20 Most Beautiful Grandiflora Roses for Your Home Garden
Grandiflora roses have some wonderful qualities, making them great for mixed borders, cutting gardens, and even as a focal point. In this article, gardening expert Melissa Strauss shares 21 gorgeous cultivars for your home garden.
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Grandiflora roses are one of those plants that I regret not discovering earlier. Mostly because I now wish that I had a garden positively full of mature grandifloras. These hybrid roses are some of the most enchanting flowers in the garden.
These roses are a hybridization of hybrid tea roses and floribunda roses. They have some of the best qualities of each. Their buds are high, and their centers remain as such, much like their hybrid tea parents. From hybrid teas, they also inherit their long, slender, and graceful stems. From their floribunda genetics, they take on an incredible repeat blooming characteristic. They sometimes appear in clusters, like floribundas, while others are single flowers, like hybrid teas.
These disease-resistant roses have excellent heat and cold tolerance. They are vigorous growers and bloomers that range in height from four to eight feet, making them a standout in the garden. They also have a lovely, rounded growth habit. Here are 21 of the most beautiful grandifloras on the market today.
All Dressed Up
botanical name Rosa ‘WEKgrasucejuc’ | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
height 5’ | |
hardiness zones 4-10 |
At first glance, you might mistake ‘All Dressed Up’ for an old garden rose. Masses of ruffled, bubblegum pink blooms resemble their twice-removed ancestors. This is a rose with English style, feminine and refined, in all the best ways. What the old garden roses don’t share with this rose is that delightful repeat blooming habit.
‘All Dressed Up’ will bloom continuously through its rather long season. This rose will fill your yard with fluffy pink confections that smell wonderful with undertones of fresh green apples. It has great disease resistance and tolerates winters all the way north to Zone 4. Plant this rose in groupings, and it makes an incredible hedge.
Uptown Girl
botanical name Rosa cv. ‘WEKabacima’ | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
height 4’ | |
hardiness zones 4-10 |
If this rose’s name sets your toe to tapping, you’re not alone! This lovely rose certainly does Ms. Brinkley justice. The large, cup-shaped flowers have that classic English refinement. The lightly scalloped petals are equal parts pink and orange. The color gives this rose a vintage vibe with an electric flair as the petals brighten up toward the edges.
‘Uptown Girl’ is an award winner, and one look will confirm that it’s deserving of the accolades. These roses have a strong, spicy-sweet fragrance that will drift across the garden and draw admiration from afar. Despite her high-maintenance name, this rose is easy to grow and blooms all summer long.
Sweetness
botanical name Rosa ‘JACmearo’ | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
height 5’ | |
hardiness zones 5-10 |
I love a lavender rose. Maybe it’s because they represent not just ordinary love, but unique love. Softer and gentler than their purple relatives, lavender roses are just a blue whisper away from blush, another favorite. ‘Sweetness’ is everything a classic lavender rose should be. The flowers are high in the center with just the right number of neatly arranged petals.
‘Sweetness’ was the Jackson & Perkins rose of the year in 2009. The large blooms come in flushes throughout the summer. They get their sweet, lemony fragrance from their French parent, ‘Melody Parfumée,’ and who does perfume better than the French? The shrub has glossy, deep green foliage and a plump, rounded shape.
Twilight Zone
botanical name Rosa ‘WEKebtidere’ | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
height 3′-5’ | |
hardiness zones 4-10 |
I may naturally lean into lavender, but this bright purple rose can compete with any rose alive. Seductive and mysterious, ‘Twilight Zone’ has deep, velvety magenta petals with a smoky finish. It’s not stingy about those petals. These five-inch blooms are more than double-petaled. Rows and rows of petals make up these old garden rose imitators.
‘Twilight Zone’ sounds a bit creepy if you ask me, and this rose is anything but. The foliage is deep and glossy, and the dramatic blooms have a spicy citrus fragrance that is quite strong. The shrub is on the smaller side for a grandiflora, but what it lacks in stature, it makes up for in beauty. The exceptionally pretty and highly fragrant ‘Ebb Tide’ is the floribunda behind this striking variety.
