Bush roses – repeat-flowering roses for beds and borders

• Flowers: medium-sized, single to fully double, in large clusters – hence a strong long-distance effect
• Flowering period: repeat-flowering from June until the first frost
• Habit: compact and bushy, usually 50–90 cm tall
• Care: robust and easy-care, many ADR varieties; hard pruning in spring
• Use: rose bed, borders, low hedge, containers
• Planting time: container-grown all year round, bare-root from October to May when the soil is frost-free

What are bush roses?

Bush roses are compact, repeat- to continuously flowering garden roses whose flowers appear in large clusters. The class combines the former polyantha and floribunda roses – we still list the historic predecessor varieties in a separate list.

Their strength is mass: instead of the single, perfect flower, bush roses provide a continuous, richly coloured carpet of blooms over months – which is why they are the classic choice for the rose bed, the front garden and public plantings.

Bush rose, shrub rose or hybrid tea rose – what is the difference?

The three classes differ mainly in height, habit and inflorescence. Hybrid tea roses bear large single flowers on long stems – here the individual flower counts. Shrub roses grow considerably taller at 1 to 2 metres and form free-standing shrubs. Bush roses stay compact at 50 to 90 cm and bloom in clusters.

The distinction from the shrub rose is not always clear-cut – height and habit can be influenced by annual pruning, which is why we show some varieties in both groups.

Recommended bush rose varieties

• Absolutely Fabulous ® – known in the USA as 'Julia Child', one of the most popular varieties: yellow, healthy, repeat-flowering, also as a low hedge.
• Alexandra David Neel ® – bluish-pink to mauve, fully double flowers with a strong fragrance.
• Alfred Sisley ® – painter's rose with yellow-orange-red-white striped flowers, an eye-catcher in the bed.
• Arthur Bell – healthy, yellow floribunda classic with a strong fragrance.
• Belle du Seigneur ® – apricot-coloured, blooming richly and persistently with a good fragrance, lovely in a container.
• Bordure Blanche ® – white, semi-double flowers in clusters, repeat-flowering and compact – ideal for edging.

Creating the rose bed: designing with bush roses

Unlike hybrid tea roses, bush roses are rarely planted singly but in groups or entire beds – usually several plants of the same variety. This creates the typical, homogeneous long-distance effect.

With some experience, different varieties with a similar habit and flowering behaviour can also be combined. Low varieties are suitable as a flowering bed edging along paths, compact ones also for containers – depending on size, singly or in a group of three.

Planning larger quantities? From 30 plants of the same variety we are happy to offer you an individual price – please enquire about your desired quantity before ordering by email.

Planting and caring for bush roses

Bush roses are among the easiest-care garden roses – many modern varieties carry the ADR award for robust, healthy-leaved roses.

• Location: Sunny and airy, nutrient-rich soil without waterlogging – see Choosing a location.
• Planting time: Container roses all year round, bare-root roses from October to May – instructions under Planting roses.
• Pruning: Cut back hard in spring – this keeps the habit compact and promotes flowering. Details under Pruning roses.
• Feeding: Generously in spring and after the first flush – see Feeding roses.
• Deadheading: Promotes repeat flowering – see Removing faded flowers.
• Winter: Fully hardy; mound up soil in the first year – more under Overwintering roses.

Finding the right bush rose

When choosing a variety, in addition to our descriptions you will be helped by the over 1,000 customer reviews that our customers have left since 2002 on the individual bush rose varieties. Pay attention to uniform height and similar flowering behaviour if you want to combine several varieties in one bed.

Buy bush roses bare-root or container-grown?

Both forms of supply deliver the same A-quality from our specialist rose nursery. Bare-root bush roses are cheaper – this adds up, especially for larger beds – and establish reliably in the planting season from October to May. We give a guarantee of establishment on bare-root roses planted out in the open ground.

Container roses can be planted all year round. More under Sales and supply forms.