33 Beautiful Roses That Thrive in the Shade

It’s common knowledge among rose fans that the queen of flowers demands 6-8 hours of sun per day. And this is true for many varieties. How, then, do we find old, abandoned roses flourishing under the trees? How do some roses seem to thrive, even when tucked into a shady corner? The key is that different varieties of roses have different genetics. Some of them can withstand limited light better than others.

If you have a shady garden, you can still have roses. For the best chance of success, pick floriferous varieties like polyanthas and floribundas. You can also select species that are more closely related to their wild woodland cousins, like many shrub roses, hybrid musks, and ramblers.

‘Iceberg’ is a World Federation of Rose Societies Hall of Fame Winner. This well-known white rose is renowned for bloom power and health. It has pretty, cotton-white ruffled flowers on long, gracefully arching canes. ‘Iceberg’ can be trained to remain a large, bushy shrub or left to grow as a climber, reaching up to 15 feet tall.

‘Iceberg’ is adaptable, cold-hardy, and disease resistant. It usually has an early spring flush, followed by successions of bloom in summer.

Individual blooms are quite small but are produced in a profusion of elegant white flowers that nearly cover the shrub.  This classic beauty withstands humid conditions and resists black spot, looking beautiful, even in the shade.

‘Madame Plantier’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Madame Plantier’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 5’– 12’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Cold-hardy alba hybrid ‘Madame Plantier’ is luminous in low light. ‘Madame’ has gorgeous clusters of blushed ivory flowers, preceded by delicate pink-tinged buds. With this perfect palette, it’s easy to see why it earned the nickname ‘Bride’s Rose’.

‘Madame Plantier’ is a robust and rapid grower that reaches up to 12 feet. This rose tolerates quite a bit of neglect and is known to persevere in old cemeteries and abandoned homesteads. It will need little attention beyond a support to climb.

The strong, sweet scent of ‘Madame Plantier’ will carry into the rest of your garden. It has adorable green pips and open outer petals. During its weeks-long spring flush, you’ll want to cut loads of fluffy blush bouquets. A romantic, whimsical option for partial shade.

‘Lyda Rose’

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

‘Lyda Rose’ has sprays of exquisite white and pink open blooms that resemble a blooming pink dogwood. It was awarded “Best Modern Shrub Bloom” and will flower abundantly, despite some shade.

This rose is delicately beautiful. Each five-petaled flower has white centers and lavender-pink edges, with a pink reverse. It has a strong, sugared spice fragrance.

‘Lyda’ will tolerate just a few hours of sun and reliably resist diseases. It blooms in flushes from spring through frost. Combine with shade-loving ferns for a pretty, informal combination.

‘Golden Unicorn’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Golden Unicorn’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 3’ – 4’
	hardiness zones 4-10

Part of the famously hardy ‘Buck Rose’ collection, this golden stunner is hardy down to -30 ℉! It’s tough enough to put up with your shady conditions while offering visual appeal and lovely fragrance too. 

‘Golden Unicorn’ has a strong fruity scent. It produces high-centered apricot and salmon pink, semi-double blooms in small clusters. Plant this glowing beauty with deep purple perennial geraniums for a beautiful shaded bed.

‘Golden Unicorn’ will bloom heavily in spring, with occasional repeats throughout the summer. The shade will protect its light amber color, keeping it true all season.

‘L.D. Braithwaite’

	botanical name Rosa ‘AUScrim’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 4’ – 6’
	hardiness zones 5- 10

If you won’t let the shade hold you back from large, breathtaking blooms, you want ‘L.D. Braithwaite’. With big, petal-packed crimson flowers, ‘L.D.’ will lure you to a shady corner for a closer look.

This English shrub rose from David Austin pairs old-fashioned charm with modern disease resistance. It’s an ideal option for a garden in need of brightening up, with round buds that open to flat, fluffy flowers in cherry red.

‘L.D. Braithwaite’ has a bushy, spreading growth habit and a pleasing old-rose scent. It looks nice with chartreuse ground covers like golden Creeping Jenny or bright lemony heucheras.

‘Arctic Blue’

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

Dry shade is one of the most challenging garden conditions. Not many roses could tolerate it, but drought-tolerant ‘Arctic Blue’ might be up to the task. It still requires supplemental watering until mature and during arid summer months, but this citrus-scented mauve rose will bloom in tricky settings.

