Shrubs

Bare root shrub roses are a perfect choice for growing in containers, offering beautiful, bushy growth and abundant, fragrant blooms throughout the summer and into autumn. Planting them in a pot allows gardeners without a garden bed to enjoy the elegance of English Roses, while giving the plant the freedom to establish strong roots in a controlled environment. By following a few careful steps, your rose will settle naturally and flourish for years to come.

Bare root shrub roses are a gardener’s delight, offering a traditional, sustainable, and rewarding way to add colour and fragrance to your garden. Delivered simply as stems and roots, they are designed to work in harmony with the seasons. Planted in autumn through to spring, they settle naturally into the soil over the colder months, ready to burst into life and reward you with blooms the following year. Easy to handle, they are a dependable choice for both new and experienced gardeners.

Planting a rose in a pot is a versatile and rewarding gardening method. It allows you to create beautiful displays and grow roses in a wider variety of spaces. Whether you have a sprawling garden or a small balcony, container gardening can bring greenery and colour to your outdoor space. 

Potted roses can be planted all year round. The only time we recommend that you don't plant is when the ground is frozen, waterlogged or in drought conditions.

For a successful garden, getting planting distances right is important. Plant shrub roses too closely together and the border becomes overcrowded. Plant too far apart and you will see areas of bare earth between each rose. When planting you want to take into account the grown size of the rose, this means to begin with, while your roses establish themselves, you may see gaps between them.

The instructions in this article cover the pruning of English Shrub Roses, as well as other repeat flowering shrub roses.

English Roses are tolerant and healthy by nature, and will cope with wintry weather without fuss. Our advice and videos on rose care over the winter will provide you with everything you need to ensure your roses continue to thrive when the warmer weather arrives.