21 Low Maintenance Roses for Beginners

Do you love roses, but have always thought they’re too difficult to grow? Roses have an undeserved fussy reputation due to the fragile hybrid teas favored by exhibition growers. But, we have good news! Roses are just flowering shrubs, and they don’t need a master gardener or specialist to flourish.

Roses are hardy, tough plants. In fact, roses can even be grown by beginners. The key is choosing the right rose for your climate and garden conditions.

‘Blush Noisette’ is an extremely versatile small climber. This rose puts up with shade and poor soils and is particularly successful in humid southern states. Popularized in the early 1800s, ‘Blush’ is a vigorous rose that has stood the test of time.

The full-petaled little pompon flowers of ‘Blush Noisette’ are a delicate shade of cream tinged with blush. Beautiful in bouquets, each cluster of blooms will delight with a delicious apple-clove scent. Just to make it more enticing, this variety is nearly thornless!

‘Blush’ is virtually carefree. Once established, it will continue to bloom prolifically in flushes from spring through fall, with little attention at all! It can be pruned as a smaller shrub or allowed to grow to a max height of 7-8 ft. However you choose to grow it, ‘Blush Noisette’ is an excellent choice for beginners. This one does all the work for you!

‘Easy on the Eyes’

	botanical name Rosa ‘WEKswechefy’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 2 to 3 feet
	hardiness zones 5 to 9

I can’t say enough about this eye-catching rose. ‘Easy on the Eyes’ is disease-resistant, beautiful, and floriferous. Part of Weeks Roses’ Easy to Love collection, this one is an all-around winner for beginner gardeners.

‘Easy on the Eyes’ grows into a nice rounded shrub, covered in semi-double wavy petaled blooms all season. The flowers of ‘Easy on the Eyes’ are really special. Each one is unusually lavender-pink, with a deep purple center and bright golden eye. The fully open flowers are beloved by pollinators, too!

This rose does best in full sun. It works well in mixed borders, or as a low hedge. Its compact size also makes it great for containers on the patio. ‘Easy on the Eyes’ has a light spice and citrus scent, and does well as a cut flower. This is a choice that will look great all summer, no green thumb is necessary!

‘Eden’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Pierre de Ronsard’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 6 to 10 feet
	hardiness zones 5 to 9

Full confession: This is my favorite rose in the entire garden! ‘Eden’ is a star. This hardy climber has major bloom power, is extremely low maintenance, and is breathtakingly gorgeous.

Crowned ‘World’s Favorite Rose’ at the 2012 World Federation of Rose Societies Convention, it looks like I’m not the only one who loves ‘Eden’! Its blooms are old-fashioned (with 100+ petals each!), deeply cupped, and have outer petals in lemony cream with a strawberry pink center. The effect is romantic and will be a focal point in your garden.

This climber does great in part shade and needs no winter protection in my 5b garden. ‘Eden’ is so vigorous and easy to care for, even newbie rose growers will look like experts! If you prefer brighter colors, check out ‘Pink Eden’ or ‘Red Eden’.

‘Eden’ grows quickly and does best with some support. Train it up an arbor or trellis to create an instant atmosphere in your garden. If this sounds like too much work, just let it sprawl out on its own. Cut frequent bouquets, and be prepared for compliments!

‘Julia Child’

	botanical name Rosa ‘WEKvossutono’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 2 to 3 feet
	hardiness zones 5 to 10

An All-America Rose Selection winner, beloved icon Julia Child approved this rose herself. ‘Julia’ is a rich, butter yellow (you can never have enough butter, according to Julia), and has fully double blooms with a strong candied anise scent.

‘Julia Child’ is an all-around great performer. It flourishes in a wide variety of hardiness zones and is free of disease. Putting up with part shade, this is a perfect choice to transform a somber corner into an attractive bright spot.

‘Julia Child’ is a floribunda, meaning she packs the power of a tough-as-nails polyantha rose with the beauty of a hybrid tea. She’ll bloom in abundant clusters throughout the summer months, and fairly long stems will make perfect bouquets. Bring this rose into the kitchen to honor this iconic chef, and let it perfume the room!

