Properly Space Roses
When planning your rose garden, or any garden at all, it is important to plan for the amount of space the rose will need, not the amount of space it currently occupies. We all want our roses to grow large and to be abundant in blooms. To do this, roses need the right amount of space to allow for proper airflow and to prevent diseases. It is also important to note that growth habits vary depending on the zone of your garden.
When you’ve chosen the new rose you love and need, determine its classification and refer to the chart below to decide the appropriate spacing your rose needs to best thrive.
Classification
Description
Amount of Space Needed
Coverage (per plant)
Hybrid Tea & Grandiflora
Elegant blooms on long, straight stems. Ideal for cutting
30” – 36” apart
6 – 10 sq. ft.
Floribunda
Clusters of blooms on a shorter, bushier plant
24" –30” apart
4 – 6 sq. ft.
English Roses
Double blooms having a wonderful fragrance and old rose look
36” apart
10 sq. ft.
Climber
Large 4-6” blooms on stiff canes; use on trellises or arbors
4' – 5’ apart
Hedge
Decorative or practical fencing, can screen too
24” apart
Shrub
A diverse group of plants with a wide range of sizes
30–36” (Large)
24–30” (Small)
6 – 10 sq. ft.
4 – 6 sq. ft.
Miniature
Has the same bloom structure and habit of a hybrid tea; great grown in containers
12” – 18” apart
Ramblers
Height can range from 12’ – 50’. Space according to the structure they will be grown on
Broad range