Rose Classes: The Differences Explained

Damasks, Species, Hybrid Teas, oh my! Sometimes choosing a rose isn't just about color, fragrance, and size, but about behavior, strengths, and weaknesses. Learning about the different rose classes will give you a better understanding of how a rose acts and may help you narrow down your choices.

Rose Taxonomy & Relatives

Roses are all under the same genus: Rosa. Of course, there are specific species under this genus, for example, Rosa multiflora or Rosa canina (see more on Species Roses below). While roses started as species, through many years of cultivation, roses have divided into different classes.

A rose's origin and parentage will determine its class. Commonly, breeding roses of one class with roses of another can create a new class. Right now, many modern roses are so hybridized from various parents of different origins that distinguishing their class is a bit too difficult, so they're often called "Shrub Roses" or just "Climbing Rose"- essentially labeled by their behavior rather than their heritage. 

The genus Rosa is under the family Rosaceae. The Rosaceae family includes apples, pears, cherries, plums, peaches, raspberries, blackberries, almonds, and more. This means that roses are distant cousins of plants like apples, which explains how some single-petaled rose blooms can look very similar to the blooms of an apple or cherry tree. Much like the mentioned fruit trees, roses also require chill hours during dormancy to increase flower quality and abundance during the spring season.

Featured: Mutabilis, an example of a rose that can resemble cherry blossoms (example below).

Species Roses 

Species Roses are generally defined as those roses found in nature and are considered "wild". Most species roses tend to be very vigorous and extremely disease-resistant. They are a good choice for naturalizing and will often grow well without attention if planted properly and given minimal care during the first year or so of their establishment. Be sure to check your area's invasive species list before planting a Species Rose.

Although many are climbers (often considered rambling), with minimal pruning and training, they can be grown as hefty shrubs. They tend to be once-blooming during the spring.

Featured is Species rose, Lady Banks Yellow (R. banksiae 'Lutea').

FUN FACT: There have been no species of roses found to have naturally evolved south of the equator.

Europe: Wild roses in this region are known for their cold-hardiness. Includes R. canina (Dog Rose). Additionally, R. rubiginosa, R. eglanteria, R. centifolia, R. gallica, and R. pimpinellifolia.

Asian Minor: Wild roses in this region are known for their introduction of yellow and orange flowers. Includes R. foetda and R. gallica.

Asia: Wild roses in this region are known for their repeat-blooming qualities and showy rose hips. Includes R. chinensis. Additionally, R. wichuraiana, R. banksiae, R. damascena, R. moschata (Musk Rose), R. fedtschenkoana, R. gigantea, and R. multiflora.

North America: Wild roses in this region are known for their colorful autumn foliage. Includes R. virginiana, R. setigera (Prairie Rose), R. arkansana, R. carolina (Carolina Rose), R. eglanteria, and R. palustris (Swamp Rose). Additionally, R. nitida, R. nutkana, and R. californica.

Hybrid Species

Hybrid Species roses are roses directly bred or closely related to a Species rose; for example, Seven Sisters is a Hybrid Multiflora, having been bred from R. multiflora. "Hybrid Species" is the way we group these roses, but they consist of a lot of diversity between multifloras, wichuranas, etc. Hybrid Species often share similar traits to species roses: once-blooming, rambling, and disease-resistant. There are exceptions to this rule.

Featured is Hybrid Multiflora, Veilchenblau.

"Shrub" Roses

As mentioned prior, "Shrub" roses are often a category that roses are thrown into if the heritage and parentage isn't clear, and they are often very hybridized. This being said, distinctive roses like Rugosas and Hybrid Musks fit into the Shrub rose category as well.

Rugosas

Could be one of the oldest roses on the planet according to fossil records- 30 million years ago! They're low-maintenance, hardy, repeat-blooming, great for the south... and often very thorny. They have unique and beautiful lush and disease-resistant foliage, are pollinator-friendly, and produce rose hips.

Featured is Rugosa, Basye's Blueberry.

Hybrid Musks

Notable for outstanding fragrance and vigor with reliable repeat blooming, even in partial shade. Their growth behavior is often a spreading shrub or low climber.

Rev Joseph Pemberton bred R. moschata with certain Hybrid Teas and Polyanthas to establish this distinctive rose class. In the Rose Annual for 1968, Graham Stuart Thomas summed up the Hybrid Musk class: "Unless some keen spirit is prepared to produce some richly coloured shrub rose along the lines adopted by Pemberton, I think this group should remain as it is: carefree flowering shrubs of the greatest value for our gardens at midsummer or later, delightfully fragrant, in a fair range of colours and of superb value for hedging. Considered as such, Joseph Pemberton served us well." This class includes some of the most useful roses available for landscape purposes.

Example of Hybrid Musk, Penelope.