‘Iceberg’

	botanical name Rosa ‘KORbin’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 4 to 12 feet
	hardiness zones 4 to 10

‘Iceberg’ is one of the world’s most popular roses. It has the ability to be trained as a midsize shrub or a climber reaching up to 12 feet. This rose is a bloom machine all season!

With snowy white double blooms, ‘Iceberg’ is an easy way to blanket your garden with white rose flowers. This rose is effortless and cold-hardy, making it a great option for northern gardeners.

‘Iceberg’ won the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit for its quantity of blooms and adaptability. Great as a backdrop for brighter annuals or for cutting, you won’t regret making this rose part of your collection!

‘Rosa Gallica Officinalis’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Gallica Officinalis’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 3 to 5 feet
	hardiness zones 3 to 8

Do you love vivid colors? Are you a history buff? We have the rose for you! ‘Rosa Gallica Officinalis’ is pure, vibrant pink beauty. Also called ‘The Apothecary’s Rose’, this variety has been prized for its perfume and medicinal value since the 12th century.

‘Rosa Gallica’ is thought to be the Red Rose of Lancaster in the War of the Roses. More recently, it was inducted into the Old Rose Hall of Fame. This rose is a large shrub full of spring green foliage and loads of semi-double magenta blooms. 

‘Rosa Gallica Officinalis’ provides the dramatic, old rose scent you’ll recognize from classic rose perfumes. Some gardeners love collecting the petals to make rosewater or essential oils. It puts on one long show of blooms for several weeks to a month in late spring to early summer.

‘Rosa Gallica’ is shade tolerant, loved by bees, and a tough, low-maintenance choice. Plant it somewhere you want a colorful, bushy shrub for your landscape.

‘Miranda Lambert’

	botanical name Rosa ‘TEXmirlam’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 3 to 5 feet
	hardiness zones 6 to 9

Now, I know I said hybrid teas are fragile, but if you just love that classic florist-style bloom, the rugged ‘Miranda Lambert’ is here for you! Named for the country singer, ‘Miranda’ is a hybrid tea with staying power.

This rose has huge (5 inches across), fully double fuchsia to mauve blooms and glossy green leaves. The strong scent is fruity and sweet. She’ll rebloom repeatedly throughout the summer. This is definitely a vase-worthy rose! For a stunning mixed border, bring out the purple hues in this rose with dark-colored salvias and alliums.

‘Miranda’ will tolerate a bit of shade, but does best in full sun. This rose loves drier climates and is somewhat susceptible to blackspot in high-humidity, rainy gardens. Just remove any affected foliage and she’ll come right back.

‘The Fairy’

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

I can’t stop recommending this magical little rose! ‘The Fairy’ is the perfect solution for gardeners with no experience who want to dip into growing roses. If you want to create an instant adorable hedge, ‘The Fairy’, won’t disappoint. A hardy polyantha, this rose has an abundance of tiny pink pompon flowers in sprays all along the shrub.

‘The Fairy’ looks particularly enchanting cascading from containers or in mass plantings. Renowned for its all-season bloom production and hardiness rather than scent, lean close for a light apple fragrance. 

Plant ‘The Fairy’ in full sun, water it consistently, and there’s nothing else to it. This rose earned an Earth Kind designation for its ability to thrive with no need for chemical sprays. It makes an excellent little landscape rose!

‘Popcorn Drift’

	botanical name Rosa ‘NOVarospop’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 1 to 1.5 feet
	hardiness zones 4 to 11

Do you have a spot in the garden that could use some ground cover? A rose might not be the first option that comes to mind, but some short-statured roses are designed to hug the ground (I wouldn’t walk on them, though!), sprawling out to carpet your bare area with flowers.

If you’re looking for a ground cover rose, take a look at sunny, soft-yellow ‘Popcorn Drift’. At around 1 ft. tall, ‘Popcorn Drift’ is a tiny dynamo. It blooms repeatedly throughout the season with cute double flowers. ‘Popcorn’ is similar to a miniature rose, but with a robust habit of spreading out and blooming its head off.

The Drift series are all hardy ground cover roses that are excellent beginner choices. If you prefer a different palette, try Apricot, White, or Red Drift. All will perform reliably and stay mostly problem-free, even in poor soils and extreme weather conditions.

