10 Best Roses For Small Spaces

Find the perfect rose for your small space with Tony Hall’s pick of varieties for tiny locations

- Tony Hall

Now is the best time to buy and plant new roses. From window boxes to balcony pots, no space is too small if you pick the right variety. Miniature roses, such as ‘Stars ‘n’ Stripes’, will grow in a window box or even a hanging basket, while for a shady spot a rose such as ‘The Poet’s Wife’ will cope well, is perfect for a container and will provide a lovely fragrance.

Often referred to as the Queen of Flowers, roses are highly attractive and sometimes beautifully scented. They make great cut flowers and many are good for wildlife, too, particularly the single-flowered varieties.

While potted roses can be bought and planted all year round, in autumn you can buy and plant bare-root roses, which are grown and dug out of the ground directly. These are cheaper, generally better at establishing and available in a much wider range than those in pots. They are also lighter to transport and usually posted out in a recyclable plastic and paper bag, reducing the environmental impact.

When choosing a rose for a small spot, look out for a standard, or smaller half-standard rose, which can be grown in a pot, and always check for disease resistance to save on chemical use – or heartache – later on. Make sure the mature size will fit your intended space – nothing is more annoying than continually having to prune an unruly plant of any type to keep it in check.

1 Rosa Iceberg (‘Korbin’)

H x S 1.25m x 1m

Position Full sun or partial shade