16 Beautiful and Environmentally Friendly Earth Kind Roses

Earth-KindⓇ is a program started at Texas A&M with the goal of providing the industry and public with data on landscape plants that provide beauty and ease of care while protecting the environment. With trials now expanded to over 100 cultivars, 27 states, and 4 countries, you can trust that Earth-KindⓇ roses have been thoroughly tested for success in a wide range of conditions.

Earth-KindⓇ  is focused on sustainable landscaping practices. Trialed cultivars receive limited water (once a month in a hot summer) and no sprays for pests or diseases. They have been tested in zones 4, 7, and 9, undergoing drought, humidity, and temperatures ranging from -20 to 114℉. Only roses that demonstrated superior landscape performance in these conditions earned the Earth-KindⓇ designation.

If you’d like to conserve water, garden organically, or you simply want tough plants, this list of Earth-KindⓇ roses is an excellent tool to get you to the low-maintenance rose garden of your dreams. Let’s get started!

‘Spice’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Spice’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 3’ – 6’
	hardiness zones 7-9

‘Spice’ is an antique rose that does particularly well in the humid south. True to its name, this rose has a delicious peppery fragrance.

‘Spice’ has a pretty, old-fashioned look. It stays fairly compact, with thin, graceful canes. Its blooms are fully double with ruffled petals.

One of the Bermuda “Mystery Roses” (roses discovered growing in Bermuda with unknown provenance), ‘Spice’ is generally believed to originate in China and has the petite stature and delicate blooms admired in China roses.

It has pale blush to apricot blooms that fade to white in the summer sun. In warm climates, it will stay evergreen all year. ‘Spice’ is a great introductory rose and has excellent performance in drought conditions.

‘Carefree Beauty’

	botanical name Rosa ‘BUCbi’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 5’ – 7’
	hardiness zones 4-9

One of the famously easy-to-grow Buck Roses, ‘Carefree Beauty’ was bred to be low-maintenance and hardy in cold midwest winters. It does equally well in the arid and hot summers at the Earth-KindⓇ trial gardens in Texas.

This variety has clusters of semi-double rich pink blooms that open flat. It is a bloom machine, producing flush after flush of flowers from spring through frost. ‘Beauty’ is vigorous and bushy, making it a great candidate for a garden hedge when planted in groups.

‘Carefree Beauty’ is sweetly scented. In fall, it produces decorative (and prized by wildlife) reddish-orange hips that add to winter interest.

‘Perle d’Or’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Perle d’Or’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 4’ – 5’
	hardiness zones 6-9

‘Perle d’Or’, french for “golden pearl” is a beautiful buff to apricot rose with silky, delicately pointed petals. In full bloom, flowers take on a pompon shape.

‘Perle’ is a great producer with a light and sweet fragrance. It has a new flush of flowers almost as soon as the previous blooms drop from the bush (help it along by deadheading spent blooms). The foliage is bright spring green.

This rose thrives through hot summers even when neglected. It is less tolerant of extreme cold. Whether chosen for its clusters of uniquely shaped blooms or its durability, this rose is a stunner.

‘Seafoam’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Seafoam’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 2’ – 3’
	hardiness zones 4-9

‘Seafoam’ is a white rose with just a tint of light green that has a gently weeping habit. Beautiful when its arching canes are allowed to spill from containers, this rose also looks lovely as a bushy groundcover.

Trailing clusters of nearly constant double blooms make it a standout. ‘Seafoam’ has glossy, dark green foliage that contrasts gorgeously with the abundant white blooms.

This rose has great shade tolerance and is very versatile. Plant 3-5 for a lovely, reliable groundcover, or consider a hanging basket to showcase the weeping canes and nodding flowers all summer.

‘New Dawn’

	botanical name Rosa ‘New Dawn’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 10’ – 15’
	hardiness zones 5-9

‘New Dawn’ was the first rose to be patented in 1930. It’s just as popular today for its fairy tale-worthy display of silvery-blush flowers throughout the season.

‘New Dawn’ is a vigorous climber. It will reach heights of up to 15 feet and needs the strong support of a trellis or arbor to hold up its large, thorny canes. While it takes a bit of work to train, the resulting blooms are definitely worth the effort.