‘Citiscape Bordeaux’

	botanical name Rosa ‘KORelamba’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 2 to 3 feet
	hardiness zones 3 to 9

‘Bordeaux’ is part of Kordes’ Citiscape series, designed for compact urban spaces. Their small size makes them ideal for potted gardens and apartment patios. But if you’re drawn to the luscious red rose blooms of ‘Bordeaux’, don’t let your location deter you. This sweet-scented, easy-care rose looks good anywhere.

‘Citiscape Bordeaux’ has a long list of awards to its name. It’s an all-around hit, with steady repeat blooms on a healthy small shrub. 100% bouquet ready, the flowers appear in abundance, appearing so full that they’re nearly quartered in appearance before opening to golden centers.

Plant ‘Bordeaux’ on its own in a container for a specimen plant, or sprinkle a few around the garden with some chartreuse-colored annuals for a palette that pops. This rose is winter hardy to -40℉, so in all but the most extreme cold climates, it will thrive with no winter protection.

‘Suñorita’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Chewgewest’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	water needs 3 to 4 feet
	hardiness zones 5 to 9

Proven Winner’s 2022 Rose of the Year is the cheerful ‘Suñorita’. This multicolor rose shines with the colors of the sunset. Blooms on this rose begin orange and fade to shades of yellow, apricot, and pink.

‘Suñorita’ received the American Rose Society’s Award of Excellence for outstanding disease resistance and repeat bloom. It’s an easy-care shrub that self-cleans, meaning no need to remove spent blooms!

With glossy dark green leaves and a tidy mounding habit, it’s easy to find a spot for ‘Suñorita’ in the garden. Though not strong in fragrance, it does have a light rose scent. The semi-double flowers open to orange stamens that beckon pollinators to pay a visit.

‘Suñorita’ needs full sun (at least 6-8 hours) and performs particularly well in humid areas. If you’ve been discouraged by blackspot in the past, this plant will get you back in the rose game!

‘Bliss Parfuma’

	botanical name Rosa ‘KORmarzau’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 2 to 3 feet
	hardiness zones 5 to 10

My rose enthusiast friends all swear by ‘Bliss Parfuma’. This lovely rose lives up to the hype, with apricot-pink old-fashioned cupped blooms, and lavish vanilla-peach perfume. This rose has won a list of awards and is recommended as an easy-care rose that sacrifices nothing in the beauty or scent department.

‘Bliss’ tolerates some shade, and is fairly compact at 3 ft. tall. Plant her in pots near your entry to welcome guests, or use her in a mixed border with Dusty Miller and Forget-Me-Nots for a gorgeous contrasting swath of color.

Kordes produces strong roses that grow reliably for beginners, and this member of the Fairy Tale collection is no different. ‘Bliss Parfuma’ is a floribunda that will produce clusters of large blooms in flushes from spring through frost. She makes luscious bridal-worthy bouquets, and merits a spot in your garden!

‘Cherry Parfait’

	botanical name Rosa ‘MEIsponge’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 4 to 5 feet
	hardiness zones 7 to 10

‘Cherry Parfait’ is almost never without blooms. This rose is a workhorse, producing 4-inch flowers all summer. It stands out with creamy white petals edged in cerise red, giving every flower a beautiful dimension.

‘Cherry’ is fantastic for gardeners in warm climates. It stands up to heat and humidity and avoids the blackspot that often plagues roses in these conditions. This gorgeous Grandiflora (cluster bloom power of a floribunda crossed with florist favorite hybrid teas) earned The All-America Rose Selection title in 2003.

Some roses take a while to get established, but ‘Cherry Parfait’ blooms vigorously in its first year! This rose has a mild fragrance, but the real value is in its pretty contrast of ivory and crimson. You’ll find yourself taking lots of photos of this one!

‘Easy Does It’

	botanical name Rosa ‘HARpageant’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 3 to 4 feet
	hardiness zones 5 to 9

Another Easy to Love rose, ‘Easy Does It’ has a free-flowering habit and loads of gorgeous scalloped petals. This relaxed rose glows in shades of peachy pink. ‘Easy’ has a light citrus-tea fragrance.

