royal Edward bloom bush

shrub

mp

double

1994

 

Simon Fraser bloom bush

shrub

mp

semidouble

1992

8.0

The Countryman bloom

shrub

mp

40

1987

7.8

Therese Bugnet bloom bush

hybrid rugosa

mp

35

1950

8.4

Zéphirine Drouhin bush

bourbon

mp

25-30

1868

8.1

- - - - - - - - - - -

Country Dancer bloom bush

shrub

dp

double

1973

8.6

Elmshorn bloom bush

shrub

dp

20

1951

8.1

Flower Carpet bloom bush

shrub

dp

15

1989

7.6

Frontenac bloom

shrub

dp

25

1992

8.5

Grandma's Blessing bloom bush

shrub

dp

 

2004

7.6

Great Wall bush

shrub

dp

semi-double

2005

 

Kazanlik bloom

damask

dp

30

pre 1867

7.6

Martha's Vineyard bud bloom

shrub

dp

semidouble

1995

8.3

Pink Pearls bloom bush

shrub

dp

 

2007

 

Rose de Rescht bloom bush

polyantha

dp

very double

re-int 1950

8.8

The Herbalist bloom

shrub

dp

semidouble

1994

8.0

Wild At Heart bloom

shrub

dp

 

1994

 

William Baffin bloom bush bush

hybrid kordesii

dp

20

1983

8.9

Winnipeg Parks bud bloom bush

shrub

dp

22

1990

8.0

- - - - - - - - - - -

Carefree Delight bloom bush

shrub

pb

single

1994

8.2

Dorcas bloom

shrub

pb

45

1984

7.8

Hyde Hall bloom bush

shrub

pb

very full

2004

 

Island Dancer bud bush

shrub

pb

18

2006

 

Lilac Rose

shrub (Austin)

pb

very double

1994

7.9

Little Mischief bloom bush

shrub

pb

19-24

2004

7.7

Marchioness Of Lorne bloom

hybrid perpetual

pb

double

1889

8.1

Morden Ruby bloom bush

shrub

pb

very double

1977

7.6

Pink Gnome bud bloom bush

shrub

pb

single

2004

 

Seven Sisters bud bloom bush

hybrid multiflora

pb

 

1817

7.9

Sunrise Sunset bloom bush

shrub

pb

13-19

2004

8.2


Reds: Medium Red, Dark Red, Red Blend

Captain Samuel Holland bloom bush

shrub

mr

25

1991

7.9

Charles Albanel bud bloom bush

hybrid rugosa

mr

20

1982

7.6

Dortmund (climber) bloom

hybrid kordesii

mr

single

1955

9.1

George Vancouver bloom bush

shrub

mr

24

1994

8.0

Hansa bloom

hybrid rugosa

mr

double

1905

8.3

Henry Kelsey bloom bush

hybrid kordesii

mr

28

1984

 

John Cabot bloom bush

hybrid kordesii

mr

40

1978

9.2

John Franklin bloom bush

shrub

mr

25

1980

7.9

Linda Campbell bloom

hybrid rugosa

mr

25

1990

8.1

My Hero bloom bush

shrub

mr

23

2003

8.1

Mystic Fairy bloom bush

shrub

mr

27

2004

 

Paint The Town bloom bush

shrub

mr

20

2005

8.1

Robin Hood bloom

hubrid musk

mr

single

1927

8.5

Robusta bloom bush

shrub

mr

5

1979

8.8

Royal Bassino bloom

shrub

mr

 

1990

 

Scarlet Meidiland bud bloom bush

shrub

mr

double

1987

7.9

Verdun bloom

polyantha

mr

double

1918

8.6

- - - - - - - - - - -

Champlain bloom

hybrid kordesii

dr

30

1982

8.5

Cuthbert Grant bud bloom bush

shrub

dr

35

1967

7.6

Hope For Humanity bloom bush

shrub

dr

15-25

1996

8.0

Leonard Dudley Braithwaite bloom bush

shrub

dr

very double

1993

7.9

Mrs Anthony Waterer bush

hybrid rugosa

dr

semi-double

1898

7.5

Mothersday bloom bush

polyantha

dr

double

1949

7.9

Red Ribbons bloom bush

shrub

dr

double

1998

8.3

Survivor bloom bush

shrub

dr

 

 

 

The Dark Lady bud bloom bush

shrub

dr

very full

1994

7.8

The Prince bloom

shrub

dr

very full

1993

7.7

Tradescent bloom

shrub

dr

very double

1994

7.9

William Shakespeare bloom

shrub

dr

double

1987

7.5

- - - - - - - - - - -

A. MacKenzie bloom bush

shrub

rb

45

1985

 

