Growing roses in pots is a fantastic way to enjoy their beauty, even if you're short on garden space. Whether you have a balcony, terrace, or just a small area in your garden, potted roses can add a touch of elegance and charm. You can create a stunning rose display that enhances your outdoor space with the proper care and a suitably sized pot.
English roses can thrive in pots, making them an excellent choice for urban gardens or smaller spaces. A pot at least 45 cm deep and wide is ideal for shrub roses, providing enough room for their roots to grow to ensure vibrant, healthy blooms. Potted roses also offer versatility; you can move them around to catch the best sunlight, create seasonal displays, or even use them to frame a bench or garden gate.
Selecting the right rose varieties is key to success in container gardening. Here are some top choices:
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Olivia Rose Austin is an excellent choice for container gardening. It has compact, well-balanced growth, vibrant mid-pink blooms, and a delightful fruity fragrance. It starts flowering early and continues producing rosettes into autumn. Its dark green foliage enhances the visual appeal of the flowers and contributes to its overall health, making it ideal for containers. It adapts well to different soil types and sun conditions, thriving in diverse environments and adding beauty and fragrance to any garden or outdoor space.
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The Emily Brontë rose, introduced by David Austin in 2018, produces elegant soft pink blooms that fade to apricot, with a lovely Tea and Old Rose fragrance. Its compact, upright growth makes it ideal for pots, reaching about 4 feet tall and 3.5 feet wide. Perfect for adding a touch of classic beauty to patios and balconies, this repeat-blooming rose offers continuous colour and scent from summer to the first frosts.
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Kew Gardens is an excellent choice for container gardening. It has compact, bushy growth and small white blooms. The rose produces many small, single flowers in large heads, similar to hydrangeas. The flowers start as soft apricot buds and turn into pure white with a hint of soft lemon. It blooms continuously from early summer through autumn and is almost thornless. It grows to about 4 feet tall and wide, fitting well in various container sizes. It's a low-maintenance addition to enjoy in a pot or container.
You can also grow climbing roses in pots to add vertical interest to your garden. Choose a variety that reaches up to 12 feet in height and plant it in a pot that's at least 2 feet deep and wide. This provides enough space for the roots to develop and support healthy growth.
Watch our video or follow our handy step-by-step guide on planting a potted climbing rose in a pot
To ensure your potted roses thrive, use a well-draining mix. A 50/50 blend of John Innes No. 3 and multi-purpose compost is highly recommended. John Innes No. 3 provides a nutrient-rich base that supports strong root development and healthy growth, while multi-purpose compost offers excellent drainage and aeration.
Roses in pots are a wonderful way to bring beauty to any garden space, regardless of size. With suitable varieties and a bit of care, your potted roses will flourish and add lasting charm to your outdoor area.