‘Arctic Blue’ is a light violet pink with an eye-catching white reverse. It’s a floribunda, with clusters of high-centered blooms that open to reveal creamy white centers. It handles both heat and cold well, resisting diseases that strike down more fragile purple-tinged varieties.

‘Arctic’s’ flowers last a long time on the bush and do well in the vase as long as they’re cut when just beginning to open. Its soothing cool tones look pretty with gray-green foliage. Try it with silvery ‘Jack Frost’ Brunnera.

‘Swamp Rose’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Palustris Scandens’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 6’-8’
	hardiness zones 5-9

‘Swamp Rose’ grows naturally in moist, marshy areas of the Eastern United States. Accustomed to a woodland canopy, it doesn’t mind the shade as long as it has adequate hydration. This rose will enjoy rainy, humid regions where others would succumb to black spot.

‘Swamp Rose’,  like other species (wild) roses, is free-flowering and tough. It is covered in single, bright pink flowers for 6-8 weeks in early summer.

As a native plant, this pretty shrub is a robust grower and provides a lot of wildlife value. Pollinators enjoy its open bloom form, and birds like to snack on its fleshy red hips in winter. ‘Swamp Rose’ will spread into thickets of thorny canes and bubblegum blooms.

It makes an excellent privacy hedge and will quickly fill in a neglected corner or back of the border. Plant it with bleeding hearts for a gorgeous spring spectacle.

‘Marc Chagall’

	botanical name Rosa ‘DELLstrirojacre’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 3’ – 4’
	hardiness zones 6- 9

Each bloom of this splashy striped rose looks like it was handpainted. Appropriately artistic to suit its namesake painter Marc Chagall, this rose brings style to your shady spots.

‘Marc Chagall’ has clusters of creamy white flowers striped with strawberry pink. Blooms are full and very large, reaching 4 inches across! It’s a gorgeous and fragrant cut flower with delicious peachy perfume.

Plant ‘Marc’ in a long border with structured shade plants like native carex and sedges for a modern look. This rose rows well in containers, which can bring life to a shady terrace or patio.

‘Buff Beauty’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Buff Beauty’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 9’ – 11’
	hardiness zones 5- 10

If you have a shady garden wall or pergola, honey-colored ‘Buff Beauty’ will drape over it to spectacular effect. This highly adaptable hybrid musk rose can grow from 11 to even 20 feet tall in the right conditions.

‘Buff Beauty’ has lush musk and tea fragrance and graceful arching canes. Like other musk roses, it is highly shade tolerant and has attractive deep green, leathery foliage. It is a Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit winner and a trustworthy choice.

The long canes of ‘Buff Beauty’ will be smothered in large apricot blooms during flushes throughout the season. It needs little to flourish beyond plenty of room to grow and a support to climb on.

You can also create a bushy look via pegging, where you train the arching canes back down to the ground or hook it to lower canes.  This variety looks stunning underplanted with burgundy coleus.

‘Betty Will’

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

This easy-care Scots rose draws comparisons to the popular ‘Therese Bugnet’, with fluffy pink rosettes on a bushy shrub. While only 3-4 feet tall, it likes to form natural-low hedges up to 7 feet wide.

‘Betty Will’ is sweetly scented and thrives on neglect. With an abundant spring flush followed by smaller summer repeats, it will win your heart and transform shady spots into floral focal points.

‘Betty’ has pretty red canes and healthy foliage. It’s stress-free and long-lived, even in partial sunlight.

‘The Generous Gardener’

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

‘The Generous Gardener’ another healthy, old fashioned-style rose from David Austin, has cupped blooms with pale pink centers and creamy blush outer petals. It is an award winner for both fragrance and beauty.

‘The Generous Gardener’ is a well-mannered small climber at 6 feet tall. It blooms in cycles from spring until frost and fills the garden with delicious myrrh and musk scent.

This rose grows quickly and does best with afternoon shade. The delicate pink color will stay rich when kept out of the bleaching afternoon sun. Gift yourself often with charming bouquets from this Award of Garden Merit champ for a dose of spring.

‘William Baffin’

	botanical name Rosa ‘William Baffin’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 7’-10’
	hardiness zones 2-9

Bred to make it through harsh Canadian winters, sturdy ‘William Baffin’ looks beautiful year-round. Red canes show off in summer, followed by golden fall leaves. In winter, vivid tomato-red hips provide forage for wildlife and interest for the gardener!

