Can a rose be grown in a pot or planter?

Roses are beautiful garden plants, with their lovely large flowers, abundant blooms, and delightful fragrance. There are many types of roses: from meter-tall climbing roses and rambler roses, to sturdy shrub roses, to compact or ground-covering roses. Rose varieties that remain smaller are also well-suited for pots or planters. This does require a bit of extra care, though. So with a potted rose, you can enjoy these lovely flowers even in a small garden, on a balcony, or on a rooftop terrace.

What kinds of roses are suitable for a pot or planter?

Compact roses, patio roses, or miniature roses are ideal for planting in a pot or container. These roses are less vigorous, but they bloom just fine in a pot. And they bloom just as long! The flowers are just a bit smaller. Groundcover roses and low-growing roses are also suitable for pots. You might also consider a standard rose.

What should you look for when choosing a rose for a pot?

• Choose a rose that has been specifically bred to be grown in a pot or container, or one that takes up very little space. It’s best to avoid larger shrub roses or climbing roses, which are very difficult to keep compact. This often comes at the expense of growth and blooming.

• Choose a variety with a long blooming period or repeat blooming. That way, you can enjoy your potted rose for much longer.

• If possible, choose a rose with a lovely fragrance. The scent of roses is something you can especially enjoy in a small garden or outdoor space. Unfortunately, many compact roses have a less intense fragrance—or none at all.

Which roses can be grown in a pot or planter?

Miniature roses, patio roses, and potted roses

Miniature roses do not grow taller than about 30–40 cm and bloom profusely with many small flowers in clusters. Patio roses can grow slightly taller and also bloom profusely in clusters. However, they are still smaller than Floribunda roses. Patio roses are also often called pot roses.

These small roses have been specially bred for small gardens, planters, containers, and pots. However, many varieties have little to no fragrance. They are, however, hardy and healthy roses.

Well-known miniature roses include:

Rosa ‘Bambino’, ‘Bleunette’, ‘Charmant’, “Clementine,” “Lupo,” “Noir,” “Roxy,” “Schneeküsschen,” “Sternenhimmel,” “Sweet Dream,” and Rosa “Zepeti.”

Well-known patio roses include:

Rosa ‘Abundance,’ ‘Flirt,’ ‘Flower Power,’ ‘Honeymilk,’ ‘Mandarin,’ ‘Medley,’ ‘Morsdag,’ and Rosa ‘Pompeji.’

Groundcover roses

In addition to miniature roses and patio roses, there are also ground-cover roses. These rose varieties stay low to the ground but can spread out. Most varieties require very little maintenance. For this reason, they are often planted in public flower beds. Groundcover roses also do very well when planted in a large pot or planter. If the rose does become too tall or too wide, you can easily prune it back.

Well-known groundcover roses include:

Rosa ‘Crystal Fairy,’ ‘Gärtnerfreude,’ ‘Heidetraum,’ ‘Kent,’ ‘Meidiland,’ ‘Nozomi,’ ‘Schneeflocke,’ ‘Sea Foam,’ and Rosa ‘The Fairy.’

Which climbing roses can be grown in a pot?

Although many climbing roses and rambler roses grow too large (quickly), there are also several climbing roses that grow a bit more slowly and are suitable for a spacious (and deeper) pot.

Good climbing roses for pots include:

The well-known Rosa ‘New Dawn’ and ‘White New Dawn,’ ‘Climbing Iceberg,’ ‘Don Juan,’ ‘Eden Rose,’ ‘Golden Showers,’ and Rosa ‘Zephirine Drouhin.’

Planting and Care Tips for Potted Roses

• Choose a pot that's a bit deeper so the rose can take root properly. A depth of 30 cm is recommended. For climbing roses, aim for at least 40 cm.

• Most roses need a sunny spot to bloom well.

• Water regularly. A potted rose dries out faster than a rose planted in the ground. Water at least twice a week during the growing season, and daily during dry spells. Make sure the soil is always slightly moist. Read more about watering potted plants.

• Potted roses also need extra fertilizer. For example, add liquid fertilizer to the water every 2–4 weeks when you water them. Read more about fertilizing plants.

• It's best to prune in (early) spring. Read more about pruning roses.