State of Grace
botanical name Rosa cv. WEKspodotogi’ | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
height 4’-5’ | |
hardiness zones 4-9 |
‘State of Grace’ is a delicate beauty. Large, graceful, single blooms set atop bright green foliage. These blooms are a combination of golden yellow inside surrounded by perfect peachy pink around the edges. The buds are deep coral which shows through the outer petals adding depth and dimension to these already beautiful flowers.
This rose has the blooms of an English-style rose but a much fuller, more even growth habit. This makes it a wonderful landscape plant. ‘State of Grace’ has excellent disease resistance, especially when it comes to mildew, which can be a particular issue for most roses.
Mother of Pearl
botanical name Rosa ‘Meiludere’ | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
height 3’-4’ | |
hardiness zones 5-10 |
If you recall, I mentioned that grandifloras sometimes exhibit the cluster-blooming habit of floribundas. ‘Mother of Pearl’ is one such rose, and oh my! Is she ever a sight! Clusters of large (5″) blooms appear in wave after wave from late spring through early fall in an extra-long blooming season. The flowers are a luminous and nearly translucent shade of blush pink. Like mother-of-pearl, there are subtle variations of color throughout the flower, giving it a warm, lustrous glow.
This rose performs well in a wide range of climates. It will tolerate hot and humid, as well as climates that trend in a cooler direction. The glossy green foliage is particularly resistant to black spot disease. The blooms are not especially fragrant, but they are pretty enough to forgive that aspect.
Fun in the Sun
botanical name Rosa cv ‘WEKpupmobalip’ PPAF | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
height 4’-5’ | |
hardiness zones 4-10 |
If you could trap sunshine in a teacup, you’d have something akin to ‘Fun in the Sun’ rose. This English-style grandiflora has a profusion of ruffled petals in shades of yellow, kissed with peachy orange. They have that old garden rose density to their blooms, but they come with a much more desirable blooming habit.
This relatively new cultivar has excellent color retention and makes an excellent cut flower. Clusters of five to six blooms top long stems, just a few of which make a gorgeous bouquet. The three to four-foot shrubs are compact enough to fit into any garden.
Sweet Spirit
botanical name Rosa ‘Meithatie’ PP 30,860 | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
height 3’-4’ | |
hardiness zones 5-9 |
‘Sweet Spirit’ strongly channels its hybrid tea heritage but with the volume of a floribunda. Clusters of large, bold pink flowers grow on long, upright stems. The foliage is full and fluffy, filling in the gaps and making this an attractive shrub for the garden. These stems are spectacular, though.
The high-centered blooms are fully double-petaled in the most vivid fuchsia you can envision. They have a high center and a strong, sweet scent from its tea rose parent as well. ‘Sweet Spirit’ is content in hot, humid climates. It is disease-resistant and compact enough for any space.
English Coral
botanical name Rosa ‘JACcaswespreme’ | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
height 5’ | |
hardiness zones 5-9 |
‘English Coral’ is a stately showstopper. Wave after continuous wave of coral blooms cover this tall shrub from spring through to fall. The double blooms are reminiscent of peonies, and the fragrance is light and fruity. Flowers usually appear solo on long, strong stems, making them ideal for the back row of the cutting garden.
This is a taller plant, reaching about six feet at maturity. The blooms are medium to large at three to four inches across. ‘English Coral’ is more than a pretty face. It is a sturdy, substantial, and disease-resistant cultivar that is great for beginners and rose collectors alike.
Rock & Roll
botanical name Rosa ‘WEKgobnez’ | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
height 4’-5′ | |
hardiness zones 6-9 |
‘Rock & Roll’ knows how to make an entrance. Early to mid-spring is when this rose begins to perform. It takes a summer intermission and plays a terrific encore in the fall when things cool off a bit. The shrub is small to medium-sized for a grandiflora and makes a nice addition to the cottage garden with extra personality.