 ‘William Baffin’ is part of the hardy Canadian Explorer series, a collection with extreme cold tolerance and excellent health. An eco-friendly choice, these roses are resistant to blackspot and mildew, needing no pampering or sprays to look their best.

“William’ is a vibrant strawberry pink with a yellow eye. It climbs up to 10 feet and needs sturdy support. This is a natural choice for a garden barrier or large hedge. ‘William Baffin’ will wow with the near constant repeat of semi-double blooms all season.

‘Malvern Hills’

	botanical name Rosa ‘AUScanary’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 10’-15’
	hardiness zones 6-9

If you need a burst of buttery yellow in the shade garden, take a look at ‘Malvern Hills’. A rambler from David Austin, with lovely sprays of small fragrant flowers.

‘Malvern’, named for a beautiful natural area in England, prefers to grow a bit wild. It has long canes with interesting scarlet thorns, which complement the profuse bright yellow buds in spring. As blooms open, they fade to a pale, creamy yellow.

This rose appreciates afternoon shade and, when happy, will be covered in lush green foliage. Blooms have a light, refreshing scent.

Plant ‘Malvern Hills’ with forget-me-nots and Jacob’s ladder for a long-lasting spring show. After a profuse early flush, ‘Malvern’ blooms intermittently, a rare quality in ramblers.

‘Mutabilis’

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

‘Mutabilis’ is an old China Rose of unknown origin. It has remarkably delicate single blooms with a base of light cream that look hand painted with pink and yellow watercolors. Blooms darken to crimson on the bush as they age.

Called the ‘Butterfly Rose’ for the multicolor effect of the blooms in different stages, ‘Mutabilis’ looks like a large shrub covered in a flurry of beautiful pollinators.

‘Mutabilis’ is an easy-to-grow rose that earned the Earth Kind Ⓡ Rose of the Year designation in 2005 for drought and disease resistance. It needs a lot of space to thrive, so plan on giving it room to reach a mature size of at least 10 feet tall and wide.

 ‘Mutabilis’ is a bit leggy, so it looks best in the back of the border, where it can shine behind shade-loving perennials that disguise bare canes. Try pink astilbes and bright yellow corydalis to make the most of its myriad hues.

‘The Fairy’

	botanical name Rosa ‘The Fairy’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 2’-4’
	hardiness zones 5- 10

If a rambler is too much for your garden, dwarf polyantha, ‘The Fairy’ might be a better fit. This bloom machine can work as a densely flowering ground cover or a low hedge.

‘The Fairy’ is right at home in a shady fairy garden. Smothered with little pink roses all over the small bushy shrub, it looks like a large hedge rose but in miniature rose form. It will work in front of taller roses or in mass plantings all on its own.

Polyantha roses are known for being rugged and reliable. ‘The Fairy’ will continue to bloom despite drought and pest pressure, leading to its Earth Kind designation.

Plant this robust little spray rose with wispy foamflower for a sweet pairing that stays low to the ground. ‘The Fairy’ is an enchanting choice for shade gardens.

‘Veilchenblau’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Veilchenblau’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 10’– 20’
	hardiness zones 4-10

‘Veilchenblau’ is a robust violet-colored rambler with loads of antique charm. If you’re sensing a theme here, you’re right- vigorous ramblers, climbers, and old garden roses often have what it takes to make it in the shade. They’re unbothered by conditions that would easily take down a hybrid tea, and often flourish even if abandoned.

‘Veilchenblau’ deserves attention for its violet-blue shading, pretty white eye, and cold hardiness. As a rambler, it only flowers once, in an outstandingly beautiful show of clustered blooms for 2-3 months in early summer. It’s a stunner.

Grow this rose over a pergola for a breathtakingly beautiful seating area, covered in romantic roses. It will tolerate quite a bit of shade and poor soil. The flowers smell of lily of the valley and crisp apples. To add to the perfection, ‘Veilchenblau’ is nearly thornless, so this beast of a rose is child, pet, and pruning-friendly. 

‘Wollerton Old Hall’

	botanical name Rosa ‘AUSblanket’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 5’-12’
	hardiness zones 5-9

This highly sought-after English rose is deeply fragrant, with notes of vanilla, myrrh, and magnolia blossom. Even better, its subtle combination of alabaster, blush pink, and apricot hues look luminous in the shade.

