Scented Roses

Don't plant something in the border below your living room window that blocks the view, as you won't be able to see the fruits of his/her/your labour... The list of roses below could have been designed to fit physically, and they all flower their socks off (we have Joie de Vivre at home and they always still have a few flowers on Christmas Day - Ed.).

These characteristics also make them ideal for good-sized containers. Don't use anything smaller than a 10-litre pot; feed them well and keep the compost moist.

Absolutely Fabulous (Gold)

Ballerina (Pink/White)

Joie de Vivre (Soft Pink)

Macmillan Nurse (White)

Moment in Time (Red)

Don't plant them in a row - an irregular zig-zag will look much better. If you want groups, then plant in threes, in a triangle with sides about 60cm (2ft) long).

Rambling roses are the original giants of the family.
Most ramblers flower once per year, explosively, around early June, and a few modern varieties repeat flower.

An established rambler will put out so much blossom that the foliage is almost hidden for about 6 weeks.

They are classics for growing into mature trees and to cover sheds and outhouses.

They are some of the most disease resistant roses, and suitable for an "extremely informal" country-ish style hedge in a large garden.

This page is for rambling roses, climbling roses have their own.
What's the difference between a rambler and a climber?

You can grow climbing roses almost anywhere in the UK.
They are very hardy, and apart from waterlogged sites, there are roses suitable for any soil type, and shade-tolerant roses for North-facing walls.

Roses love clay soil, but any soil with drainage can be improved to suit them.

Still, you will get the best flower displays in a sunny, sheltered location.

Shrub rose is in effect a catch-all group for any rose, old or modern, that is not a modern bush rose, namely Hybrid Tea, Floribunda, or Patio Rose, and not a Rambler or Climber, although several large Shrub rose varieties can be pressed into service as a low climber.

You can grow hybrid tea roses anywhere in the UK where there is a good amount of sunlight, drainage, and shelter from strong winds.

Full sun is the ideal growing condition, but most varieties will tolerate a little shade as long as they are not crowded by neighbouring shrubs.
Still, you will get the best flower displays in a sunny, sheltered location.

Roses love heavy clay soil as it does not waterlog in winter, but any soil with good drainage can be improved by digging in well-rotted organic matter, and then yearly mulching.

You can grow floribunda roses in any sunny, well drained location, and the smaller varieties are great for growing in containers: most patio roses are either floribundas or bred from them.

Because they flower so hard, they are not suitable for shady areas.

You can grow patio roses along the front of your flower border, but they are most commonly grown in pots of soil based compost.

Patio roses generally will tolerate partial shade, but a sunny position is always best.

Remember that roses in pots always need more watering and feeding than those in the ground.

As much as possible, the pot (not the rose itself) should be in the shade to avoid overheating, especially if it is on the small side.

If the pot will be in full all day against a South facing wall, either use the biggest pot you can, or protect it inside a box.

If you use saucers underneath your pots during summer to help with watering, remember to remove them during winter so the pots don't get waterlogged in winter.