In addition to Earth-KindⓇ designation, ‘New Dawn’ was inducted into the Rose Hall of Fame and voted “World’s Favorite Rose” in 1997. It has a light, fresh scent (some have compared it to floral soap).

‘New Dawn’ grows fast, so make sure you have your space planned out prior to planting. Its soft pink hues look gorgeous with almost everything. You’ll want to take lots of pictures of this compliment magnet.

‘Duchesse de Brabant’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Duchesse de Brabant’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 4’ – 6’
	hardiness zones 7-9

Famously worn as a boutonniere by Teddy Roosevelt, ‘Duchesse de Brabant’ has large, fully-double cupped blooms. The light pink flowers nod slightly on delicate canes, accented by pretty waved foliage.

This old-fashioned rose has a delicious raspberry tea perfume. It will slowly spread via suckers to fill in a small garden bed with continual flowers all summer.

Plant ‘Duchesse’ in a container as a specimen plant, or use it to brighten up a corner under dappled shade. It doesn’t like cramped locations or damp soil. Space each shrub at least 2-3 feet from other roses to encourage good air circulation. 

‘Mutabilis’

	botanical name Rosa Chinensis ‘Mutabilis’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 6’ – 10’
	hardiness zones 7-10

‘Mutabilis’, named for the constantly mutating color show of its watercolor-like petals, is a joy to watch evolve in the garden. The multi-hued single blooms recall a flurry of butterflies in shades of yellow, pink, apricot, and red, earning it the nickname “Butterfly Rose”.

 ‘Mutabilis’ is an excellent performer in the landscape. It performs well in shade, drought, and humidity. It blooms prolifically throughout the season.

‘Mutabilis’ is a large shrub that grows up to 10 feet tall and wide, so choose its location carefully. It’s beloved by pollinators (the open bloom style makes it easy for them to access pollen) and gardeners alike. A World Federation of Rose Societies Hall of Fame winner, this one is a stunning sure bet.

‘Souvenir de St. Anne’s’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Souvenir de St. Anne’s’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 3’ – 4’
	hardiness zones 6-9

Possibly the most fragrant of all the Earth-Kind Ⓡ roses, ‘Souvenir de St. Anne’s’ is a dwarf floribunda with a lavish cinnamon spice scent. It was discovered growing in the gardens of St. Anne’s Estate in Dublin in the early 20th century.

This drought-tolerant rose produces frequent successions of blooms from spring ‘til fall. Flowers are shell pink, aging to cream, and semi-double.

‘Souvenir de St. Anne’s’ is a dependable performer in many landscapes. It looks phenomenal in patio pots as well as mixed borders. Provide it with a bit of shade in the afternoons in hot climates so that the delicate petals don’t get scorched by the sun.

‘Ducher’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Ducher’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 4’ – 6’
	hardiness zones 7-9

‘Ducher’ has showy ivory rose blooms on spectacular foliage. Leaves begin a bronzed forest green edged with burgundy and matures to a fresh light green.

This shrub is elegant and bushy in the garden. It repeat blooms reliably during the season and will be engulfed in full creamy flowers with a sweet fruity scent.

Highly tolerant of poor soils and hot summers, you can plant ‘Ducher’ in a container or inground next to more structured plants for a play on texture. This rose makes lovely cut flowers.

‘The Fairy’

	botanical name Rosa ‘The Fairy’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 2’ – 4’
	hardiness zones 5-11

I often recommend this robust little landscape rose. ‘The Fairy’, a tough dwarf polyantha, is perfect for an instant low-growing hedge filled with color.

Blanketed in tiny pink pompon flowers, ‘The Fairy’ looks good all summer long. It’s especially magical when allowed to cascade from containers or in mass plantings that draw the eye from afar.

It has a mild apple fragrance but is known for beauty and reliable performance rather than scent. You’ll love the clusters of adorable double blooms that gently spread to fill a border. Let this informally trail over a pathway for the perfect cottage garden look.

‘Knock Out’

	botanical name Rosa ‘RADrazz’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 3’ – 6’
	hardiness zones 5-9

I’m willing to bet you’re somewhat familiar with the Knock Out Ⓡ family of roses. While controversial among rosarians due to their overuse in commercial spaces and private landscapes, they are an undeniably high-performing option.