Blooms are large and deeply cupped, perfect for inhaling their trademark scent. ‘Wollerton Old Hall’ is a small climber (max height at about 12 feet), but it’s easy to maintain as a large shrub if you prefer.

Soft blues and purples make a perfect pairing with the creamy blooms and peachy buds of this award-winner. It looks just as good in formal settings to soften hardscapes as it does in casual cottage gardens. 

‘Burlesque’

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

‘Burlesque’ is a showstopper. Intense dark magenta blooms are striped with a lighter fuschia, creating a beautiful and unusual contrast. Blooms appear in clusters throughout the summer months on a tidy shrub with glossy green leaves.

‘Burlesque’ does not have the vigor of the robust ramblers but can tolerate partial shade. If you fall in love with this rose, make sure to fertilize and water regularly to support blooming with less sunlight.

The fragrance of ‘Burlesque’ is showy too. It reminds many of an exotic feminine perfume. Burlesque is lovely in containers but also plays well with other plants. It makes beautiful cut flowers to enjoy indoors.

‘The Impressionist’

	botanical name Rosa ‘CLEpainter’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 8’-12’
	hardiness zones 5-10

The radiant result of crossing golden climber ‘Graham Thomas’ and florist favorite ‘Distant Drums’, ‘The Impressionist’ has remarkable color and health from both.

This midsize climber has large flowers with apricot centers, while outer petals shimmer in shades of coral, pink, orange, and cream. Aptly named, you may be inspired to try your hand at painting this one!

‘Impressionist’ is particularly resistant to rust and mildew and does equally well in arid and humid climates. The dark green leaves provide the perfect backdrop for its signature multicolor blooms. It’s easy to grow and will flower vigorously but be prepared for slightly smaller blooms in the shade.

The frilly rosettes make great cut flowers, and nothing more is needed for a luscious bouquet. ‘The Impressionist’ has a myrrh and old rose fragrance that you’ll want to bring inside!

‘Hansa’

	botanical name Rosa Rugosa ‘Hansa’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 5’-7’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Another surefire bet for cold-climate gardeners is powerhouse rugosa rose ‘Hansa’. ‘Hansa’ is a large, spreading shrub rose (up to 4 feet wide) that will fill in shady borders with lush, small leaves, and large pompon flowers.

Blooms reach 4 inches across and are a vibrant magenta, sometimes streaked with bits of white. Flowers have a strong clove fragrance and repeat bloom in small flushes all summer after a big spring show.

Plant a couple ‘Hansa’ bushes in a row to form a striking natural hedge. It will sucker (throw out new canes from the base) gradually to form a dense wall of flowers. It has multiple season appeal, with plump round hips in orangey-red that can be used to decorate your home or feed the birds in winter.

‘Sally Holmes’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Sally Holmes’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 6’-12’
	hardiness zones 5-10

‘Sally Holmes’ is a graceful, abundantly flowering ivory gem. A perennial favorite among gardeners for its hardiness, it won “World’s Favorite Rose” at the 2012 World Federation of Rose Societies Convention.

Smooth-stemmed ‘Sally Holmes’ ices the cake with heavy trusses of up to 60 blooms and no thorns. Each stem forms its own bouquet! Harvest ‘Sally’ for the vase when the apricot buds just begin to open. They have an excellent vase life, and you’ll appreciate the mild musk scent.

‘Sally’ has ruffled, single flowers with golden centers that attract pollinators. It can climb up to 12 feet (in warm climates), but in the shade will usually stay around 6 feet tall. It’s rarely without blooms, making it a steady garden performer.

‘Duchesse de Brabant’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Duchesse de Brabant’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 3’ – 8’
	hardiness zones 5-11

‘Duchesse de Brabant’ is a fetching old garden rose from 1857. It has large mid-pink blooms that nod atop slim canes, with alluring tea rose fragrance.

‘Duchesse’ earned the Earth Kind Ⓡ designation for good health and outstanding repeat bloom. It will be more susceptible to mildew in the shade, so make sure to leave 2-3 feet between plants for adequate airflow. Water in the mornings so it has time to dry out, reducing the chance of fungal issues.

‘Duchesse de Brabant’s’ large cupped flowers were a favorite of Teddy Roosevelt, who liked to wear the elegant blooms as a boutonniere. This pretty antique blooms consistently from spring through frost.