Golden Eye bloom bush

shrub

rb

7-10

2004

8.2

Heart 'n' Soul bush

shrub

rb

20-25

2002

7.6

Knock Out bud bloom bush

shrub

rb

single

2000

8.6

Red Meidiland bush

shrub

rb

5

1989

7.4

Sophy's Rose bush

shrub

rb

82

1999

7.7


White

Alba Meidiland bloom bush

shrub

w

very double

1987

8.4

Alba Semi-plena (White Rose of York) bloom bush

alba

w

8

pre 1867

8.9

Glamis Castle bloom bush

shrub

w

very double

1994

7.9

Hawkeye Belle bloom

shrub

w

38

1975

8.2

Henry Hudson bloom bush

hybrid rugosa

w

25

1976

9.0

Leda bush

damask

w

double

1826

8.3

Mme Hardy

damask

w

very double

1832

9.0

Macy's Pride bloom bush

shrub

w

22

2003

8.0

Maiden's Blush bloom bush

alba

w

double

1979

8.1

Marie Bugnet bloom

shrub

w

double

1963

8.1

Morden Snowbeauty bud bloom bush

shrub

w

semi-double

1998

7.7

Paloma Blanca bloom bush

shrub

w

35

1984

 

Rosa Rugosa Alba bloom

species

w

single

1877

9.1

Snowdrift bloom bush

shrub

w

 

2007

7.7

Stanwell Perpetual bloom

hybrid spinossissima

w

double

pre 1836

8.6

Starry Night bloom bush

shrub

w

single

2002

7.8

Sea Foam bud bloom bush

shrub

w

double

1964

8.2

White Pavement bloom bush

hybrid rugosa

w

 

1989

 

Winchester Cathedral bloom bush

shrub

w

very double

1995

7.8

Yvonne Rabier bloom

polyantha

w

double

1910

 


Yellows: Light Yellow, Dark Yellow, Yellow Blend

Carefree Sunshine bloom

shrub

ly

 

2001

7.8

Charlotte (Austin)

shrub

ly

very double

1994

8.0

Golden Wings

shrub

ly

single

1956

8.8

Prairie Harvest bloom bush

shrub

ly

43

1985

8.0

Sunny Knock Out bloom bush

shrub

ly

single

2007

 

- - - - - - - - - - -

Frühlingsgold

hybrid spinossissima

my

single

1937

8.1

J. P. Connell bud bloom

shrub

my

double

1987

7.2

Jude The Obscure bloom bush

shrub

my

55-70

1997

8.0

Yellow Submarine bud bloom bush

shrub

my

32

2004

7.9

- - - - - - - - - - -

Graham Thomas bloom

shrub

dy

35

1983

8.2

Golden Celebration bud bloom bush

shrub

dy

55-75

1993

8.1

- - - - - - - - - - -

Flutterbye bloom

shrub

yb

5-9

1996

7.7

Folksinger bud

shrub

yb

28

1985

7.8

Golden Unicorn bloom

shrub

yb

28

1985

7.9

Morden Sunrise bloom bush

shrub

yb

12

1999

8.1

Winter Sunset bud bush

shrub

yb

full

1997

8.0


What our members say

This from Penny...Madame Hardy was introduced in 1832 and the old girl still looks lovely. When in bloom in June she is a covered with 400+ blooms. I have generally had 5-6 weeks of flowers. Tall, 6ft in my garden this alba has blossoms 2 inches across with a perfect green button eye. The fragrance is lovely. Foliage is blue green and tends to be sparse at the bottom so it looks good with something in front of it. It grows in an urn shape and when you don't prune it can get rather leggy and floppy. Prune Madame just once after she has finished blooming. PNL, Brooklyn Park, MN 2/2001

This from Carole...A MacKenzie (also Alexander Mackenzie) If you need a bush that takes up a four foot area, repeats well, won't pout if you neglect it then I have a rose for you! I planted this rose several years ago and my only complaint is that it is getting too large. I can barely reach the top to dead head let alone see the blooms. Thank God I accidentally put it in the back row of the rose bed. Most catalogs say four feet but I'm five feet and I can barely reach the top. Norma's figures of six to eight feet are more accurate. This shrub was introduced in 1985. It is a "Winter Hardy" Explorer rose that is highly resistant to blackspot and powdery mildew. The deep red, cup-shaped flowers, produced in clusters of 6 - 12, have an average diameter of 3 inches. The flowers closely resemble those of a Grandiflora or Hybrid tea rose, but the plant is much hardier. It grows upright and is very vigorous. The foliage is shiny, almost waxy. This bush has Queen Elizabeth, Red Dawn and Suzanne in its background. CS, St. Anthony, MN 10/2000

This from Kim...Henry Kelsey (medium red shrub, Svejda, 1984) bloom bush My Henry Kelsey is planted against the south side of our white garage. This rose has taken a few years to really get going. In it's third year, it has put out several sturdy (> 1/2 inch diameter) eight to nine foot canes. The first flush of bloom has been heavy, but mine has not repeated much - I hope that this will improve with maturity. Blooms start a clear red and fade to fushia - which can be a color clash if you're mixing with oranges! I have had only minimal disease problems (slight blackspot end of season at the base, no mildew) with no preventative spraying. Henry Kelsey has been tip hardy for me in its protected location. This has lived up to its name as a hardy climber here. KSL, White Bear Lake, MN 10/2000

