There are having been many posts so far with several different types of flowers. I thought I would take a little break from the lists and share some of my favorite roses with you! There are thousands of different roses in various sizes, shapes, and colors…you name it, there’s a rose for it! Here are my top 5 favorites! I hope you enjoy them as much as I do — and perhaps find a new favorite for yourself. Be sure to check out our rose section for other great rose information.

Cajun Moon Rose

Photo property of http://www.johnnybecnelroses.com/

Cherry Brandy Rose

Photo property of http://www.floraya.us/

Black Magic Rose

Photo property of http://www.rirs.org/

Moonstone Rose

Photo property of http://www.growquest.com/

Black Bacarra Rose

Photo property of http://www.fiftyflowers.com

Perhaps you are thinking of purchasing a rose bush or having roses in your garden. When getting ready to chose a rose there are many different rose varieties to check out. There are several different types, shapes, sizes, colors, and much more to consider. I have put together a list of the most common roses here for you to get a general knowledge. I have also included descriptions of the different types of roses.

Hybrid Teas – These are the most popular of the roses. They have large blooms on the end of a long cane and grow upright, (about 3-6 feet tall). Hybrid tea roses are available in every color except for blue and black. Hybrids grow individual blossoms — this is where the long stem roses come from — and flower repeatedly. Their scent varies from no scent to a highly fragrant sweet aroma depending on the particular flower.

Floribundas – They floribunda was created by crossing hybrid teas and polyanthas. These are smaller rose shrubs with smaller blooms that grow in clusters (from 3 to 15 flowers per cluster). Floribunda roses are excellent for landscaping and are the most disease resistant of the roses. They have little to no scent, but are in a constant show of color.

Mini-Floras – Mini-floras are a new classification of rose and are still found to be a bit ackward in the garden, though they are very beautiful. These flowers are smaller than a floribunda, but not quite small enough to land themselves with the minis. Mini-flora roses produce 1-2 inch blooms and grow to be 1-3 feet tall.

Grandifloras – The grandiflora is a combination of hybrid teas and floribunda roses, though their stems are shorter than a hybrid tea’s. They area a tall elegant flower that produce clusters and bloom repeatedly. Grandiflora roses can reach a height of 6 feet tall with large blooms and a wide variety of colors. They have little if no scent and are excellent to use as a background flower.

Miniatures – The most versatile of the roses, miniatures come in a wide varity of colors, sizes, bloom styles, and growth habits. Miniature roses can have anywhere from 5 to 15 petals, even some with 40. They have blooms that measure 1/4 inch wide up to 2 inches. They are available year round and are very hardy, even in colder climates. Even their scent varies from no scent to highy fragrant.

Climbing Roses – These roses are large-flowering and include climbers, ramblers, noisettes, ayrshires, hybrid moyesii, hybrid sempervirens, and members of the old garden roses, shrubs, and even hybrid teas. In fact, any rose that has long canes can be trained to be a climber. Climbing roses have large, stiff canes and are repeat bloomers. They range in height/length from 8-15 plus feet and are wonderful for walls, fences, pillars/posts, trellis, and entry ways. Climbers require little to no pruning.

Old Garden/Heirloom – These are rose classes that existed prior to 1867 — which was the year of the first hybrid tea. Old garden roses come in every growth and bloom pattern and color. They can be 1 foot to over 50 feet in height, are repeat bloomers, and are highly fragrant. These roses need pruning ONLY to remove dead canes.

Shrubs – Catchall term. Shrubs are hybrids of species or roses that don’t fall into any other class. The flower bloom is usually round, and there is no pruning required for the first few years. Shrubs are hardy roses, even in the winter, and are relatively disease resistant.

Polyanthas – Polyanthas are low growing with many smaller, non-stop blooming flowers and great foliage. Their blooms are usually 1-2 inches in diameter. They are compact roses that are great for landscapes and are extremely hardy. Use polyanthas for low hedges or bedding.

Tree Roses – Tree roses have a standard 36″ trunk size. They can grow 4-5 feet tall and have a diameter of approximately 3 feet. Tree roses produce full size flowers and are highly fragrant. These are excellent plant to use along walkways. Tree roses are not winter hardy and need extra cold weather care.

English Roses – These roses are a hybrid of old garden and modern bush roses bred by David Austin. They are highly fragrant and are repeat bloomers. English roses are generally a large shrub with full petal form and a wide variety of colors. The english rose is quite disease resistant and are hardy winter flowers. Since they are such a large shrub, they aren’t really suitable for smaller gardens.

