Few things beat the charm of a garden filled with blooming roses. Whether you're after a classic rose bush for a border, a climbing rose to cover a fence, or a low-maintenance patio rose in a pot, this guide from Bents Garden & Home will help you choose the right type and plant it correctly.
Types of Roses and Varieties
Roses come in more shapes, sizes, and colours than most plants out there. At Bents Garden & Home, we've handpicked a wide selection that fits a variety of gardens and lifestyles, from statement climbers to compact patio showstoppers.
Here's a breakdown of our main categories with examples you'll find in our shop.
Bush Roses
Bush roses are the all-rounders of the rose family. Neat, upright, and perfect for borders or beds.
Examples of popular Rush Roses:
- Anne's Rose – a classic shape with delicate pink hues.
- Queen Bee – rich colour and bold personality.
- Eye of the Tiger – eye-catching with fiery tones.
- Timeless Cream – elegant with a soft creamy glow.
- Let's Celebrate – as cheerful as it sounds.
- Golden Delicious – sunny yellow blooms that pop.
Bush Rose 'Eye Of The Tiger'
Add a splash of drama to your garden with Eye of the Tiger, a fiery bush rose with striking yellow petals and deep red markings. It's a real show-off, and perfect for borders or containers.
Browse our full collection of bush roses online for even more colours, scents, and garden-ready favourites. All are available for order and will be delivered straight to your door.
The RHS Guide to Bush Roses offers expert advice on choosing the right varieties, growing tips, and how to get the best from these classic garden staples.
Patio Roses
Perfect for smaller spaces, patios, or pots. These mini wonders are low on fuss and big on impact.
Examples at Bents include:
- Lots of Kisses – vivid and romantic.
- Lovely Bride – soft, elegant tones.
- Silver Wishes – cool and graceful.
- Sweet Memories – a gentle lemon yellow.
- White Patio – crisp and fresh.
- Peachy – warm and inviting.
- Pretty Polly – pink with flair.
- Sweet Wonder – dainty and reliable.
- Flower Power Gold – golden blooms with good repeat flowering.
Patio Rose 'Sweet Memories'
Sweet Memories is a charming patio rose with creamy blooms and a gentle scent. Perfect for pots, patios, or a thoughtful gift.
Explore our full range of patio roses online, ideal for small spaces, containers, and adding colour where you need it most.
Climbing and Rambling Roses
Got a bare wall or fence that's seen better days? Let climbers and ramblers cover it in colour.
Bents favourites:
- Pirouette – soft pink and ruffled.
- Ozeana – bright and breezy.
- Peach Melba – peachy tones like the dessert.
- Raspberry Cream – good enough to eat (but don't).
- Alaska – fresh white flowers with strong growth.
- Wedding Day – classic white rambler.
- Sabrina – bright with a hint of mischief.
Bush Rose 'Anne's Rose'
Anne's Rose is a graceful climber with soft pink blooms, grown in tribute to Princess Anne and ideal for arches, walls, or pergolas.
Take a look at our full collection of climbing and rambling roses, great for fences, trellises, and bringing colour up where it counts.
David Austin's climbing rose guide covers everything from training techniques to the best varieties for walls, arches, and fences.
Celebration Roses
Perfect as gifts or centrepieces. These roses mark special moments with just the right flourish.
Standouts in the Bents collection:
- Special Day
- Fabulous
- Precious Love
- Holden Wedding
- Mum in a Million
- Happy Retirement
- Sweet Memories
Gift Rose 'Mum In A Million'
Mum in a Million is a fragrant, soft-pink rose that makes a heartfelt gift, whether for birthdays, anniversaries or simply "just because."
Browse our full collection of celebration roses, thoughtful presents that grow more special each year.
Flower Carpet Roses
Low-growing, long-blooming, and great for covering ground without needing constant attention.
Popular choices for Flower Carpets:
- Pink Supreme – bright and bold.
- Sunset – fiery orange-red.
- Scarlet – vivid red that's hard to miss.
Flower Carpet Rose 'Sunset'
The Flower Carpet Rose 'Sunset' is a low-growing stunner in sunset tones, perfect for borders, beds, or brightening up bare patches with minimal fuss.