The original Knock Out rose is bright, cheery red with single open blooms. It’s said to stay under six feet but be prepared to prune it to maintain that size, as it will grow larger when happy. Knock Out roses bloom nearly nonstop until frost, and provide an easy swathe of color. It’s favored by landscapers for low maintenance performance in hot and cold climates.

While generally robust and healthy, Knock Outs are susceptible to Rose Rosette Disease.

‘Climbing Pinkie’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Climbing Pinkie’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 5’ – 10’
	hardiness zones 6-9

Are you looking for an easy-to-manage climbing rose? Check out fuss-free ‘Climbing Pinkie’, a nearly-thornless variety with flexible canes.

‘Climbing Pinkie’ is a midsize, well-mannered climber that won’t get too big or out of control. It flowers continuously with lightly-scented double, bubblegum-pink blooms.

This rose looks great growing vertically along columns or obelisks. You can also forgo the training and let it drape casually over a rock wall. If left to sprawl on its own, it makes a nice ground cover that will blanket a flowerbed in sweet pink blooms.

‘Cécile Brunner’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Cécile Brunner’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height shrub 3’ – 5’, climber 15’ – 25’
	hardiness zones 4-11

If you love Old Garden Roses, you’ve likely heard of ‘Cécile Brunner’, one of the most beloved of its kind. This rose proves that modern roses don’t have the edge on reliable performance or disease resistance.

Nicknamed “The Sweetheart Rose” for perfectly formed miniature blooms, ‘Cécile Brunner’ is usually grown as a climber that grows up to 25 feet tall. When in full flower, the show of darling pink pompon flowers is showstopping. Harvest them frequently for old-fashioned bouquets with a gentle musk and apple scent!

You can also maintain ‘Cécile Brunner’ as a large shrub. It grows quickly, so apply best pruning practices to maintain a manageable size and shape for your garden. No matter how you choose to showcase it, ‘Cécile’s’ nearly thorn-free, arching canes are a joy to work with.

‘Georgetown Tea’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Georgetown Tea’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 3’ – 5’
	hardiness zones 7-9

Do you need a bullet-proof rose that will stand up to the heat? ‘Georgetown Tea’, a found Texas rose, might be what you’re looking for.

‘Georgetown’ is a strong, healthy shrub with lots of bushy foliage and double blooms. The flowers themselves are pretty special, with neatly pointed petals that give them a star-like quality. Centers are salmon to mid-pink with outer petals in a deeper rose. It has a classic tea rose perfume.  

Named for the Texas city where it was found, ‘Georgetown Tea’ is tough. You won’t need to pamper this one for endless flushes of summer color.

‘Rêve d’Or’

	botanical name Rosa ‘’Rêve d’Or’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 10’ – 18’
	hardiness zones 7-9

‘Rêve d’Or’, french for “golden dream”, is a pale apricot and deep gold climbing rose with informal double blooms. While it flowers throughout the summer months, it has a spectacular fall flush that beautifully complements the color of falling autumn leaves.

‘Rêve’ is highly recommended for areas prone to powdery mildew. Completely carefree, its sturdy canes will climb up to 18 feet tall when attached to a support. Luscious blooms and excellent disease resistance made it Earth Kind’s Rose of the Year in 2010.

This variety is fairly shade tolerant, and its golden tones glow in low-light settings. With larger blooms than the average noisettes popular in the American South, this is a historical rose with extra punch.

‘Else Poulsen’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Else Poulsen’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 5’ – 7’
	hardiness zones 5-9

I usually favor thickly-petaled cupped roses with an antique look, but the pretty clusters of open-bloomer ‘Else Poulsen’ just might win me over. A beautiful rose pink with endless blooms, this popular Danish-bred rose is a workhorse in the garden.

‘Else’s’ blooms recall large cherry blossoms. The shrub has a somewhat formal, upright habit. Hide its leggy canes with low-growing perennials like creeping phlox or sweet alyssum for a charming and spring-like display into fall.

‘Else Poulsen’ does well in poor soil conditions and is rarely phased by pests or disease. While not an excellent cut flower, it is a perfect long-flowering, colorful landscape rose.