How Big Do Bare Root Roses Get?

All rose varieties are available bare root from fall to early spring.

All roses are available as bare root plants from late fall to early spring. Bare root roses are dormant plants that are packaged and sold with wood shavings around the root system. Climbing roses, hybrid tea roses, floribunda, miniature and heirloom rose varieties are available bare root. Each variety grows to the established heights indicated on the package. Bare root roses are available in Grades 1, 1 ½ and 2. Grade 1 roses have the plumpest canes and strongest root system.

Hybrid Tea

Bare root hybrid tea rose bushes grow 2 to 5 feet in height. Hybrid teas have long, slender pointed stems with one large bloom on the end of each one. They come in all colors but blue and black. Extensive hybridizing has resulted in loss of fragrance for most varieties, with the exception of cultivars such as Double Delight, Blue Girl and Deep Secret. Hybrid tea roses are thought of as the perfect rose but they have been robbed of much of their natural disease resistance and winter hardiness through the extensive cross breeding that brings perfect blooms. Remove bare root plants from their package and store in a cool place if not planted immediately. Cover the roots with moist sawdust or peat moss to prevent drying out.

Heirloom

Gallica, Damask, Alba, Centifolia and Moss are the five classifications of old European garden roses, also known as heritage and heirloom roses. They grow 3 to 7 feet in height, depending on the variety. Old heirloom roses have very pungent aroma and are often repeat-bloomers throughout the season. Plant bare root heirloom roses in soil enriched with organic compost, which provides the 17 essential nutrients necessary for healthy growth. Rose growers often recommend soaking the bare root bush for 24 hours before planting it. Heirloom roses are cold-resistant very cold hardy in USDA zones 3 to 5.

Miniature

Miniature bare root roses grow to heights between 3 and 8 inches. All miniature roses were developed from one single dwarf China rose, called Rouletii, in breeding programs after WWII. Baby Boomer, Bees Knees and Elfinglo are versatile miniature roses used in rock gardens, edgings and as container plants. Look for roots that are light colored and symmetrically placed on bare root miniature rose plants. They grow best in garden spots that receive at least six hours of sun each day.

Climbers

Roses with long canes are called climbers, ramblers or pillar roses. Varieties such as Cecille Brunner, Abraham Darby and Blaze have long canes that are directed to grow on trellis supports, porch pillars, fences, trees and arbors. They reach 12 to 30 feet in height. Climbing roses do not have tendrils, but are bound to their supports by their winding canes. They bear large single flowers or flower clusters and many varieties re-bloom in late summer. Select a good grade of bare root climbing rose with buds that are plump and brightly colored on the sides of the canes.

References

• University of Illinois Extension; Our Rose Garden; Miniatures
• University of Illinois Extension; Our Rose Garden; Planting
• UC Davis Extension; Selecting & Planting Bare Root Roses;

Resources

• University of Minnesota Extension: Culture of Garden Roses; Mervin Eisel, et al. 2011