Designed specifically to be low maintenance and disease-free, you’ll love ‘Easy Does It’ for blooming all summer long. It’s a very full, bushy shrub that provides a full look to your garden beds. ‘Easy’s’ wavy petals are the star, but its apricot tones go with many colors in the garden, making it simple to pair this award-winner with your other perennials.

‘Easy Does It’ is fast-growing and prolific, so if you’re just getting started in the garden, this rose will be a perfect foundation plant. Constantly covered with new buds, you’ll get the look of an established garden with little time and minimal effort. Plant it in full sun, and remind yourself to take it easy! This rose doesn’t need anything but your appreciation.

‘Plum Perfect’

	botanical name Rosa ‘KORvodacom’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 3 to 4 feet
	hardiness zones 5 to 9

If you’re like me, you’re a sucker for lilac shades in the garden. ‘Plum Perfect’ is a scrumptious plummy purple-pink, with pretty pointed buds and ruffled blooms. Unusual color and low maintenance needs make this a not-to-be-missed garden addition!

‘Plum Perfect’ performs well in gardens with hot summers where other roses fade. It’s also hardy down to -20 ℉.  It will do okay with a bit of shade, so take advantage of ‘Plum’s’ versatility, and plant it where your other roses struggle.

With striking beauty and strong growth, this rose will get better every year. ‘Plum’ looks particularly lovely planted en masse, but also shines with equally easy companion plantings like yellow sedums. Plant ‘Plum Perfect’ to wow your neighbors!

‘Lady Banks’

	botanical name Rosa Banksiae ‘Lutea’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 20 to 40 feet
	hardiness zones 7 to 10

If you love a soft palette and a big impact in the garden, you’ll fall in love with the dramatic ‘Lady Banks’. First, verify that you have enough room.

Covering a 10-foot trellis in only two years, this stunner grows up to 40 feet tall! ‘Lady’ is an awe-inspiring rambling rose, with long vigorous canes smothered in fluffy white miniature blooms. The flowers smell like violets and make charming bouquets.

‘Lady Banks’ blooms only once a year in spring for about a month, but the show is breathtaking. For the rest of the season, it will provide attractive glossy green foliage. ‘Lady Banks’ requires virtually no maintenance, except pruning if you’d like to control her size.

She’ll also need some support to climb. If you’d prefer not to train this rose vertically, you can simply let it sprawl freely as an enormous, mounded shrub in the landscape.

‘Lady Banks’ is also thornless! It’s an excellent choice for gardens frequented by kids and pets. It’s a natural fit for cottage or woodland gardens, but could also be used to soften a formal hardscape.

‘Lady’ has been a favorite for good reason since the 1800s, when it was named for Dorothea Lady Banks, wife of botanist Sir Joseph Banks. If you’ve got the space, don’t hesitate on this rose. Guests will admire your green thumb while all you’ve done is sit back to watch her beauty grow!

Rosa ‘Woodsii’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Woodsii’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 4 to 5 feet
	hardiness zones 2 to 8

If you want a truly no-maintenance garden, planting natives is the way to go! Fortunately for rose lovers, there are a variety of native roses that will perform beautifully in your garden. Native to the Western United States and much of Canada, Rosa ‘Woodsii’ is a pretty pick.

‘Woodsii’ has dainty, single-petaled flowers which range from pale violet to deep pink.  This simple, open form is the easiest for pollinators to access. Preservation of native bees is critical for our ecosystem, and Rosa ‘Woodsii’ will help you do your part!

This rose will form dense thickets in little time. This provides wonderful shelter for wildlife, but if you prefer to keep your garden more manicured, plan on some pruning time to manage the spreading suckers.

This native shrub is hardy down to -50 ℉, making it a shoo-in for those with harsh winters. Once established, Rosa ‘Woodsii’ will tolerate drought, pollution, neglect, and poor soils. It is used by the US Dept. of Agriculture for the restoration and revegetation of mining sites.

This variety blooms from early spring through midsummer, developing an abundance of pretty orange-red hips to nourish wildlife in fall and winter. An easy, pretty, eco-conscious winner.