Explore our full range of Flower Carpet Roses, low-maintenance, high-impact colours from spring to frost.
David Austin Roses
They are known for their romantic look, strong fragrance, and old English style.
Bents offers:
- Emma Bridgewater – classic cottage vibes.
- Tranquillity – soft white and calming.
- Gertrude Jekyll – is so good it's listed twice.
English Rose 'Emma Bridgewater'
The Emma Bridgewater English Rose blends soft, romantic colour with a classic old-rose scent. A true cottage garden favourite from David Austin's collection.
Browse Bents Garden & Home's full range of David Austin Roses, renowned for their fragrance and repeat-flowering habits.
Explore David Austin's official rose care guide for trusted advice on planting, feeding, and nurturing your roses year-round.
When to Plant Roses in the UK
Timing is everything. Here's when your roses will thrive best in UK soil and seasons.
The Best Time to Plant Roses
Late autumn or early spring is the ideal time. This gives the roots time to settle before the Rose starts thinking about flowering.
When to Plant Rose Bushes and Container Roses
- Bare-root roses: best planted between November and March.
- Container roses can be planted year-round, but avoid planting on frosty or scorching hot days.
Preparing Your Garden for Roses
Get your soil, containers, and tools in top shape. This section covers everything you need to lay the groundwork for healthy, thriving rose plants.
Soil for Roses
Roses like well-drained, nutrient-rich soil. Loam's the golden standard. Add compost if your soil's too sandy or too sticky.
Westland Rose Planting & Potting Mix
Want the perfect base for your roses? Westland Rose Planting & Potting Mix (50L) is specially blended to support strong root development and vibrant blooms, and it's peat-free too.
Planting Soil and Feed
Mix in organic matter, such as well-rotted manure or rose-specific compost. A balanced rose feed like the one we stock at Bents can support strong roots and full blooms.
Container Planting Tips
- Choose a deep pot (at least 30cm).
- Use a loam-based compost.
- Add slow-release rose food.
- Water regularly, especially in summer.
New to pots? Our Planter Lining Guide walks you through the proper way to line containers, helping your roses (and other plants) thrive from the bottom up.
Buying Tips from Bents
- Look for healthy green growth.
- Avoid roses with black spots or yellowing leaves.
- Ask our garden team for help matching roses to your garden size and sun levels.
How to Plant Roses
From digging the hole to settling your rose in its new home, this section guides you through the planting process step by step, whether it's in the ground or a pot.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Dig a hole twice as wide as the rootball.
- Soak the rose roots in a bucket of water for 30 minutes if bare root.
- Backfill with a mixture of topsoil, compost, and a small amount of feed.
- Plant with the graft union (knobbly bit) just below soil level.
- Firm the soil and give it a good drink.
[caption id="attachment_12963" align="alignnone" width="300"]
A popular Rose Bush is ready to be removed from its pot and planted.[/caption]
Bent's Top Rose Planting Tips
- Water weekly, more in dry spells.
- Use mulch to keep weeds down and moisture in.
- Provide support for climbing types.
Need help planting? Our team at Bents are always happy to walk you through it—no spade required.
Most roses benefit from regular pruning to remain healthy and in bloom, but the method and timing depend on the type. Read our easy rose pruning guide for step-by-step advice.
Where to Buy Roses
Visit Bents Garden & Home's rose collection online or in-store. From classic favourites to something a little different, we've got rose plants ready to brighten up beds, borders, and balconies.
Still Thorny About Which Rose to Pick?
Choosing and planting roses isn't rocket science, but picking the right one can make all the difference. Whether it's a garden revamp or your first go at growing, there's a rose out there with your name on it. If you're not sure where to start or would like to see our roses up close, please pop in and chat with us at Bents Garden & Home.
We'd love to see what you're growing! Share your rose photos, planting wins (or disasters), and top tips with us on Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #BentsRoses.
Author Bio
Bents Garden & Home has been helping gardeners grow with confidence for over 80 years. Our team knows roses inside and out, from choosing the right variety to long-term care tips. Visit us in-store to browse one of the North West's most impressive rose collections and chat with our experts.