Ever wonder where roses came from? Here are a couple of facts and history of the well know flower:

The rose flower is approximately 35 million years old!

15th Century – Pick a Side!
The rose was used as a symbol for the coalitions fighting to control England. The white rose represented York, and the red, Lancaster. This is why the conflict between the two is now known as the “War of Roses.”

17th Century – Roses Become a High Demand.
During this time, royalty considered roses and rose water to be legal tender. Because of this, peasants were forced to cultivate roses to meet their high demands. The rose was used as a form of payment and to barter with. Royalty also used them in bath water, as confetti during a party, as a sweet smelling perfume, and even in medicine.

Napolean Bonaparte – And His Wife!
Josephine, (Napolean’s wife), was royalty during the 17th century. She aquired an extensive collection of roses and kept them in the garden known as Chateau de Malmaison. This is where the famous botanical illustrator, Pierre Joseph Redoutes, is rumored to have begun his career. It is also the spot where Pierre did the majority of his work for his watercolor collection, “Le Rose.”

Did you know there is a rose named after Napolean? The Chateau de Napolean.

18th Century – Let Me Introduce You.
This is when the cultivated rose was first introduced from China to Europe. Most of our roses today can be traced back to this time.

Greek Mythology – How the Rose Was Created.
In Greek mythology it is believed that Aphrodite gave the rose it’s name, though Chloris created it. Chloris (goddess of flowers), was cleaning up the forest when she came across a beautiful but lifeless body of a nymph. She felt terrible, and to right the death she called upon several gods and goddesses for help to create the rose. Aphrodite (goddess of love), gave the body even more beauty; Dionysus (god of wine), added nectar to help the flower smell sweet; the 3 Graces gave the rose charm, brightness, and joy; and Zephyr (the West Wind), blew the clouds away so that Apollo (sun god), could shine and make the beautiful rose bloom.

And so, the rose was created!

Here is a list of famous people and the type and color of rose named after them:

Abraham Lincoln – 4 Red Roses – “President Lincoln” & “Souvenir du President”; hybrid teas. “Mr. Lincoln” & “Honest Abe”; miniture moss roses.
Amelia Earhart – Creamed blush pink hybrid tea rose.
Audrey Hepburn – Apple blossom pink hybrid tea rose.
Barbra Streisand – Rich lavender and mauve hybrid tea rose.
Betty Boop – Red blend floribunda rose.
Betty White – Blush pink to cream hybrid tea rose.
Bing Crosby – Dark orange hybrid tea rose.
Bob Hope – Medium red hybrid tea rose.
Cary Grant – Orange blend hybrid tea rose.
Chaucer – Shell pink with yellow center english rose shrub.
Cinderella – Almost white with blush pink miniature hybrid tea rose.
Diana, Princess of Wales – Pink blend hybrid tea rose.
Dolly Parton – Darl coppery orange/red hybrid tea rose.
Don Juan – Red large flowered climbing rose.
Elizabeth Taylor – Deep pink hybrid tea rose.
General Washington – Bright red hybrid perpetual.
George Burns – Yellow blend floribunda rose.
Ginger Rogers – Orange and pink blend hybrid tea rose.
John F. Kennedy – White blend hybrid tea rose.
Judy Garland – Yellow to orange and scarlet floribunda rose.
LeAnn Rimes – Yellow blushed rose hybrid tea rose.
Leonardo da Vinci – Light pink floribunda rose.
Marilyn Monroe – Creamy apricot hybrid tea rose.
Mary, Queen of Scots – White blend hybrid spinosissima rose.
Michelangelo – Orange blend floribunda rose and medium yellow hybrid tea rose.
Mozart – Cerise pink with white center modern shrub rose.
Napolean (Chapeau de Napolean) – Light pink old historic rose.
Othello – Red/cerise blend english shrub rose.
Paul McCartney – Medium pink hybrid tea rose.
Prince William of Wales (Royal William) – Dark red hybrid tea rose.
Queen Elizabeth – Medium pink grandiflora rose.
Reba McEntire – Orange red grandiflora rose.
Robin Hood – Small cherry red hybrid mush shrub rose.
Ronald Reagan – Red with white reverse hybrid tea rose.
Rosie O’Donnell – Red blend hybrid tea rose.
Sir Lancelot – Amber, pink, and peach blend floribunda rose.
Snow White – White blend hybrid tea rose and white blend polyantha rose.
St. Patrick – Medium yellow blend hybrid tea rose.
William Shakespeare – Deep scarlet modern shrub rose.