For many of us, roses are our garden’s pride and glory. From small, balcony-friendly blooms, to sprawling climbers several metres high, roses come in a massively diverse range of shapes, sizes and colours, and are known as being one of the UK’s most loved flowers.
One question we are often asked is whether roses can be grown in shade, and if so which varieties are best suited to shade conditions. The answer is yes, in certain conditions. Here we offer expert advice on growing roses in shady spots and share recommended rose varieties for shade.
Can you Grow Roses in the Shade?
With the correct conditions and care, there is absolutely no reason why your roses shouldn’t thrive in the shaded areas of your garden. In fact, some varieties of roses do very well with a little extra shade, keeping them safe from the scorching summer sun.
On average, roses that are planted in the shade still need at least four hours of sunlight per day to thrive. Try to pick somewhere the sun reaches them either early in the morning, or later in the afternoon to avoid the more severe warmth of the mid-day sun.
Varieties of Rose for Partial Shade
There are a number of rose varieties that will flower in more shaded areas. Here are a few of our recommended varieties:
Rosa ‘Eustacia Vye’
With an elegant, soft apricot-pink glow and rich, ruffled petals this stunning bloom is a hardy shrub rose which is perfectly poised to thrive in all soil types and both full sunlight and partial shade.
Rosa ‘Emily Brontë’
A medium-sized shrub rose with large, stunning blooms made up of a delicate pink – apricot centre gently fading to cream. This beautiful variety carries citrus hints within its Strong Tea and Old Rose scent.
Rosa ‘Silas Marner’
Delicate pink petals and vibrant red stems give R.‘Silas Marner’ a quintessentially English garden feel, with the addition of a medium-strong fruity fragrance and rich, glossy green foliage.
Rosa ‘Roald Dahl’
Gorgeous apricot-coloured cupped rosettes emerge from deep orange-red buds. The fruity Tea scent paired with very few thorns makes this bloom a perfect option for pots and containers as well as mixed borders and hedges.
Rosa ‘Golden Showers’
This climbing rose variety offers spectacular yellow flowers from mid summer all the way through into autumn, gracefully arching up to more than 2 metres over time. While nominally best for a sunny position, it will tolerate partial shade.
Rosa ‘Ballerina’
This light pink, repeat-flowering shrub rose variety produces clusters of single-petalled blooms from late spring all through summer. Perfect for containers and mixed borders.
Which Soil for Growing Roses in Shaded Areas?
Roses thrive in rich, loamy soil with good drainage. Being planted in the shade does come with advantages for roses, who benefit most from soil that is neither too damp, nor too dry.
Be mindful that areas of shade caused by trees or large bushes may not be the best area to plant your roses, as they can pull a lot of moisture from the soil.
Watering Roses in Shaded Areas
Depending on how much sunlight your roses are exposed to may change how often you water them. Roses that do not see a lot of sunlight won’t need to be watered quite as often, typically twice a week once they are established.
If in doubt, check with your hand to feel if the ground around your roses is moist. If it feels wet and sodden, hold off on watering your blooms a little longer. If it feels dry, it’s time to grab your watering can.
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