True Antiques

A True Antique (Old Garden Rose) is any rose that was cultivated and introduced before 1867, when the world's first modern hybrid tea, La France (we carry the climbing La France), was introduced. True Antiques are known for their classic fragrances, long lifespans, and overall charm. 

See our blog on Why Choose Antique Roses here.

See below for the different classes under True Antiques. 

European Roses

European roses are often once-bloomers that prefer to be pruned after blooming. Many will bloom on old wood and can produce hips at the end of their season. 

European roses don't like harsh pruning and can be slow-to-grow and bloom for the first few years they're planted, but once they're established, they are very cold hardy and will live long, fruitful lives.

Albas

Albas are often white and very upright rather than shrubby. Can usually climb, have dense, gray/blue foliage, and are disease-resistant. Not a large group within the European Rose class.

Crosses between R. gallica or R. damascena and R. canina.

Cenifolias (R. centifolia)

Dutch-hybridized roses whose flowers often contain more than 100 petals. Often referred to as "Cabbage Roses". While very winter hardy, they are not great for Southern, hot, humid climates, and they are once-blooming.

Fun fact: the Moss Roses (R. muscosa) are sports of Centifolias. 

Damasks

Damasks are known for their classic, heavy, rich fragrance and are often used for perfumes. Not always once-blooming. For example, Autumn Damask is a repeat-blooming rose.

Crosses between R. gallica, R. moschata, and R. fedtschenkoana through cultivation in China.

Example of Damask, Ispahan.

China Roses

One of the East's greatest revealed secrets secured by Western civilization was neither gunpowder nor printing, but the everblooming rose. These new roses brought with them two characteristics heretofore unknown to the West: yellow flowers and remontancy (the ability to repeat-bloom).

One of the best pink forms of R. chinensis to pass into European hands after 1752 was known by many names, including Old Blush or Parson's Pink China. Until the introduction of China roses, the Europeans knew just one species capable of occasional fall blooming. The rest of their roses were spring bloomers. Understandably, they were quite excited when the reblooming trait of these roses was bred into many of their descendants, which include Bourbons, Noisettes, and Teas.

China roses can become large bushes at maturity and are likely to live a very long time. They are used as hedges, specimen plants, and in borders. Chinas can tolerate heat, which makes them well suited for growing in the South, and they often have few thorns.

Example of China, Archduke Charles.

The following rose classes resulted from China Roses:

Bourbons

The Bourbon rose class resulted from a natural cross between 'Old Blush' and 'Autumn Damask' in 1817, both planted as hedges on the French island of Bourbon, now known as Reunion. Bourbons have an old-fashioned cupped or quartered bloom, generally in pastel pinks with tough, blue-green foliage on a husky bush. These low to medium-sized shrubs bear blooms of intense fragrance.

Because of their China bloodline, Bourbons succeed wonderfully in the South, being heat and drought-tolerant. However, due to their Damask blood, they are also very cold-tolerant.

They often have long, easily bendable but strong canes good for pegging to the ground to encourage more abundant blooming- if not used as a mannerly climber.

Example of Bourbon, Zephirine Drouhin.

Noisettes

The first truly American class of roses originating in the United States, starting with Champney's Pink Cluster, the Noisettes comprise a group of graceful repeat-flowering shrubs and climbers. The older varieties with their small flowers and the later, larger-flowered Noisettes (with much Tea influence) are all elegant, highly fragrant roses.

Noisettes will often sprawl at great heights and contain clusters of fragrant roses.

They have the ability to create a landscape effect unique among roses when trained on walls, fences, arbors, or even trees. Immensely popular and well adapted in the South, Noisettes are truly the "Aristocrats of the Old South."

Started with 'Old Blush' x R. moschata (Musk Rose).

Example of Noisette, Madame Alfred Carriere.

Teas (1830s-1866)

The Tea roses are so named because the original teas had a strong green tea-like fragrance. Teas have an upright habit, forming tall and sometimes narrow bushes with bronzy red new foliage. In the south, they bloom profusely in spring and fall with scattered summer flowers.

Blossoms are spectacular and large in pastel shades of pink and yellow with some reds and whites. Their blooms have a "nodding" habit since the flowers are usually large on "weak" canes, lending to a very cottage garden appeal.

Keep in mind: A) only lightly prune Teas, and b) Teas may not be the best choice for lower hardiness zones, as they are not the most cold-hardy of rose classes.

Crosses between R. chinensis and subtropical R. gigantea.

Example of Tea, Madame Joseph Schwartz.

Hybrid Perpetuals (1840-1900)

Some of the most valuable, historic, and delightful roses are included in the Hybrid Perpetual class. Their virtues include cold hardiness, outstanding and sweet rose fragrance, and large, full flowers.

The more saturated pinks and reds of the Hybrid Perpetuals were "new" to the rose world. They're repeat-blooming, often large shrubs, usually about 6' and very upright.

They are great cut flowers, and this class is the precursor to the Hybrid Tea class.

