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Colour, scent and harvest

Rose: varieties, growing and uses

A rose can add scent to a cutting-garden corner or turn a bare garden wall into a wall of flowers. Choose between a shrub and a climber first, then colours and flower shapes. A climbing rose does not climb a wall by itself: you provide a supporting framework and tie the branches to it. Shrub roses fit more easily into a mixed border with low-growing perennials.

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Discover varieties and growth habits ↓
AI-illustratie van de beschreven kenmerken van Gertrude Jekyll
AI illustration

This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.

Use
The RHS lists rose petals as edible. Use only correctly identified, unsprayed roses grown for food and remove the bitter, pale attachment point. A description of rose scent is not proven cultivar-specific flavour.
Care
Provide a sunny to sufficiently bright position, fertile, well-drained soil and water in dry weather, particularly in the first year. Do not plant in frozen or waterlogged ground. Leave enough room for air circulation.
Harvest and flowering
Cut flowers for a bouquet while retaining enough leaves. Pick edible petals only from suitable, unsprayed plants grown for food. If desired, leave some hips for decoration and birds; this is not a general claim that all hips are edible.
Choose what suits your garden

Discover varieties and growth habits

AI-illustratie van de beschreven kenmerken van Gertrude Jekyll
AI illustration

This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.

Variety

Gertrude Jekyll

Roze rozetten met sterke klassieke rozengeur.

Gebruik: The RHS lists rose petals as edible. Use only correctly identified, unsprayed roses grown for food and remove the bitter, pale attachment point. A description of rose scent is not proven cultivar-specific flavour.

Use of the species; this selection has been developed around colour, shape or growing characteristics.

Roze rozetten met sterke klassieke rozengeur.

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AI-illustratie van de beschreven kenmerken van Olivia Rose Austin
AI illustration

This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.

Variety

Olivia Rose Austin

Zachtroze bloemen voor een rustige border.

Gebruik: The RHS lists rose petals as edible. Use only correctly identified, unsprayed roses grown for food and remove the bitter, pale attachment point. A description of rose scent is not proven cultivar-specific flavour.

Use of the species; this selection has been developed around colour, shape or growing characteristics.

Zachtroze bloemen voor een rustige border.

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AI-illustratie van de beschreven kenmerken van Lady of Shalott
AI illustration

This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.

Variety

Lady of Shalott

Warme zalm-, oranje- en goudtinten.

Gebruik: The RHS lists rose petals as edible. Use only correctly identified, unsprayed roses grown for food and remove the bitter, pale attachment point. A description of rose scent is not proven cultivar-specific flavour.

Use of the species; this selection has been developed around colour, shape or growing characteristics.

Warme zalm-, oranje- en goudtinten.

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AI-illustratie van de beschreven kenmerken van Claire Austin
AI illustration

This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.

Variety

Claire Austin

Witte bloemen op een klimraamwerk.

Gebruik: The RHS lists rose petals as edible. Use only correctly identified, unsprayed roses grown for food and remove the bitter, pale attachment point. A description of rose scent is not proven cultivar-specific flavour.

Use of the species; this selection has been developed around colour, shape or growing characteristics.

Witte bloemen op een klimraamwerk.

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Inspiration for your space

Choose your way to grow

AI-teeltillustratie: Roos · Klimroos aan draden
AI illustration

This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.

Klimroos aan draden
AI-teeltillustratie: Roos · Geureiland in een border
AI illustration

This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.

Geureiland in een border

Geureiland in een border

Combineer een struikroos met lage begeleiders.

  1. Kies een herhaald bloeiende struik.
  2. Plant met ruimte voor de volwassen kroon.
  3. Snoei in de late winter of het vroege voorjaar passend bij de groep.

Gertrude Jekyll, Olivia Rose Austin, Lady of Shalott.

Klimroos aan draden

Laat hoofdtakken een muur of pergola vullen.

  1. Bevestig een stevig raamwerk.
  2. Bind hoofdtakken los en zoveel mogelijk spreidend.
  3. Behoud de hoofdtakken bij de passende wintersnoei.

Claire Austin.

From pink shrub to white climber

Gertrude Jekyll produces strongly scented pink rosettes and an upright shrub. Olivia Rose Austin is softer pink and a quiet choice for a mixed border. Lady of Shalott adds warm salmon and gold tones. Claire Austin produces white flowers on a climbing framework. Describe scent as scent for these choices; apple, spice or myrrh in a breeder’s description does not mean the flower tastes that way.

A framework that carries flowers

Where possible, tie a climber’s main branches diagonally or more horizontally to wires. This can encourage flowering side shoots at more points along the wall. Use loose loops and check annually for constriction. Leave a gap from the wall for airflow and maintenance. Do not plant the base directly in a dry strip under a large roof overhang.

Pruning with the type on the label

Remove dead and damaged wood and prevent crossing branches from rubbing. Only then assess how much to shorten. Treating a shrub rose as a climber costs structure; cutting all a climber’s main branches short removes its framework. If unsure, first check whether the rose repeat-flowers and which group the nursery names.

A bouquet and a healthy plant

Snijd met schoon gereedschap, verwijder blad onder water en gebruik een schone vaas. Geef een nieuwe roos eerst gelegenheid om goed te wortelen. Houd in de zomer de voet vochtig zonder bladeren voortdurend nat te maken. Noteer naam, bloeitijd en snoeibeurt in je tuinlogboek; de volgende taak hoort bij die gekozen groep en niet bij één algemeen rozenalarm.

Scent, flavour and use

The RHS lists rose petals as edible. Use only correctly identified, unsprayed roses grown for food and remove the bitter, pale attachment point. A description of rose scent is not proven cultivar-specific flavour.

Care, cutting and harvesting

Provide a sunny to sufficiently bright position, fertile, well-drained soil and water in dry weather, particularly in the first year. Do not plant in frozen or waterlogged ground. Leave enough room for air circulation.

Repeat-flowering shrub roses are generally pruned in February–March. Climbing roses usually need winter pruning in December–February: retain main branches and prune side shoots to suit the framework. A once-flowering rambler has a different pruning time.

Cut flowers for a bouquet while retaining enough leaves. Pick edible petals only from suitable, unsprayed plants grown for food. If desired, leave some hips for decoration and birds; this is not a general claim that all hips are edible.

Cutting, caring and following the season

Repeat-flowering shrub roses are generally pruned in February–March. Climbing roses usually need winter pruning in December–February: retain main branches and prune side shoots to suit the framework. A once-flowering rambler has a different pruning time.

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Save your favourite variety or add it to My garden. Your own observations determine the growth stage; care tasks are based on the species.

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Sources and image information

SeedSteps editorial team · checked on 13 October 2026. Flavour descriptions come from the listed sources; ripeness and growing conditions affect flavour. AI images illustrate described characteristics and do not prove cultivar identity.

  1. World Checklist of Vascular Plants — 4 juni 2026Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · 2026-10-07
  2. Rose pruning: climbing rosesRoyal Horticultural Society · 2026-10-13
  3. How to grow rosesRoyal Horticultural Society · 2026-10-13
  4. Edible flowersRoyal Horticultural Society · 2026-10-13
  5. Olivia Rose Austin and Claire Austin: beginner collectionDavid Austin Roses · 2026-10-13
  6. Gertrude Jekyll AusbordDavid Austin Roses · 2026-10-13
  7. Rose pruning: shrub rosesRoyal Horticultural Society · 2026-10-13
  8. Lady of Shalott: literary rosesDavid Austin Roses · 2026-10-13