17 Collector-Favorite Roses to Order In February

From modern hybrids to old garden roses, award-winning favorites with high performance are an asset to any collection. Garden expert Katherine Rowe explores rosarian-favorite roses to add to our own gardens, perfect for ordering this month.

Arching stems with smooth bark bear lush, rich pink blooms with layers of delicate petals, set against vibrant green, slightly serrated foliage—the perfect roses to order in February.

Contents

February is the prime time to order roses. You can reserve your top selections now for shipping when you’re ready to plant (usually about six weeks before the final frost). Roses ship bare root or in containers and can go in the ground as your climate suits. Choose favorites from online specialty growers or your local nursery.

Among the world’s oldest known flowers, roses bring their history and legacy to the garden in flower, form, and fragrance. Old garden roses, also known as antique and heirloom roses, are vigorous, fragrant, disease-resistant, and adaptable for a long lifespan. Old roses existed before 1867 when hybrid tea roses (modern roses) came into cultivation with the perfect florist-pointed bloom.

Here, we’ll explore collector-worthy roses to order in February, from Hall of Fame and All America Selections award winners to beloved antique and modern favorites. Dive in this month for decadent favorites to add to your landscape, from vigorous climbers to well-behaved shrubs.

‘America

Soft pink, fully double blooms with ruffled, layered petals, set against dark green, glossy leaves in a sunny garden.
Vibrant, fragrant flowers create a stunning display year-round.
botanical-name botanical name Rosa ‘JACclam’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 10-14’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 4-9

‘America’ is a 1976 All-America Rose Selections winner and a favorite for its rapid growth, healthy, deep green foliage, colorful flowers, and fragrance. This climbing rose grows vigorously – even on bare walls – with excellent disease resistance. Large, double blooms brighten in vivid corals and pinks. Slightly lighter petal undersides (reverses) create a multi-tonal effect as they open.

Flowers usually appear singly on a stem but sometimes in clusters, from early spring to fall. The four to five-inch blooms hold up to 40 petals and have an intense perfume of spicy clove and sweet fruit.

‘America’ is a long-lived climbing rose that blooms on old and new growth. This is a good winter hardy selection and tolerates hot summers in warmer climates. Order this rose in February to ensure availability and proper planting time.

‘Golden Showers’

Vibrant yellow flowers with soft orange hues near the center, consisting of multiple rounded petals, surrounded by dark green, slightly glossy leaves.
Disease-resistant flowers repeat from spring through frost beautifully.
botanical-name botanical name Rosa ‘Golden Showers’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 5-6’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 5-9

‘Golden Showers’ rains huge, clear yellow flowers that mature to creamy white. The semi-double blooms measure over five inches across, contrasting dark green foliage beautifully. Flowers repeat from spring through frost.

An All America Rose Selections winner, ‘Golden Showers’ trains as a vigorous climber or specimen shrub. Reliable and hardy, this cultivar tolerates a variety of conditions, including some shade. It’s disease-resistant, nearly thornless, and fills vertical garden spaces like arbors, trellises, or containers. 

The golden flowers produce showy orange-red rose hips in fall. The accessible bloom centers draw pollinators, and birds appreciate the hips. The multiseason appeal makes this yellow climber a long-lasting delight.

‘Souvenir de la Malmaison’

A single light pink, cupped bloom with classic, old-fashioned rose shape, its soft, ruffled petals framed by dark green, slightly matte leaves.
Fragrant ballet pink flowers add elegance from spring to fall.
botanical-name botanical name Rosa ‘Souvenir de la Malmaison’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 4-5’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 5-9

Another perfect collector’s rose to order in February, ‘Souvenir de la Malmaison’ is an 1843 Bourbon variety with large, cupped blooms and high fragrance. Soft, ballet pink flowers hold more than 70 petals each and open flat and quartered. Blooms recur from spring through fall.

‘Souvenir’ remains a favorite old garden rose, an award winner prized by rosarians as perhaps the best of the Bourbons. Large, leathery foliage makes a handsome backdrop, and showy rose hips emerge post-bloom. Look for the climbing variety to make a pretty vertical element.