‘Florentina ArboroseⓇ’

	botanical name Rosa ‘KORtrameilo’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 7’-10’
	hardiness zones 5-11

How lucky are we that this swoon-worthy red rose will grow in the shade? If you want bursts of trailing crimson blooms, ‘Florentina’ is a failsafe pick!

‘Florentina’ offers glamorous old-rose charm with modern disease resistance. Flexible canes make this strong climber easy to train over an arbor or up an obelisk. Rich red quartered flowers are packed with petals and a pleasing rosy scent.

‘Florentina’, part of the Star Ⓡ Roses and Plants Bloomables Ⓡ series, is a great choice for beginners or anyone who doesn’t have the time to fuss over their roses. It’s highly adaptable to a variety of zones and conditions and will bloom its heart out to bring life to your garden’s shaded areas.

‘Florentina’ grows up to 10 feet tall, so make sure you have plenty of space before planting. If you love red, this rose is not to be missed!

‘Ballerina’

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

For fans of the antique or woodland look, ‘Ballerina’ is a low maintenance, sprawling shrub rose that can handle part shade. It dances in dappled sunlight under tree canopies or spilling out from patio containers.

‘Ballerina’ has a profusion of dainty, single-petaled flowers of frosted white and ballet slipper pink. Blooms have a delicate sugary scent and have long been used in culinary creations.

 A hybrid musk rose bred for vigor and constant bloom, ‘Ballerina’ will be a garden workhorse. Keep it trimmed as a low border filler, or let it grow to a mature 6 feet. It looks great intermixed with upright foxgloves and low-growing primrose.

‘Ballerina’s’ pollen-rich flowers are popular with people and wildlife alike. If you stop deadheading in late summer, this low-grower will be covered in pretty hips.

‘Mermaid’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Mermaid’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 15’ – 25’
	hardiness zones 7- 10

If you have a shaded area or eye-sore corner that needs a makeover, ‘Mermaid’ is here to make your dreams come true. Huge pale lemon blooms open, saucer-like, to pretty golden stamens. It will grow in spite of neglect, shade, and good soil. It smells heavenly.

Before you sign up, though, know that ‘Mermaid’ is serious business. This rose will climb a tree or a fence in no time, getting up to 25 feet tall! Some growers claim it grows like a weed. If you need to disguise an ugly shed, this rose will do the job, smothering it in luscious blooms all summer.

‘Mermaid’ prefers warmer climates but doesn’t mind some shade. Plant and be ready to prune and train over a support, or just let it grow into a huge, reclining shrub.

‘Frau Dagmar Hastrup’

	botanical name Rosa Rugosa ‘Dagmar Hastrup’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 2’-5’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Landscape designers know that multiple season interest is key when planning a garden. If you want a rose that does it all, ‘Frau Dagmar Hastrup’ might be the rose you seek. In summer, it will be smothered in delicate, victorian-pink open blossoms. In the fall, the foliage turns a coppery gold. Winter brings adorable hips to shine through the gloom. Year-round beauty? Check.

Rugosa roses are tough, and ‘Frau’ is no exception. This rose will thrive in the shade and make it through harsh winters. Before you plant, make sure you’re okay with this short-statured variety taking over the garden bed. Rugosas like to sucker, and ‘Frau’ will spread over time.

A carefree beauty, let the charming wrinkled leaves and prolific blooms of ‘Frau Dagmar Hastrup’ do their thing, and you’ll have a low-maintenance border with little effort. Plant with pink muhly grass for stunning impact.

‘Armide’

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

I can’t get enough of fluffy roses. Each intricate bloom looks too fragile and sweet to be true. The white pompon clusters of ‘Armide’ will charm you too. In bloom, the entire 4-foot shrub is blanketed in snowy flowers, making it difficult to spot the foliage underneath!

If you love the vigor and beauty of alba roses but have never had the space, ‘Armide’ is what you need. Rare among albas, this tidy shrub stays compact at 3-5 feet.

This rose is a shoo-in for a moon garden and will fill your shadowy spots with old-rose fragrance. It only blooms once in spring, but the sheer quantity and staying power of the flowers will make it an event.

‘Ghislaine de Féligonde’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Ghislaine de Féligonde’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 6’-10’
	hardiness zones 5-9

‘Ghislaine de Féligonde’ is an easy-to-manage, repeat blooming rambler, with warm apricot, blush, and cream double-blooms. Large flower clusters emit a musky apple scent and glow in shady gardens.

