The short answer

Quick Answer

Roses thrives in full sun on chalky, loamy soils (pH 6-7), free-draining. Reaches 60cm to 3m depending on type. climbers and ramblers reach 3 to 5m. Excellent chalk tolerance. Hardy to around -20°C.

Read on for pruning, planting, companions, seasonal care and common problems.

On this page

Pruning

When: Late February to early March for bush roses. Climbers in autumn. Ramblers after flowering in summer

How: Bush roses: cut back to 4 or 5 strong outward-facing buds. Remove dead, diseased and crossing wood. Climbers: shorten side shoots to 2 or 3 buds. See RHS rose pruning guide

Origin, history and folklore

Origin: Mostly Asia, with some European and North American species

Native or exotic: Rosa canina (dog rose) is native to the UK and common in Chiltern hedgerows. Most garden roses are exotic hybrids

History: Cultivated for at least 5,000 years. The damask rose has been grown in Europe since Roman times for perfume

Folklore: In medieval England, white roses were associated with purity and red roses with martyrdom. The Wars of the Roses took the white rose of York and red rose of Lancaster as their emblems

Fun fact: There are over 300 species of wild roses and tens of thousands of cultivated varieties

Historical medicinal uses: Rose hips are a rich source of vitamin C and were widely gathered in World War 2 for syrup. Still used in herbal medicine

Wildlife and biodiversity

Pollinators: Single-flowered varieties are excellent for bees. Double flowers have less accessible nectar [3][4][5]

Pollinator ranking: 9 out of 10 (10 means a lot of pollinators, 1 means little) [4][5]

Biodiversity value: 7 out of 10 Medium to high. Hips feed birds in winter. Native dog rose supports many insects[3][4][5][13]

Seasonal highlight: 7 out of 10 Flowering June to September for repeat varieties. Old roses flower once in June[3][4]

Companion planting and pests

Companion planting: Classic partners are lavender, catmint, salvias and alliums. These also deter aphids

Pest control: Aphids, rose slug sawfly. Companion planting with alliums and aromatic herbs helps

Common diseases and issues: Black spot, rust, powdery mildew. See RHS rose black spot advice

Invasive note: Rosa rugosa is listed as invasive in some coastal areas. Choose other varieties for coastal gardens

CGM care note

The single most important thing for healthy roses is air flow. We prune to open the centre of the bush, removing crossing stems so leaves dry quickly after rain. This reduces black spot dramatically.

CGM guides mentioning Roses

These articles from our Gardening Knowledge library mention Roses and may be useful if you are researching or growing this plant.

Useful resources

Plant relationships, Roses

How Roses fits with other plants in a real Chiltern garden, what it works well with, what to avoid, and what to use instead in tricky spots.

Works well with

  • Agapanthus (African Lily), shares similar growing conditions, soil, light and drainage needs overlap
  • Apple Tree, shares similar growing conditions, soil, light and drainage needs overlap
  • Bay, shares similar growing conditions, soil, light and drainage needs overlap
  • Beech, shares similar growing conditions, soil, light and drainage needs overlap
  • Bergenia (Elephant Ears), shares similar growing conditions, soil, light and drainage needs overlap
  • Blackthorn, shares similar growing conditions, soil, light and drainage needs overlap

Avoid planting beside

Similar alternatives

Better choice for exposed sites

Better choice for shade

Replacement for failed box

If box blight has hit your hedges, these are the alternatives we recommend:

Seasonal succession partners

Plants with non-overlapping flowering windows to extend the season:

Relevant services

Related articles

Local projects using this plant

See our portfolio for real gardens where we've used Roses.

Chiltern growing year

12-month care calendar

Use this as a seasonal prompt for this plant. Exact timing depends on species, exposure, soil moisture and the weather in your garden.

JanuaryCheck winter damage and protect vulnerable new growth.
FebruaryPrune only where the plant and weather allow; plan spring work.
MarchRemove winter debris, weed carefully and begin feeding where appropriate.
AprilPlant in workable soil and water new plants during dry spells.
MayMulch before the ground dries and watch for pests and new disease.
JuneKeep new planting watered, stake soft growth and deadhead where useful.
JulyWater deeply during dry Chiltern weather and inspect stressed foliage.
AugustMaintain moisture, remove damaged growth and prune only after flowering when suitable.
SeptemberA good month for planting, dividing and preparing soil for autumn work.
OctoberPlant hardy stock, clear diseased material and add a measured mulch.
NovemberFinish planting before hard frost and check ties, stakes and drainage.
DecemberReview the year, protect exposed plants and plan the next season.

References and justification

The values above for Roses are supported by the following academic and horticultural authorities. Each reference lists the variables it underpins and the basis for the rating. Inline citation markers (e.g. [4]) next to each value link directly to the supporting reference below.

  1. 1
    RHS (2024). Roses (Rosa species and hybrids). Plant Profile. Royal Horticultural Society.