‘Souvenir de la Malmaison’ is a vigorous, nearly thornless, hardy, and disease-resistant rose. Once established, it tolerates heat and periods of drought. ‘Souvenir’s’ only price to bear is that with such large blooms, heavy rain may disturb the flowers, causing them to droop or fall. 

‘Lamarque’

Large, creamy white bloom with yellow center, displaying an open, shallow cup shape with wide, overlapping petals, accompanied by deep green, serrated leaves.
Ideal for cutting, this climber flourishes in the southern heat.
botanical-name botanical name Rosa ‘Lamarque’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 12-20’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 7-10

Noisette climber ‘Lamarque’ features old rose qualities of fully double and fragrant blooms in creamy white with lemon yellow centers. Dark green foliage and graceful arching canes provide the backdrop to the heavenly blooms. Ideal for cutting, flowers emerge in spring and summer on long stems and have a lemon tea scent.

Noisettes were borne in the early 1800s in Charleston, South Carolina, by crossing a China rose and a European musk rose. An heirloom in southern climates, noisette roses are carefree performers well-adapted to heat and humidity (but not colder conditions). Heirloom cuttings of various cultivars became pass-alongs that dot the southeast.

Hardy stock leads to excellent disease resistance and the ability to thrive in a no-spray landscape. ‘Lamarque’ is a robust climber in optimal conditions. Order this rose in February, plant shortly after, and ensure at least six hours of sun for best growth.

‘Zephirine Drouhin’

Thornless green stems support clusters of large, fragrant, deep pink double flowers with ruffled petals, accompanied by glossy, dark green leaves.
This adaptable climber has fragrant, deep pinkish-red flowers.
botanical-name botanical name Rosa ‘Zephirine Drouhin’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 15-20’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 5-10

The heirloom ‘Zephirine Drouhin’ is a time-tested climber. Deep pinkish-red blooms perfume the garden with raspberry notes in spring and fall. ‘Zephirine’ blooms all summer but is most prolific in cool temperatures.

‘Zephirine Drouhin’ is an old French Bourbon rose, hybridized in 1868 on Bourbon Island (now Reunion) in the Indian Ocean. Damask and China roses are parents to Bourbons, accounting for their rich fragrance and continual flowering.

‘Zephirine Drouhin’ is adaptable, tolerating partial shade and poor soils. While susceptible to black spot and mildew diseases, she’ll continue to grow and bloom through frost despite its presence. As with other roses, avoid overhead watering (or water early in the day), provide good air circulation, and situate in full sunlight for best disease resistance.

‘Scentimental™’

Bicolor red and white flowers with curled, frilled edges, giving a striped effect on the petals, highlighted by dark green, leathery leaves.
Beautifully ruffled petals have vibrant, multi-tone hues.
botanical-name botanical name Rosa ‘WEKpaplet’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 3-4’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 4-11

‘Scentimental™’ bears ruffly petals that stand out in a swirl of burgundy, white, red, and cream. Old-fashioned, fully double florals meet contemporary coloration in this bold hybrid.

‘Scentimental™’ is a collector-favorite rose to order in February for its strong, spicy perfume. The  All-America Selections winner brings color and fragrance all season.

This cultivar is disease-resistant and cold-hardy. Foliage is attractive as new growth emerges red and transitions to dark green with quilted leaves. Showy hips emerge post-flowering for lasting interest and wildlife forage.

‘Reine des Violettes’

Deep purple-pink blooms with many velvety petals, forming a dense, layered structure, set against matte, dark green leaves with slight serration.
It is a timeless beauty with violet blooms and sweet fragrance.
botanical-name botanical name Rosa ‘Reine des Violettes’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 4-8’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 4-9

‘Reine des Violettes’ is a hybrid perpetual old garden selection with lilac, fully double blooms. The large cups hold over 60 petals and open flat as quartered rosettes. The violet blooms contrast with handsome gray-green foliage.

‘Reine des Violettes’ is unique in its purple tones that fade to deep violet, as near blue as roses get. Flower size at four to five inches and supreme scent are outstanding attributes on the stem and in the vase.

‘Reine des Violettes’ boasts characteristic hybrid perpetual adaptability as an 1860s heirloom befitting the contemporary garden. As a bonus, its thick stems are nearly thornless.

