Shrub Roses

Most roses in this section are, at least initially, the product of various crosses between Species Roses and modern Bush Roses during the 20th century. The result is a wide mixture of shrubs of varying sizes and colours although they are usually quite large, reaching 5ft or 6ft in height. Most are tough and reliable. Many of them can be relied upon to repeat flower given good conditions, bringing colour when most other shrubs have ceased to flower. Although we can usually detect something of the modern rose in their make-up, their growth is generally graceful and shrub-like. The flowers often have no very definite form, gaining much of their beauty from their massed effect. The Rugosas and Hybrid Musks often have an excellent fragrance, although this is often lacking in the Modern Shrub Roses and Ground Covers. Before making your final choice of shrub roses please consider the English Roses as they are, of course, shrub roses too.