Are Roses Evergreen? Which Types, Differences, Choosing, FAQ

With over 30,000 varieties of roses, you would expect at least some to be evergreen. But are roses evergreen? That’s what we’re going to go through in this article.

We’ll also touch on which types of roses are evergreen shortly, But let’s cover the quick answer first.

Roses are generally evergreen or deciduous, depending on the variety. Deciduous roses lose their leaves in winter, while evergreen roses keep their leaves year-round. Semi-evergreen roses exist which only lose their leaves in very cold weather, and you can also get ever-bloom roses.

So which ones are which? We’ll get into the reasons and provide some examples. But first I need to make a distinction here between evergreen and ever-bloom!

Evergreen roses are not ever-bloom roses

There is a difference between roses that lose their leaves, and roses that lose their blooms.

The term evergreen does not apply to roses that simply bloom all year. These are called ever-bloom roses. 

The best example of ever-bloom roses is Knock Out® Roses. They are technically deciduous, which means they will lose their leaves in winter. But, because they are grafted onto the rootstock of a different rose, they have an increased resistance to cold weather and may retain their blooms even in colder climates.

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Knockout roses are very popular because of this reason. Here’s a great selection of knockout roses. They come in a variety of colors like pink, white, red, orange, yellow, and even coral – as well as hues of white and other infusions of color.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s carry on talking about evergreen and others…

What makes roses evergreen

Evergreen roses are those that keep their leaves all year round. The term “evergreen” is actually a misnomer because these plants can and do lose their leaves, but they do so gradually throughout the year rather than all at once like deciduous plants.

One main reason for this is the climate…

Roses are native to temperate zones all over the world. In these regions, there are typically two seasons: a growing season and a dormant season.

During the dormant season, temperatures are too cold for roses to grow. But in the growing season, they thrive.

As a result, evergreen roses have evolved to be able to tolerate colder temperatures during the dormant season. They do this by remaining covered in leaves year-round. This way, they can protect their buds from the cold weather and prevent them from freezing.

TIP: The great thing about evergreen roses is that they are great when used in hedgerows. They ensure the hedge won’t appear “barren” and lifeless in the colder seasons as they will retain their hedge form and shape.

As you can see, there are many types of roses. But are they all evergreen? The answer is no. In fact, most roses are deciduous.

Evergreen roses

Now that we know what an evergreen rose is, it’s worth mentioning some of the typical types of roses are evergreen – including tea roses and china roses.

Originally these species were bred from Asian wild roses, so the climate they’re used to is warm and humid.

Now that we know what makes a rose evergreen, let’s look in broad terms at some typical examples of evergreen roses.

But you may find that while these types remain evergreen, they may not bloom during the perceived “colder” months of the year. They will have periods of dormancy, perhaps even during times of drought.

Some types that you might want to try growing as evergreen roses – assuming your climate suits their needs – are:

• Rosa moyesii
• Rosa pimpinellifolia
• Rosa rugosa

As an example, Rosa hybrid Sempervirens like this one are considered to be evergreen roses, so these might also be worth a try.

Semi-Evergreen roses

Roses that are considered semi-evergreen are called such because they are a type of rose that can lose their leaves during periods of extreme cold or drought but will quickly rebound and resume growth once conditions improve.

This is due to the fact that they have more extensive root systems than other types of roses, which allows them to better tolerate these conditions and bounce back.

Deciduous roses

Most Miniature roses, climbing roses, rose bushes, and ground cover roses are considered deciduous.

This means that they will lose their leaves in winter and will need to be pruned back each year.

However, there are some crossover evergreen varieties of these types of roses.

For example, the ‘Fragrant Cloud’ rose is a deciduous climbing rose that is also evergreen.

Choosing the right rose

Whatever types of roses you have will ultimately come down to the variety that you choose.

So, if you’re looking for an evergreen rose, be sure to do your research and select a variety that is known to retain its foliage throughout the year.

The good news is that there are plenty of beautiful evergreen roses to choose from, so you’re sure to find one that suits your needs and preferences.

As mentioned above, there are many different types of roses. Each type has its own unique characteristics, so it’s important to choose the right one for your garden.

Check my categories of roses post as an easy starting point.

Are roses evergreen – Frequently asked questions

Often there are questions about individual roses. so I’ll go through a few popular questions here and try to answer them as best I can. Hopefully, it might help you choose which rose is right for you.

Q: Are climbing roses evergreen?

A: Climbing roses are roses that are trained to grow up structures like trellises, fences, or arbors. Some climbing roses are evergreen, but most are deciduous.

Here’s more info on the differences between rambling roses vs climbing roses.

Q: Are bush roses evergreen?

A: Bush roses are any rose that is grown as a shrub outside or in a pot. They are usually low-maintenance and have a long flowering season.

Some bush roses are evergreen, but many are deciduous. So once again, it depends on the type of bush rose. Some are evergreen, while others are deciduous.

Q: What about miniature roses? Are they evergreen?

A: Miniature roses are typically more likely to be evergreen than deciduous. However, there are both evergreen and deciduous miniature roses.

Find out more about miniature roses here.

Q: Are Drift roses evergreen?

A: Drift roses are a type of rose that is low-growing and spreading. They are usually used as groundcover, or in hanging baskets. Drift roses are generally evergreen, but there are some deciduous varieties.

Q: Are knockout roses evergreen?

A: Knockout roses are very popular because they are easy to care for and have a long blooming season. Most knockout roses are evergreen, but there are some deciduous varieties.

Q: Are rambling roses evergreen?

A: Rambling roses are usually grown in cottage gardens. They are essentially a climbing rose that climbs faster than climbing roses and sometimes more erratically! They can grow up to 20 feet tall! Rambling roses are generally evergreen, but there are some deciduous varieties.

Q: Are Iceberg roses evergreen?

A: Iceberg roses are a type of floribunda rose. They are very popular because they are easy to care for and have a long blooming season. Iceberg roses are generally evergreen, but there are some deciduous varieties.

Here are some further posts you might be interested in:

Are roses evergreen ~ More roses help 🌹

As you can see, there is no simple answer to the question “are roses evergreen?”. It depends on the type of rose.

There are many different types of roses, and they can be either evergreen, deciduous, semi-evergreen, or even ever bloom.

When choosing a rose bush, it is important to know which type of rose you are getting. That way, you can be prepared for how often it will need to be pruned, and whether or not it will lose its leaves in the winter.

I hope this has helped, be sure to check out my other articles on growing roses and check out my tools and resources page to get tooled up properly for looking after your roses.

Here are some recent articles:

• The Meaning of Red Roses: Love, Lore, Relationships, and More
• Where Do Roses Grow? Locations, Climate, and Requirements
• My Knockout Roses Look Terrible! Here’s the Problem! [Fixed]
• Best Pots for Roses: Types, Pros, and Cons, Which Is Best
• Can Climbing Roses Grow in Shade? Yes, Grow These Two!