‘Mundi’

Bright pink flowers with classic, rounded rose shapes and multiple petals with white stripes, surrounding a yellow center, framed by deep green foliage with a soft texture.
This historic rose has striking colors and lasting fragrance.
botanical-name botanical name Rosa gallica ‘Versicolor’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 4’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 4-9

‘Mundi’ is an old rose hybrid with fuschia and white-striped petals. Its masses of showy blooms and compact, shrubby habit charm the display in late spring and early summer. This antique is one of the oldest and most famed striped roses in cultivation, originating in Asia and Europe.

‘Mundi’s’ profusion of blooms and striking, ruffly combination is worth the spectacular once-a-season flowering, where the semi-double blooms reach three to six inches across. They carry a spicy old rose fragrance and stand out amongst pale green leaves. Abundant oval-shaped red rosehips emerge in fall.

‘Mundi’ tolerates some shade and poor soils and is a hardy, disease-resistant variety. It has few thorns, making it easy to place and prune. ‘Mundi’ is a staple in historic rose gardens like Jefferson’s Monticello.

‘Queen Elizabeth’

Light pink blooms with formal, rounded petal edges, surrounded by large, matte green leaves on long stems.
Beautiful pink flowers and glossy leaves make a timeless beauty.
botanical-name botanical name Rosa ‘Queen Elizabeth’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 4-7’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 5-10

Once voted “World’s Favorite Rose,” Hall of Famer ‘Queen Elizabeth’ reigns as a grandiflora with double, silver-pink blooms from May through frost. Flowers reach four inches across and emerge singly or in clusters on long stems. The ‘Queen’ is one of the most popular and an All America Rose Selections award winner, among other prestigious accolades.

In addition to beautiful blooms, ‘Queen Elizabeth’ has nearly thornless canes, a gentle fragrance, and deep, glossy leaves. A cross between the floribunda R. ‘Floradora’ and hybrid tea R. ‘Charlotte Armstrong,’ ‘Queen Elizabeth’ is hardy and disease-resistant, leading to her longevity among grandifloras. 

A wonderful rose to add to your February order, this variety is also available as a climber—a sport of the parent shrub that reaches up to 20 feet. Grow it along walls and trellises in full sun with plenty of air circulation for a longlived vertical specimen.

‘Madame Ernest Calvat’

Creamy white to pink blooms with a subtle blush at the edges, formed of soft, rounded petals, surrounded by rich, green leaves with a matte finish in a sunny garden.
Double pink flowers and a strong raspberry fragrance delight.
botanical-name botanical name Rosa ‘Madame Ernest Calvat’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 5-7’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 5-10

‘Madame Ernest Calvat’ features fully double blooms, cupped and quartered, with fifty or more pink petals per flower. The slightly nodding blooms boast a strong raspberry scent. As a Bourbon rose, ‘Madame Ernest Calvat’ flushes heavily in spring, with repeat flowering throughout the season until frost. Fall may see another bloom flush.

‘Madame Ernest Calvat’ is a sport of one of the world’s most fragrant roses, ‘Madame Isaac Pereire.’ Its old-fashioned raspberry-purple blooms match its intensely fruity, old-rose fragrance. ‘Mme. Isaac Pereire’ is deep pink-violet with a tall, arching habit, while ‘Mme. Ernest Calvat’ is lighter pink with a slightly bushier form.

‘Mme. Ernest Calvat’ is beautiful as a specimen shrub or climber on posts, arbors, trellises, and walls. When the flat flowers are fully open, bright yellow stamens attract pollinators. As blooms fade, rose hips emerge that persist in the cool season.

‘Peace’

Soft yellow blooms with a pale pink blush, cupped and rounded petals in a formal shape, surrounded by dark green, slightly waxy leaves.
Vigorous blooms with stunning pastel petals bring lasting beauty.
botanical-name botanical name Rosa ‘Peace’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 3-7’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 5-9

The ‘Peace’ rose is a much-loved hybrid tea to order in February. It’s known for its huge, double blooms in shades that range from light yellow and white to rose pink on ruffled edges. The mildly fragrant six-inch flowers appear in spring and repeat through autumn. 