The flowers remind me of the Queen of Hearts. Clusters of white flowers have irregular splashes of crimson. This play on the classic red rose is loud and energetic, and not to be overlooked or forgotten. With all this personality it’s hard to imagine more, but this rose is highly fragrant as well! A pungent fruity, flowery scent is the finishing touch to these incredible blooms.
Anna’s Promise
botanical name Rosa cv ‘WEKdoofat’ | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
height 3’-4’ | |
hardiness zones 6-10 |
Pretty as a picture, this rose gets her name from the Downton Abbey character of the same name. These enchanting flowers will take your breath away in the sweetest way possible. The buds and backs of the petals are a deep coral pink, and the insides are peachy yellow. The combination of the two makes the opening of these flowers an occasion to remember.
These lovely flowers bloom in single or small clusters of two or three. They have delightful pointed buds and a glossy green backdrop. The fragrance is light, sweet, and fruity. The new foliage is a deep purple shade, adding to the elegance and refinement of this compact variety. The color combination makes this a striking standout in the garden.
About Face
botanical name Rosa ‘WEKosupalz’ | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
height 5’-6’ | |
hardiness zones 5-10 |
This bi-color rose will have you doing a double take! The outside of the petals are deep coppery-orange, and the inside is a gorgeous shade of peach. These very full flowers are in the four-inch diameter range and bloom in significant clusters. This is a very big-blooming cultivar. The buds are rounded to slightly pointed, and the deeper shade is mostly visible in bud with just a hint of the lighter shade at the edges.
‘About Face’ has deep, olive green foliage that creates a wonderful complement to the orange blooms. The shrub is on the larger side, at five to six feet tall this rose makes a wonderful hedge or background plant. It is spectacular enough to stand alone as a focal point in the garden.
Tournament of Roses
botanical name Rosa ‘JACient’ | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
height 3’-4’ | |
hardiness zones 7-10 |
This is a rose worthy of celebrating. Named for the famous rose event, ‘Tournament of Roses’ is an award-winning stunner. It has great disease resistance and makes a good beginner rose. This is an ideal cultivar to add to the cutting garden with clusters of flowers atop long (15″) stems on a compact shrub. This variety only reaches three to four feet tall, but it’s a massive bloomer. The blooming season lasts from late spring through early fall.
Talk about a beautiful flower, ‘Tournament of Roses’ lives up to its celebratory name. The bud and outer petals of these bi-color blooms are deep rose pink. As the petals unfurl we see that they are several shades lighter in the interior, with a slight peachy tint. This variety blooms in its first year, but it doesn’t have excellent cold tolerance. If you’re lucky enough to live in Zones 7-10, this is a must-have for the rose garden.
Show Your Stripes
botanical name Rosa ‘JACnewibysbip’ | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
height 5’ | |
hardiness zones 5-9 |
‘Show Your Stripes’ is a continuous and long blooming variety that flowers from spring through fall in waves. Expect flowers to be present through the entire season on this exciting cultivar. It is a medium to large shrub that works well in a grouping or as a stand-alone, focal point. This is an eye-catching variety that will get a lot of attention from passers-by.
The flowers are four inches, double-petaled blooms. The stripes are irregular in shades of fuchsia and magenta, making these an especially flamboyant rose bush. They have a strong, pleasant, citrus fragrance, and bloom on tall, strong stems, which are perfect for cutting gardens.
Dick Clark
botanical name Rosa ‘WEKfunk’ | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
height 4’-6’ | |
hardiness zones 5-10 |
‘Dick Clark’ rose is as famously well-loved as its namesake entertainer. It is a winner of the All-America Rose Selection Award for 2011, an honor reserved for the most beautiful roses. The shrub has a nice shape and deep green, glossy foliage. It falls in the mid-range in terms of size and works well as a focal point or in a grouping.
Medium to large blooms show up in singles on tall stems. They have creamy centers surrounded by bold, pinkish-red edges that deepen in color as they age. The flowers have a spicy cinnamon fragrance, and they bloom in flushes from spring through fall. It has excellent disease resistance and is an overall low-maintenance rose.