‘Distant Drums’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Distant Drums’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 3 to 4 feet
	hardiness zones 5 to 10

If you’re a rose fan, you’ve already heard of the too-pretty-to-be-real ‘Distant Drums’. This coveted rose is often sold out. If you’re new to the party, welcome! ‘Distant Drums’, with beautiful shades of bronze, coral, lavender, and pink might win you over too!

A rose this unique seems like it would be high maintenance, but ‘Distant Drums’ is a Buck Rose, created by horticulturist Griffith Buck to combine the vigor of wild roses with the beauty of popular modern roses. Like other Buck Roses, ‘Distant Drums’ shines where others might struggle. This rose variety is cold-hardy, prolifically blooming, and resistant to disease.

Though it takes a while to get going, ‘Distant Drums’ will soon reward you with ample 4-inch blooms all season. This rose works equally well in pots or garden beds. It has a light myrrh perfume.

You’ll want to cut lots of these to bring them inside, so bring a fresh jar of water with you to ensure they’ll last as long as possible. Watching the color change throughout ‘Distant Drums’ bloom cycle is a real treat!

‘Oso Easy Urban Legend’

	botanical name Rosa ‘CHEwpatout’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 2 to 4 feet
	hardiness zones 4 to 9

The Oso easy line of landscape roses makes brightening your garden with color stress-free. ‘Urban Legend’, awarded The American Rose Society’s Award of Excellence, is a vibrant red with contrasting golden yellow centers.

Single, open blooms appear in clusters all over this low, bushy shrub. True to its name, ‘Urban Legend’ is a great easy-care choice for urban settings due to its compact nature. Plant it as a tidy hedge and let the bright scarlet blooms be the focal point of your garden.

‘Urban Legend’ boasts multiple awards. This carefree rose will bloom all season and responds well to light pruning. Make sure you glove up when doing so because this one is armed with major prickles!

While other roses succumb to black spot and mildew, ‘Urban’ will stay healthy and beautiful. Try planting it as your container thriller, surrounded by spilling dichondra, for a lovely and low-maintenance look.

‘Marie Daly’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Marie Daly’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 3 to 4 feet
	hardiness zones 6 to 11

‘Marie Daly’ looks deceptively dainty. It’s covered in small, double flowers in shades of soft, mauve pink. But growers in the know recognize ‘Marie’ as a super tough polyantha rose that will defy even the most inept of gardeners with all-season blooms.

Another recipient of the Earth Kind designation, ‘Marie’ needs zero pampering or sprays to perform. She has even been shown to resist spider mite problems with no assistance. This rose prefers well-drained soil and lots of sunlight, but will still persevere in dappled shade.

Flowers have a sweet, musky scent, and canes are nearly thornless! Gardeners in small spaces will love ‘Marie’, as it stays tidy, uniform, and compact. If you choose to mass plant, space each rose at least a foot apart to guarantee good airflow.

Named after the first African-American woman to receive her doctorate in chemistry in the US, ‘Marie Daly’ is a strong, graceful choice.

‘Roald Dahl’

	botanical name Rosa ‘AUSowlish’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun- Part Shade
	height 4 to 5 feet
	hardiness zones 5 to 11

No rose recommendation list for beginners is complete without a David Austin! Bred for old-world beauty and modern ease of care, David Austin roses have a huge fan base. And deservedly so- Austin roses are famous for bringing back the intense fragrance of old roses while maintaining excellent disease resistance.

‘Roald Dahl’ is great rose for beginners. This rose offers cupped, golden apricot flowers, with 30-40 petals each. A nice, midsize shrub, ‘Dahl’ isn’t too picky about where it’s planted. This rose will thrive in a container as well as plunked into a garden bed. Fun and spirited like its namesake, this rose is just an easy crowd-pleaser.

‘Roald Dahl’ is robust and cold hardy. It will bloom generously throughout the season, bouncing back from pests or fungal issues with ease. Flowers have a pleasing fruity scent. Plant ‘Dahl’ with marigolds for a warm, sunny look, or purples for a sophisticated combo. No matter where you put this rose, it will cheer you with consistent good health and lively color.