‘Peace’ is vigorous with a bushy habit. It holds its place in history, surviving World War II through cuttings circulated to rose growers in different countries for preservation. On April 29, 1945, Victory in Europe Day marking the war’s end, the ‘Peace’ rose officially entered commercial cultivation

It became an All-America Rose Selections winner in 1946 and is celebrated for its flower, vigor, and meaning. ‘Peace’ also has World Federation of Roses Hall of Fame status.

‘Sally Holmes’

Clusters of pure white flowers with rounded, slightly cupped petals and tufts of yellow stamens in the centers, framed by large, glossy green leaves on long stems.
It is a versatile climber or specimen with continuous flowers through fall.
botanical-name botanical name Rosa ‘Sally Holmes’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 5-12’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 5-10

‘Sally Holmes’ is a celebrated variety with clusters of creamy white flowers with pink tinges and yellow centers. Petals fade to pure white. Free-flowering throughout the summer and into fall. It grows as a sizeable free-standing specimen or a climber with staking and training. 

The American Rose Society award winner boasts continual flowering, disease resistance, and good vigor. Pollinators enjoy the open flowers and light fragrance, and rosehips emerge in fall.

‘Sally Holmes’ is a rose to order in February for its versatility. It withstands high heat, and, with nearly thornless canes, training and clipping fresh stems are easy. Plant it as a focal point, as a screen, or to climb along an arbor.

‘Louise Odier’

Soft pink blooms with a slight lavender tint, consisting of layered petals in a ruffled pattern, set against rich, green foliage with slight serration.
Rich pink blooms repeat all season with a fruity scent.
botanical-name botanical name Rosa ‘Louise Odier’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 5’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 5-10

Another prized Bourbon rose, ‘Louise Odier’ graces with rich pink domed blooms that repeat all season. The luscious, double flowers resemble camellias and carry a strong, fruity fragrance.

Bred in 1851, ‘Louise Odier’ is vigorous but with a well-behaved, rounded habit. Thick stems with prickles hold the numerous, continual blooms. The historic specimen tolerates partial shade, with at least four hours of sunlight for best growth. 

‘Henri Martin’

Close-up of a deep pink, semi-double flower with ruffled, layered petals and a soft, romantic shape, framed by dark green, glossy foliage.
Rich fragrance and mossy buds bring beauty to any garden.
botanical-name botanical name Rosa ‘Henri Martin’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 5-6’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 4-9

Rosa ‘Henri Martin’ is a top specimen among old garden roses. This heirloom has crimson and magenta blooms, ample foliage, and an intoxicating old rose fragrance. The rounded flowers are semi-double and fully-petaled.

‘Henri Martin,’ also called ‘Red Moss,’ has mossy-looking growth on stems and buds for added interest. Moss roses feature pronounced growth along their stems and buds, creating a fuzzy, mossy effect. Moss roses arose from crosses between Centifolia (cabbage) and Damask roses.

‘Henri Martin’ is a recipient of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit and an America Rose Society top selection among Old Garden Roses. It tolerates a range of growing conditions, including heat, with a profusion of blooms.

‘Secret’

Soft pale pink flower with a slight blush at the edges, featuring overlapping, ruffled petals, framed by glossy, green foliage.
Pastel petals and a rich fragrance bring charm to landscapes.
botanical-name botanical name Rosa ‘Hilaroma’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 4-6’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 5-9

‘Secret’ is a pale pink hybrid tea with creamy yellow undertones. Its distinctive hues and pastel petal variations set it apart, along with its lovely pointed blooms and intensely sweet fragrance.

A vigorous, bushy habit adds to this award winner, a recipient of the AARS award, among others. Exhibition-quality flowers extend from glossy green foliage that emerges deep mahogany-red. 

Disease resistance and heat and shade tolerance make ‘Secret’ a prize. Its fragrance will delight as it drifts through the landscape or in fresh floral.

‘Duchesse de Brabant’

Large, cupped pink flowers with wide, rounded petals and a slightly lighter center, set against deep green, glossy leaves.
Decadent pink flowers with an old-fashioned, delightful fragrance.
botanical-name botanical name Rosa ‘Duchesse de Brabant’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 4-6’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 7-9

‘Duchesse de Brabant’ holds decadent cupped cabbage blooms in a true rose pink. This classic beauty has double blooms and a characteristic old garden rose fragrance. An antique variety from 1857, ‘Duchesse’ was reportedly a favorite of Theodore Roosevelt, often worn on his lapel.