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This from Kim...Prairie Princess (orange pink shrub, Buck, 1972) bloom Still with buds and blooms as I write this, I grow Prairie Princess as a pillar type climber around a lamp post. It has pretty bloom form and is a good rebloomer all season. Thick canes coming from the base easily reach six plus feet each season (including its first) - seems like I'm always cutting the thing back. Prairie Princess is very hardy and is also the parent of many other hardy roses developed in the northern midwest and Canada. Disease resistance is quite good. Mine had been paired with another Canadian hardy climber John Davis, but for two years in a row, John Davis completely mildewed while Prairie Princess didn't contract the disease. I do not spray for foliar diseases and I have been quite pleased that Prairie Princess comes through with minor problems, losing only the bottom leaves by season's end. KSL, White Bear Lake, MN 10/2000

This from Bob...Martin Frobisher (red Hybrid Rugosa) I think of this Explorer rose as Martin the Monster. He's supposed to mature into a plant four to six feet tall, but ours rises to eight, with a breadth about half that. Light pink flowers bloom all summer and well into the fall. Even in winter he's impressive, with canes turned to red and no longer overpowering the Japanese Upright Yew alongside. Seasonal care is negligible: alternate organic and chemical feeding, along with other roses, but he gets less than most. He gets full sun for only four to five hours. No disease problems have arisen in the four years he's been in our garden, and we've given him no winter protection except to tie the tallest canes to prevent winter wind damage. RJW, Minneapolis, MN 1/2001

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This from Bob...Champlain (dark red Hybrid Kordesii) bloom This is an old standby familiar to many rose gardeners and an attractive addition to any garden. I like the clear, dark red of the blossoms, the crisp green of the leaves and the compact size -- about three feet high and wide. Although we have only one plant, I think a row of Champlains would make a striking backdrop. Ours gets some fall mulching but no other winter protection. It's also sturdy, unintimidated by nearby cotoneaster bushes that in midsummer want to shoulder it aside, and oriental lilies that would traumatize a less independent-minded rose. Our Champlain gets normal feeding and is included in normal spraying for disease prevention. RJW, Minneapolis, MN 1/2001

This from Debbie...Morden Centennial (medium pink shrub) Medium to deep pink (hot weather washes out color), bursting with blossoms when blooming: 3 flushes on average a summer of bloom. Very hardy. With no snow cover the canes may die to the ground, but regenerate in the spring. Drawback: almost no scent. DR, Lakeville, MN 1/2001

This from Norma...Heritage (light pink shrub) bloom Another white with pink edges but with a translucent porcelain appearance. Fragrance that can fill a room. NB, Apple Valley, MN 1/2001

This from Penny....Lilac Rose (pink blend shrub, David Austin) This David Austin 1990 introduction is one of my favorites. Very short in stature but big on bloom and scent. Held up well in the last 5 day unofficial heat wave. If you like old world charm you have to have this rose. PNL, Brooklyn Park, MN 7/2001

This from Kim...Wanderin Wind (light pink shrub, Dr Griffith J Buck) This is a wonderful tall pink shrub rose. The flowers are a pale pink with a silvery reverse, very double, and wonderfully fragrant often described as and old garden rose fragrance. I first saw an established plant in August and it was profusely blooming. I like to mix the once blooming old garden roses with reblooming shrubs for season long color. I put 'Wanderin Wind' next to 'Therese Bugnet' (who has a sparse rebloom) and I have not been disappointed. 'Wanderin Wind' easily gets to 5', has a nice shape with flowers and foliage from top to bottom. The plant is regarded as one of the hardier Buck roses. KSL, White Bear Lake, MN 02/2002

This from Kae...Frontenac (pink shrub) bloom I admit that I'm not overly fond of single or semi-double roses, but Frontenac has got to be the exception. For the record Frontenac averages between 20 and 25 petals, is deep pink, is winter hardy to zone 3 and was introduced in 1992 as part of the Canadian Explorer series. It blossoms from June through the end of the growing season. In November of 2005 I had several buds on the shrub when the killing frost finally came. However, in its first flush of the season, you will have trouble finding the green beneath all of the pink. It has good disease resistance. Originally I purchased it because I liked the name, and I had use for a pink shrub. I found out later that our family has ties to Frontenac in Canada. For a shrub that was supposed to be small, getting only 3-4 ft. in height, mine has overwhelmingly exceeded that. So much so that I am afraid I will have to move it to where it has more room. Last season, I had 4 ft canes shoot up almost overnight. I tend not to spray unless necessary though I do feed twice a season. My other roses do get aphids, but I have never found any on this particular plant. I recommend it to anyone with halfway decent soil who also wants to spend time enjoying it instead of pampering it. Most of the canes have been staying green throughout the winter; last year I had very little dieback - mostly just debudding the dead flowers and taking off the hips. Frontenac is splendid. KaeB, St Paul MN 3/2006

Have something to add about shrub roses and old garden roses? Let me know!

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