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: Hybrid Tea & Grandiflora

Description: Elegant blooms on long, straight stems. Ideal for cutting

Amount of Space Needed: 30” – 36” apart

Coverage (per plant): 6 – 10 sq. ft.

Classification: Floribunda

Description: Clusters of blooms on a shorter, bushier plant

Amount of Space Needed: 24" –30” apart

Coverage (per plant): 4 – 6 sq. ft.

Classification: English Roses

Description: Double blooms having a wonderful fragrance and old rose look

Amount of Space Needed: 36” apart

Coverage (per plant): 10 sq. ft.

Classification: Climber

Description: Large 4-6” blooms on stiff canes; use on trellises or arbors

Amount of Space Needed: 4' – 5’ apart

Classification: Hedge

Description: Decorative or practical fencing, can screen too

Amount of Space Needed: 24” apart

Classification: Shrub

Description: A diverse group of plants with a wide range of sizes

Amount of Space Needed (Large Shrub): 30–36”

Amount of Space Needed (Small Shrub): 24–30”

Coverage (per plant) (Large Shrub): 6 – 10 sq. ft.

Coverage (per plant)(Small Shrub): 4-6 sq. ft.

Classification: Miniature

Description: Large 4-6” blooms on stiff canes; use on trellises or arbors

Amount of Space Needed: 12” – 18” apart

Classification: Ramblers

Description: Height can range from 12’ – 50’. Space according to the structure they will be grown on

Amount of Space Needed: Broad range