‘Duchesse de Brabant’ blooms in flushes throughout spring, summer, and fall (and in warmer climates, even longer). The nodding blooms grace an upright, slightly spreading shrub form.

An Earth-KindⓇ rose, ‘Duchesse de Brabant’ is a strong performer across varying conditions with little supplemental maintenance. It benefits from good air circulation and adequate spacing, avoiding overcrowding with additional plantings.

‘Great Maiden’s Blush’

Soft pink to blush flowers with delicate, rounded petals forming a gentle, cupped shape, surrounded by rich, green, slightly glossy leaves.
Gorgeous pink clusters and lovely gray-blue foliage all season.
botanical-name botanical name Rosa ‘Great Maiden’s Blush’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 5-8’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-9

Rosa ‘Great Maiden’s Blush’ has silky pink blooms and an exceptional pure rose scent. A single-season bloomer, it flushes with clusters of large globe blooms in early summer. Attractive gray-blue foliage is pretty among other green shades in the border, even when the rose isn’t in flower. 

‘Great Maiden’s Blush’ is an alba rose, a classification among the oldest garden roses bred for beautiful flowers, vigorous growth, and high fragrance. ‘Great Maiden’s Blush’s’ heritage dates to the 15th century and makes a beautiful heirloom in any collection today.

Thought to be a sport of ‘Maiden’s Blush’, the two are similar in flower and perfume, but the ‘Great’ is larger in stature than the original. Some hybridizers use the two as synonyms. Alternate names include ‘Cuisse de Nymphe,’ the French counterpart to the English’s ‘Great Maiden’s Blush.’

‘Great Maiden’s Blush’ holds the Award of Garden Merit status and is an American Rose Society winner worth adding to your February order for its blooms and performance. It tolerates a range of growing conditions, including partial shade.

Share This Post
A cluster of delicate pink flowers, with numerous small blossoms tightly packed together, surrounded by green leaves.

Flowers

15 Most Popular Roses of All Time

Roses are, hands down, the most famous and popular of all flowers. Cut flower gardener Melissa Strauss has uncovered the best of the best. Read on for some of the most popular varieties of all time.

A cluster of 'Peach Drift' roses, their delicate petals unfurling in shades of pink and orange, adorn the scene. Nestled amidst verdant foliage, their vibrant hues create a captivating contrast, inviting admiration.

Ornamental Gardens

How to Plant, Grow, and Care For Drift Roses

Drift roses are compact, vigorous, disease-resistant roses that grow in a variety of conditions with ease. A wave of blooms emerges in late spring and repeat-flowers through frost. With their quick growth, mannerly size, and abundance of soft flowers, Drifts create an eye-catching display in versatile garden locations. Join gardening expert Katherine Rowe in exploring how to foster these easy going shrubs and their delicate appeal.

Pink flowers in full bloom with delicate petals and lush green leaves.

Flowers

5 Care Tips for Bigger Rose Blooms This Fall

The coming of cooler, fall weather means that repeat-blooming roses can once again show off their skills. They may be looking a little worse for wear from the intense summer heat. Gardening expert Melissa Strauss has some great tips to help get your shrubs back in blooming condition for more flowers this fall.

Close-up of a cut peony flower bud covered with drops of water, showing a round, tightly closed bud with a smooth, green exterior and a hint of pink petals inside.

Flowers

23 Flowers You Should Always Cut in the Bud Stage

Do you want to extend the vase life of your cut flowers from the garden? Cut flower gardener Melissa Strauss discusses which flowers you should cut in the bud stage, or before they open fully. Cutting these blooms before they open will significantly extend their vase life

Orange Gloriosa lilies, showing off beautiful, vibrant orange petals, hanging upside down from their green stems.

Flowers

31 Rare and Unique Flowers You Can Grow

When you hear that a particular plant is rare, does it pique your interest, or do you move on to the next best thing? If rare flowers make your pulse quicken, Melissa Strauss has 31 exciting plants for you to read about.