It’s no surprise gardeners often name the rose as their favourite flower. They bloom profusely all summer and into autumn; many are deliciously fragrant and plants are tough as old boots.
Choose the right variety and it’ll put on a stunning display in a container – perfect if you only have a small garden, patio or balcony.
For best results, choose patio or miniature roses, which thrive in pots with a depth of 25-38cm (10in-1¼ft). If you’re keen to grow a climbing or ground cover rose in a pot, a large container is a must, with a depth of 35-45cm (1-1½ft).
Where traditional floribunda or English roses are to be grown in pots, choose extra-large containers with a diameter and depth of around 50cm (1¾ft). Roses have long roots – that’s how these deep-rooted plants anchor themselves in border soil and tap nutrients from the depths – and lengthy roots won’t thank you for being crushed into a shallow container.
For the most impact, position several pots together by a sunny doorway, containing roses with contrasting colours of scented blooms. Water daily in hot weather, deadhead regularly and feed every spring with a granular rose fertiliser. Top-dress every two years by scraping away the top 5cm (2in) of compost and replacing it.
Four perfect roses for pots
Rosa ‘Flower Carpet Red Velvet’
A healthy, RHS Award of Garden Merit-winning ground cover rose that’s smothered with cheery red flowers with yellow centres from mid-summer. Blooms tumble over pot edges. H 80cm (31in), S 1.2m (47in).
Buy online or tel: 01344 578111
Rosa ‘Togmeister’
If you were a fan of the late Terry Wogan, you can now enjoy the double yellow blooms of his namesake rose. A fragrant floribunda that’s at its best in pots or at the front of borders. H 75cm (30in), S 75cm (30in).
Buy online or tel: 01953 454707
Rosa ‘Nice Day’
A highly rated patio climber bearing sweetly scented, salmon-pink blooms. A repeat-flowerer that’s perfect for growing in pots with an obelisk on top, or at the base of an arch. H 2-2.5m (6.5-8.2ft).
Buy online or tel: 01406 424089
Rosa ‘Ballerina’
Charming polyantha shrub rose bearing hydrangea-like clusters of small flowers with pink tips and white centres. A pot will restrict its growth to a manageable size. RHS AGM. H 1.2m (4ft), S 1.2m (4ft).
Buy online or tel: 01953 454707
How to grow roses in containers
1 Pot-grown roses can be planted between April and October. Choose a sturdy, frost-proof container and place crocks at the base to prevent drainage holes from blocking.
2 Water pot-grown roses before planting. Fill the container with John Innes No3 compost and plant the rose at the same level it was in its pot, gently firming it in. Water well.
3 Position the container so it’s in sunlight for at least half the day. Take care to ensure the compost never dries out, as moisture-starved roses can be prone to powdery mildew.