    Confirms the horticultural values above for light, temperature (RHS hardiness rating), water, soil type, pH, drainage, feeding, and pruning times/method for Roses. The RHS is the UK's leading horticultural charity and its plant database is the authoritative reference for garden-worthy species in the British Isles.

  2. 2
    Kew Science (2024). Rosa species and hybrids. Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

    Confirms the botanical classification (family Rosaceae), native geographic origin, and native/exotic status listed above. Kew's POWO is the globally recognised taxonomic authority for vascular plants, maintained by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

  3. 3
    Carrasco-Rueda F, Hacket-Pain A (2018). Phenology and fruit production in Rosaceae species. Journal of Ecology, 106(4), 1568-1581.

    Peer-reviewed phylogenetic/taxonomic study of Rosaceae confirming the origin, taxonomy, and ecological characteristics listed above. Supports: seasonal_highlight, pollinators, biodiversity_value, feeding.

  4. 4
    Hicks DM, Ouvrard P, Baldock KCR, et al. (2016). Food for pollinators: quantifying the nectar and pollen resources of urban flower meadows. PLOS ONE, 11(6), e0158117.

    Supports the Pollinator ranking of 9/10 for Roses. The pollinator description above ("Single-flowered varieties are excellent for bees. Double flowers have less accessible nectar") is consistent with this study's finding that plants in the high-nectar-yield category attract exceptional numbers of bees, butterflies, and moths. The Biodiversity value assessment ("Medium to high. Hips feed birds in winter. Native dog rose supports many insects") is supported by the study's quantification of nectar resources during the mid-summer flowering period (Seasonal highlight: "Flowering June to September for repeat varieties. Old roses flower once in June"). Plants with high floral resources are disproportionately important for sustaining pollinator populations in domestic gardens.

  5. 5
    British Beekeepers Association (2024). Garden Plants for Bees. BBKA.

    Supports the Pollinator ranking of 9/10 and the Pollinators description ("Single-flowered varieties are excellent for bees. Double flowers have less accessible nectar"). The BBKA maintains the UK's definitive list of pollinator-friendly garden plants, and Roses's ranking is consistent with BBKA guidance on bee-attractive species. Also supports the Biodiversity value assessment ("Medium to high. Hips feed birds in winter. Native dog rose supports many insects") in the context of garden-scale pollinator support.

  6. 6
    RHS (2024). Pests and Diseases. Royal Horticultural Society.

    RHS pest and disease database confirms the common diseases, pest control notes, and companion planting observations listed above for Roses. The RHS advisory service is the UK's primary source of evidence-based horticultural pest management.

  7. 7
    RHS (2024). RHS Hardiness Ratings. Royal Horticultural Society.

    The RHS hardiness rating system (H1a-H7) underpins the temperature tolerance value given above. Roses's rating is consistent with RHS published hardiness data for the Rosaceae family.

  8. 8
    RHS (2024). Soil Types and Testing. Royal Horticultural Society.

    RHS soil classification and testing guidance supports the soil type, pH range, and drainage requirements listed above for Roses. The RHS advises on soil assessment for all garden plants in the UK.

  9. 9
    GB Non-native Species Secretariat (2024). GB Non-native Species Information Portal.

    The GB Non-native Species Secretariat database confirms the invasive status assessment for Roses. This government-backed portal tracks all non-native species in Great Britain and their ecological impact classification.

  10. 10
    RHS (2024). Pruning Guide: Shrubs and Climbers. Royal Horticultural Society.

    RHS pruning methodology and timing guidance for shrubs and perennials underpins the pruning times and methods listed above for Roses. The RHS assigns plants to pruning groups (1-13) based on flowering time and growth habit.

  11. 11
    RHS (2024). Watering Plants. Royal Horticultural Society.

    RHS watering advice supports the water requirement and drainage values listed above for Roses. The RHS provides evidence-based watering guidance for UK garden conditions.

  12. 12
    RHS (2024). Feeding and Mulching. Royal Horticultural Society.

    RHS feeding and mulching guidance supports the feeding recommendations for Roses. The RHS advises on fertiliser application rates and timing for all garden plant types.

  13. 13
    Bentrup G (2008). Agroforestry: Sustaining native bee habitat for crop pollination. USDA Forest Service, Agroforestry Note 32.

    USDA Forest Service research on companion planting for pollinator habitat supports the companion planting and pest control observations listed above for Roses. This is a peer-reviewed extension publication on agroforestry and biodiversity.

  14. 14
    Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (2024). Plants Used in Traditional Medicine. Kew Science.

    Kew Science's research on plants used in traditional medicine supports the historical medicinal uses, folklore, and history entries above for Roses. Kew's ethnobotany database is the UK's leading scientific resource on plant use by humans.

Where Roses performs well locally

Towns where Roses is well suited to typical local soil and climate conditions.

Excellent and strong match

Suitable with preparation

View all areas we cover