White Roses: The Best Rose Varieties in Pure White and Cream

A white rose has always carried great symbolic power. Here we present a selection of beautiful and rewarding white rose varieties from all classes - from pure white to creamy white. You will find a complete list of all white roses =>here

As early as Roman times, the white rose was cultivated in the form of the Alba roses and prized as a sign of purity and humility. Since then, white rose varieties have been found in every class and have remained as popular as ever. White, elegant rose blooms have a noble, graceful presence that is welcome in many garden settings. 

Besides luminous pure white, roses mostly come in creamy tones of yellowish white, and some varieties fade as they age to a pale, almost white pink or even pure white. Because of the sheer variety of cultivars, there is no answering which rose has the most beautiful white blooms. Here we show you a selection of grateful, easy-care white roses of all growth habits.

In contrast to the red rose varieties, white roses stand for purity, humility and renunciation. According to myth, Aphrodite pricked herself on the thorns of a white rose bush. The blood that dripped onto a pure white bloom dyed it red and thus stained it. The red rose that resulted has since been regarded as a sign of passionate love. White has also always meant a new beginning, and is therefore often associated with a birth, a wedding, but also with death. In modern times, through the 'White Rose' around the Scholl siblings, they also became a symbol of tolerance and humanity.

Shrub roses are indispensable in the garden. The low-growing varieties lend themselves to single or group plantings in mixed borders or tubs. Taller white shrub rose varieties draw all eyes - preferably when planted on their own. 

Shrub rose Schneewittchen

a true 'evergreen' from Kordes, introduced in 1958. Loosely double, snow-white blooms in clusters. A free-flowering and robust world-famous rose, ADR (revoked) and AGM. About 120 cm.

William and Catherine

yellowish white blooms that fade to pure white, densely double and borne in clusters with a myrrh fragrance. A compact, smaller shrub that is also good for a tub. About 100 cm.

Macmillan Nurse

firm, nostalgically full pure white blooms on a smaller shrub with an exceptionally harmonious overall appearance. Depending on the weather, with a hint of peach. About 90 cm.

Martine Guillot

strong upright growth with pearly white, double blooms in large clusters. Nicely fragrant; with suitable care it can also be grown as a climber up to 300 cm, otherwise about 160 cm.

Snowdon

white, double rose. A rare Rugosa hybrid bred by David Austin. Very free-flowering, robust and broad, spreading in habit. About 230 cm.

Historic white shrub roses
Naturally, many of the more or less rare Old Roses also have pale blooms in white, whitish pink or cream. 

Alba Maxima

probably the oldest white rose, also known as the 'Jacobite Rose'. A very vigorous variety with a tendency to climb. Large, pure white double blooms, flowering once, followed by rose hips. AGM. Up to 300 cm.

Weiße Jacques Cartier

the white form of the popular old shrub rose 'Jacques Cartier'. Densely double, pure white blooms with a button eye in the centre and a strong fragrance. Easy to care for, frost-hardy and resistant, also suited to a tub. Good repeat bloom after the first flush. Up to 150 cm.

Frau Karl Druschki

large, elegant, snow-white blooms that have long been favoured as cut flowers for the vase. A compact, bushy, medium-sized shrub with attractive matt green foliage. About 100 cm.

Boule de Neige

globular, pure white blooms, sometimes with a hint of pink. A strongly fragrant white Bourbon rose with manageable growth, also suited to a large tub. Reliable repeat bloom. About 150 cm.

Blanchefleur

a very old, densely double Centifolia that fades from pink to pure white as it opens. Very richly flowering once in June, with the typical strong fragrance, and rose hips in autumn. About 180 cm.

Madame Hardy

densely double, snow-white blooms, often with a green eye and the strong fragrance so typical of Damask roses. A very vigorous, healthy, large white shrub rose that can truly inspire. AGM. About 200 cm

Blanc Double de Coubert

A large shrub with pure white, loosely double blooms with a strong fragrance, in beautiful contrast to the rich green foliage so typical of rugosa roses. Rose hips in autumn. AGM. About 150 cm

Moonlight

single, creamy white to brilliant white blooms in clusters. An easy-care Moschata hybrid with strong, arching, spreading growth and a good fragrance. Can also be used as a smaller climbing rose, and a bee pasture. Up to 200 cm.

Quattre Saisons Blanc Mousseaux

this very old moss rose is something special among white rose varieties. Besides the double bloom, which already smells good on its own, it also bears sweetly scented resin glands (which is where moss roses get their name). A large, spreading shrub; besides pure white, the blooms can also be lightly tinged with pink. About 150 cm.

Hybrid tea roses impress with their almost perfectly shaped, elegant and mostly densely double blooms. In this rose class the individual bloom takes centre stage, and it is often cut for the vase. A whole bouquet of white hybrid tea roses is often used for decoration or as a gift. 

Grand Nord

large white blooms with cream in the centre and a light, fresh fragrance. A vigorous hybrid tea rose from the French breeder Delbard. About 120 cm

Polarstern

This elegant rose with large, fragrant blooms was even named 'Rose of the Year' by the RHS in 1985. It grows nicely bushy and presents its elegant, snow-white blooms against dark, glossy green foliage. About 100 cm.

Kaiserin Auguste Viktoria

one of the most beautiful white hybrid tea roses, unfortunately not entirely frost-hardy and very rarely available. For a long time used for bridal bouquets and other festive occasions. About 50 cm.

Pascali

white, double, beautifully shaped blooms against dark green foliage. A very attractive, vigorous and continuously flowering white hybrid tea rose. About 90 cm

Wite Wings

large, single white blooms with stamens easily accessible to bees and a light fragrance; it also grows well in a tub. About 120 cm.

Wherever the garden needs to go upwards, climbing roses are often the first choice. If a particularly noble impression is wanted, the choice often falls on one of the large-flowered white climbing rose varieties.

Blanche Colombe

elegant, classically double, brilliant white blooms on a lush climbing rose. Up to about 300 cm

Check to Cheek

densely double, medium-sized blooms in white tinged with pink. A very free-flowering, cluster-flowering plant with soft shoots, for obelisks and pillars. Up to 220 cm. 

Climbing Iceberg / Schneewittchen

the climbing form of probably the most famous white rose. Very strong growth, a lush main flush with a light repeat bloom. AGM. Up to 450 cm.

Creme de la Creme

a little-known, rewarding creamy white climbing rose from England. It also grows in difficult locations, and is fragrant. Up to 300 cm

Ilse Krohn, Superior

pure white, beautifully shaped blooms with a good fragrance against dark foliage. It needs some time to settle in, but then delights throughout. About 300 cm

Palais Royal

white variant of the popular and well-known Eden Rose. Large, densely double, white blooms in clusters, unfortunately without fragrance. Up to 200 cm and more.

Sebastian Kneipp

for a long time promoted by the breeder Kordes as a cream-coloured hybrid tea rose. Customers pointed out to us early on that it is in fact a vigorous, creamy white climbing rose that has reached the fourth floor in their gardens. Double, nostalgic quartered blooms with a good fragrance. Up to 400 cm and more

Sombreuil

this special rose is a luminous white tea rose with flat, quartered and densely double blooms that in fact flowers almost continuously. Unfortunately it needs a sheltered location or winter protection. Up to about 450 cm.

If, after so many pale, white roses, you now feel like more colour - here you will find a list of all multicoloured, striped and variegated roses, or simply have a look at all rose varieties one after another.