Easily grown from cuttings, this rose from 1916 is often found adding beauty to old cemeteries and abandoned lots. It won’t need much to do well in your garden, and you can choose to prune it for a formal shape or let its sturdy, upright canes form a pretty mound on their own.

If ease of care and sunny warmth bring you joy, snap up ‘Ghislaine de Féligonde’. This rose will make you look like an expert gardener. Try planting with purple pulmonarias for an elegant mixed border.

‘Rainbow Happy Trails’

	botanical name Rosa ‘WEKsurdicla’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 1’-2’
	hardiness zones 4-10

If large ramblers and climbing roses aren’t quite your style, keep things low and tidy with ‘Rainbow Happy Trails’. ‘Rainbow’ stays low to the ground, forming a blanket of happy multicolor flowers on a neat dark green shrub.

Remarkably hardy and flexible, ‘Rainbow’ shines with radiant golden yellow centers edged in bubble gum pink to cherry red. It’s pure, easy cheer. This groundcover rose spreads readily and resists diseases.

‘Rainbow Happy Trails’ is uncomplicated and free-flowering from early spring until fall. Plant it at the front of a shady border, and make sure to check out its mild fruity scent.

‘Ice Meidiland’

	botanical name Rosa ‘MEIvahyn’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 1’-2’
	hardiness zones 5-9

If you’re after a shade-tolerant ground cover rose with subtle elegance, consider ‘Ice Meidiland’. Pure snow-white, with semi-double form and deep yellow stamens, this rose is a refined low-growing option.

‘Ice Meidiland’ does well in partial shade and spreads up to 6 feet wide! With exceptionally large blooms for a ground cover plant, guests will want to take a closer look at this floriferous shrub.

If you wanted a guaranteed, ground-hugging, repeat-blooming perennial that shimmers in the shade, ‘Ice Meidiland’ is the answer. It’s low maintenance and worry-free. Plant several in front of mauve meadow rue for an easy-care shady bed. It doesn’t mind rocky areas and works as a living mulch to smother weeds!

‘Easy Does It’

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

Do you want your shaded beds to turn into centerpieces? ‘Easy Does It’, a perky floribunda, may be the ticket. This midsize shrub bursts into large rose blooms in shades of bright tangerine, deep pumpkin orange, and coral pink.

‘Easy Does It’ as its name suggests, is easy to grow.  It’s bred to be robust and prolific, but make sure to purchase an own-root rose rather than a grafted variety if you have cold winters.

Flowers are scalloped and attention-grabbing. They do well in the vase and appear practically non-stop from early spring through fall. If you love warm shades, this rose is a definite winner!

‘Colette’

	botanical name Rosa ‘MEIroupis’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 6’-8’
	hardiness zones 5-10

Oh, ‘Colette’. Why oh why did I leave you in an unprotected pot that winter so many years ago? By now, you could be climbing my garden arch, entrancing everyone with your lush pink blooms and spicy damask scent.

It might be too late for my ‘Colette’, but it’s not too late for you to plant this whimsical beauty. It loves the hot and humid south but will also manage in colder zones (just don’t forget to give it some winter protection!).

‘Colette’ climbs gracefully, with numerous ruffled soft pink flowers beginning in spring. She is a bit of a slow starter but will eventually mature to 8 feet high.

The scent is noteworthy, so take advantage by harvesting lots of bouquets to gift to friends and family. A modern variety with antique flavor, ‘Colette’ has excellent health and charm in spades.

‘Twilight Zone’

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

Do you like your rose tones a bit on the moody side? Dusky ‘Twilight Zone’ might appeal. With large, velvety fuschia and purple blooms on a deep green shrub, this rose will add richness and depth to dark garden sites.

This is definitely a cutting rose. The spicy citrus fragrance and large blooms make it a natural choice for bouquets. ‘Twilight Zone’ double flowers appear in flushes throughout the season. 

The shade keeps ‘Twilight Zone’s’ color intense and rich but may result in slightly less flowering. For me, the reduction is worth it, because each bloom of this shade-tolerant rose is a treasure. This grandiflora rose has a pleasing upright habit and looks amazing en masse. Alternatively, pair it with Japanese Forest Grass for a pretty interplay of light and dark.