Garden rose Rosa x hybrida
Garden rose (Rosa x hybrida) is a deciduous perennial flowering plant in the Rosaceae family. It grows 80 cm–1.6 m (31 in–5.2 ft) tall and 70 cm–1.2 m (28 in–3.9 ft) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about -20 °C (-4 °F). Space plants about 90 cm (35 in) apart.
Plan Garden rose in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Garden rose at a glance
| Type | Perennial flowering plant, deciduous |
|---|---|
| Family | Rosaceae |
| Mature height | 80 cm–1.6 m (31 in–5.2 ft) |
| Mature spread | 70 cm–1.2 m (28 in–3.9 ft) |
| Spacing | 90 cm (35 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance low, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Cold hardiness | About -20 °C (-4 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 6) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 33 °C (91 °F) |
| Flowering | from about June for 13–21 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | Moderate |
| Edible | Yes: petals, rose hips |
| Common in gardens of | 🇺🇸 United States, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇨🇳 China, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇷🇺 Russia, 🇫🇷 France, 🇳🇴 Norway, 🇿🇦 South Africa, 🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇵🇪 Peru, 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇮🇳 India, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇬🇷 Greece, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇹🇷 Turkey, 🇲🇦 Morocco, 🇮🇷 Iran, 🇦🇷 Argentina, 🇨🇱 Chile, 🇨🇦 Canada, 🇸🇪 Sweden, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇮🇪 Ireland, 🇵🇱 Poland, 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
Is Garden rose toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
Roses are non-toxic to people and pets, though thorns can injure.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Garden rose
Good neighbours
- good With Garlic chives: Gardeners plant garlic chives among roses to deter aphids and black spot; the evidence is weak and mostly anecdotal. Evidence D
See Garden rose in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- The Huntington (72 plants)
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden (106 plants)
- China National Botanical Garden (80 plants)
- The Butchart Gardens (88 plants)
- Missouri Botanical Garden (66 plants)
- Monet’s gardens at Giverny (70 plants)
- Denver Botanic Gardens (42 plants)
- New York Botanical Garden (56 plants)
- Jardin botanique de Montréal (48 plants)
- Riverside botanical garden (24 plants)
Questions about Garden rose
- How far apart should I plant Garden rose?
- About 90 cm (35 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 70 cm–1.2 m (28 in–3.9 ft).
- Does Garden rose need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Garden rose need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Garden rose?
- It tolerates about -20 °C (-4 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 6.
- When does Garden rose flower?
- From about June for 13–21 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Garden rose poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Roses are non-toxic to people and pets, though thorns can injure.
- What grows well with Garden rose?
- Gardeners plant garlic chives among roses to deter aphids and black spot; the evidence is weak and mostly anecdotal.
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, ASPCA
- FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56 — Crop Evapotranspiration, FAO
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- University extension gardening guides (general), Various land-grant university extensions
Notes and assumptions
- Typical garden-cultivar values; varieties differ.
- Thorny; edible only if grown without pesticides.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Strawberry Fragaria x ananassa
- Dwarf apple tree Malus domestica
- Common ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius
- Serviceberry Amelanchier canadensis
- Raspberry Rubus idaeus
- Blackberry Rubus fruticosus agg.
- Japanese flowering cherry Prunus serrulata
- Pear Pyrus communis