Radiant Perfume
botanical name Rosa cv. ‘JACandof’ | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
height 5’-6′ | |
hardiness zones 5-10 |
‘Radiant Perfume’ is a vigorous grower and producer of large, golden, double blooms. The flowers are large, full, and double-petaled in a wonderful warm shade of yellow. In addition to their stunning color, they have a strong citrus scent, which you can enjoy from quite a distance. The flowers are larger than most grandifloras at 5 inches wide.
The shrub is large to medium-sized with a rounded, upright growth habit. They bloom in their first year and have a backdrop of deep, glossy green foliage. The blooming season for ‘Radiant Perfume’ is primarily through the summer months.
Miss Manners
botanical name Rosa cv. ‘Wekalmylcas’ PPAF | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
height 4’-5’ | |
hardiness zones 5-10 |
‘Miss Manners’ takes everything in stride and does it with classic English grace and style. Well known for its excellent resistance to mold and mildew diseases, this rose is easy to care for. It also has great cold tolerance, making this one tough rose. ‘Miss Manners’ is the perfect pink rose, symbolic of love and happiness. This is a great rose to share with a loved one.
The flowers have an old-fashioned feel in perfect, double-petal form. Each flower has 60 perfect pink petals, which open fully to large, bowl-shaped blooms. The color is medium pink, just as rosy and bright as a pink rose could be. They are fragrant but not intrusive, with a fruity flair.
Blushing Lavender
botanical name Rosa ‘JACsterugrada’ | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
height 4’ | |
hardiness zones 5-9 |
‘Blushing Lavender’ was love at first sight for this gardener. An amazingly beautiful, pale purple rose, this flower has just a hint of pink, giving it a soft, warm blush. The fully double lavender flowers are large at four to five inches wide. Even when open, the center of the flower is obscured by a mass of ruffled petals. The blooms appear in singles or groups of up to four or five flowers. They have a gentle, fruity fragrance.
The shrub is medium-sized and full, with a bit of a spreading habit. The stems are on the shorter side, but they are nice and stiff, making them good for low-profile floral arrangements. ‘Blushing Lavender’ blooms in her first year. Expect to see several flushes of flowers over the long season from spring through fall.
Love
botanical name Rosa ‘JACtwin’ | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
height 3’-4′ | |
hardiness zones 5-9 |
You will fall in love with ‘Love’ grandiflora rose. One of the most dependably beautiful bloomers around, this variety is wonderful for mixed beds. It is compact with deep, glossy foliage and brilliant, burgundy stems. The new growth is deep red, as well. The plant is pretty on its own, but the flowers are truly splendid.
‘Love’ is a continuous bloomer that will keep you in roses from spring to fall. The blooms are large and bi-colored. On the inside, the flower is perfectly crimson, but the outside of the petals is a cool, crisp white. It makes a striking composition. They have a moderate fragrance that is sweet and spicy. A 1980 winner of the All-America Rose Selection.
Lagerfeld
botanical name Rosa ‘AROlaqueli’ | |
sun requirements Full sun | |
height 4’-5’ | |
hardiness zones 7-10 |
I have one more enchanting lavender rose for you before we come to the end of the list. ‘Lagerfeld’ is a wonderful rose named for the famed designer of the House of Chanel. It blooms freely throughout the long season in flushes of brilliant clusters. This is an elegant rose that belongs in any designer garden.
The blooms are large for cluster roses, and they bloom in great numbers. Clusters of up to a dozen blooms appear at the top of long stems. The flowers have a classic form in a very special color. The lightest blush of purple intensifies slightly toward the center of the blooms. Not only are these flowers breathtaking they also have a very strong, spicy fragrance.
Final Thoughts
Grandiflora roses possess many of the best qualities of their parent roses. If you want a rose with versatility, these plants have dense foliage, making them great landscape elements. They also have long, strong stems and some of the prettiest blooms around. Add one of these stunning roses to your garden for excellent cut flowers, or simply for the beauty of the plant.