Crosses between Portlands, Bourbons, and Gallicas.

Example of Hybrid Perpetual, Baronne Prevost.

Modern Roses

Modern roses are popular for their bloom forms and disease-resistance, and tend to be faster growing and quicker to put on blooms than many Antique Roses. 

Hybrid Teas

The first Hybrid Tea was established in 1867, marking the pivotal date of what makes an "Antique Rose". From then on, the focus of rose breeders was to create the "perfectly shaped flower" (often thought of as a florist's rose, or the classic rose shape). All interest was lost in the earlier classes of roses.

The parents of Hybrid Teas are Teas and Hybrid Perpetuals; they have the upright and strong growth habit of Hybrid Perpetuals, but the large, full, and abundant blooming of Teas, making them known as an excellent cut flower.

Rather than a continuous repeat bloom, they bloom in a six-week cycle, with generally one bloom per stem.

Example of Hybrid Tea, Chrysler Imperial.

Polyanthas

The Polyantha class was the result of crossing China roses with the rambling Japanese Multiflora rose. Even Hybrid Teas or Noisettes could have a part in Polyantha parentage. The everblooming characteristic and compact shape are two traits seen in this class. Polyanthas are hardy, disease-resistant, and floriferous. Their dwarf and compact nature lends itself well when used as low borders, mass plantings, or in containers.

Their blooming habit differs a bit from other roses, as they like to throw out tall spikes of clustered buds, putting their flowers well above their foliage, and therefore covering the entire rose with color.

Example of Polyantha, The Fairy.

Floribundas

Floribundas are often very colorful and produce many large blooms at once. The blooming is often long-lasting and clustering, and unlike Hybrid Teas, they bloom more continuously. Hardier and more resistant to diseases like black spot.

Example of Floribunda, Valentine.

Miniatures

It's all in the name! At a max of 24" in height, Miniatures often make the best container roses. The flower form is identical to both Hybrid Teas and Floribundas, just on a smaller scale.

Example of Miniature, Rise-N-Shine.

Found Roses

Found roses, while not a class determined by heritage, are a way to group roses with unknown origins. They can come from old abandoned gardens, roadsides, cemeteries, etc. Even through efforts to identify, it seems they were lost to commerce- and therefore forgotten- or had hybridized all on their own in nature.

Found roses are introduced as roses with an unknown breeder, year of introduction, and heritage (though guesses can be made about their class parentage based on behavior and characteristics). 

Because Found roses were often left to their own devices for a long period of time, they are a great option for those who want a low-maintenance addition to their garden.

Always be sure to be attentive to your rose's needs within the first couple of years of its life in order to get it established before leaving it alone. Always be aware of weather extremes and how they could affect even your toughest of roses.

Rose Rustlers were a group of people who would go to abandoned sites or walk roadways to find these roses, which was a large part of how Antique Rose Emporium started.

A.R.E. Legacy Roses

While not a class of roses, we personally believe we deserve a highlight here! The A.R.E. Legacy Rose Collection is roses bred by Antique Rose Emporium.

Pioneer Series- Michael Shoup

A fan of David Austin Roses, especially Heritage and Graham Thomas, Shoup loved to commonly cross these roses with the disease-resistant, repeat-blooming Carefree Beauty. The Pioneer Series is a great option for those looking for roses with the Old Garden charm created for the Southern Garden.

Popular mentions: Belinda's Blush, Star of the Republic, and Cole's Settlement.

Mike Shoup, founder of Antique Rose Emporium.

Trailblazer Series- Andrew Barroco

Barroco had a knack for creating award-winning roses, well-known for their beauty, charm, and oftentimes, outstanding fragrance. Many of the Trailblazers have become popular throughout the states for their wonderful blooms.

Popular mentions: Wicked Sister, Femme Fatale, and Grandbaby.

Earth-Kind® Roses

Again, while not a class of roses, Earth-Kinds® deserve a mention. 

Earth-Kind roses are specially selected by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service's Earth-Kind landscaping program for their exceptional resilience and performance. After extensive research and rigorous field trials, only roses that exhibit superior pest resistance and outstanding landscape beauty receive this Earth-Kind distinction.

These roses thrive across diverse soil conditions, from well-drained acidic sands to dense, alkaline clays. Once established, Earth-Kind roses boast impressive heat and drought tolerance, making them a robust choice for various climates and perfect choices for anyone that live in areas that experience watering restrictions throughout the year.

By choosing Earth-Kind roses, you enjoy beautiful blooms while reducing the need for fertilizers, pesticides, and water. This sustainable approach supports eco-friendly gardening, helping to preserve our environment and natural resources.

Conclusion

We hope that with this guide, you will feel more comfortable about selecting roses for your garden.

If you have any other questions regarding more details on rose information, please see our other blogs or reach out to us at gardenquestions@weareroses.com.