Best roses for small spaces – 5 brilliant blooms for pots or narrow borders that will transform compact gardens

I have looked after all types of roses during my time as a professional gardener. From the blousy, deeply fragrant blooms of 'Gertrude Jekyll', to the pink perfection of 'The Generous Gardener', scrambling over trellises and walls. I’ve grown climbing roses across vast pergolas, and deadheaded potted roses for more hours than I care to remember.

Over the last decade, I have worked in a wide range of gardens, from large rural plots to tiny urban terraces. And, whilst you might think that roses are only suited to larger spaces, the truth is that there are so many different types of rose, from floribundas to drifts, ground cover to compact shrubs, that are all perfectly suitable for small outside spaces.

So, while I know you’re never meant to pick favorites, the following five options are some of the best rose varieties, and are ones that I turn to time and again when someone asks me what the best roses for small spaces are. Whether it’s a patio, a courtyard or a narrow front yard, these five are sure to pack a colorful and fragrant punch.

5 best roses for small spaces

In terms of rose care and growing, these romantic plants are relatively hardy and easy to grow.

It is always best to pick varieties best suited to your US hardiness zone, as some will be better suited to cold weather in the north, and some to the warm and dry climate of the south.

Just remember that whilst they can thrive in a variety of situations, roses need sunshine to bloom. The more sun, the more flowers.

Here are five of the best roses for small spaces to try in compact borders or growing in pots this year.

1. Tuscany Superb

'Tuscany Superb' is an old gallica rose, first introduced in 1837. This shrub grows no taller than four feet, maintaining a bushy habit. It is better for beds than pots, unless you've got a big container.

As you can see, it produces dark, magenta-red blooms that have golden stamens, ideal in cottage garden borders and as a plant for pollinators.

It is hardy down to US hardiness zone 4, thriving in full sun to part shade and in a variety of soils. In terms of where never to plant roses, deep shade is always a spot to avoid.

You can deadhead through the summer, although towards July and August, you can begin to leave some flower stems to turn into rose hips for late-season interest.

For a similar shade, try this 'Burgundy Iceberg' rose, with live plants supplied by Heirloom Roses, via Walmart.

'Another shrub rose I would recommend is Louise Clements, which is perfect for small spaces,' says Robin Jennings, rose expert and Manager of Strategic Partnerships at Heirloom Roses.

'Louise Clements is bred here at Heirloom Roses, and she tends to slightly vary in color depending on her growing conditions and zone.

'We have noted that in humid and hot climates, she produces bright blooms leaning more towards orange, and in cooler climates, she leans towards a more pink-coral hue.'

Robin Jennings

Robin Jennings, a city girl from Canada, discovered her passion for gardening in the farmland of Oregon's Willamette Valley. Robin works for Heirloom Roses, where she collaborates with hybridizers to promote the beauty of own-root roses and preserve older varieties.

2. Apricot Drift

'There are so many great choices for ground cover roses,' Robin continues. 'Most will grow no more than two to three feet and produce a significant number of summer blooms.'

Robin recommends 'The Fawn' and 'Peach Drift', as two ground cover roses that are low-growing and perfect for smaller spaces. 'They are also super resilient,' Robin adds. 'These roses are drought-tolerant, and surprisingly so.'

Most drift roses or ground cover roses can be grown down to zone 4 and as far south as zones 10 and 11.

One variety I have used is 'Apricot Drift', which can be planted in containers or narrow borders, producing masses of soft apricot-pink blooms that flower from late spring into fall.

Drift roses like this are some of the best plants to stop weeds, especially when planted en masse and used as a ground cover.

Try this 'Apricot Drift' ground cover rose, available via Nature Hills, which is a good choice for smaller and compact yards.

3. Sunny Knock Out Rose

Most 'Knock Out' roses can be grown down to US hardiness zone 6, reaching a height of three to five feet, making them a good choice for smaller spaces.

'Knock Out' roses are some of the best shrubs for containers, cultivated by American rose grower William Radler in 1989. Ever since, they have been popular with gardeners for their easy-going nature and long flowering time.

In terms of how to care for Knock Out roses, it is important to plant roses in a full sun position with at least six to eight hours of direct light.

Try this 'Sunny Knock Out' rose, available from Nature Hills.

If you are growing roses in pots, remember that they can be greedy feeders during spring and summer. Use something like this Dr Earth organic rose feed from Walmart, to keep your containers in good health.

4. Bull's Eye

With creamy white petals and a scarlet red eye in the center, you would be forgiven for confusing the 'Bull's Eye' rose with tropical hibiscus varieties.

The 'Bull's Eye' rose is available from Heirloom Roses and can be ordered from Amazon.

Bred in 2011, this compact variety will not grow taller than four to five feet, producing semi-double blooms for many weeks during spring and early summer if planted in a sunny spot from zone 6 plus.

What's more, it is one of the best fragrant roses, with a classic rose scent that will lift small spaces during the growing season.

Be sure to complete deep watering with roses in summer, although it is always best to water at the base of the plant, avoiding overhead watering, which can scorch the leaves and invite pests and disease.

5. Arctic Blue

'Arctic Blue' is a floribunda rose, highly valued for producing clusters of double, lilac-pink blooms. Even in the heat, this variety holds up well and can be grown from zone 5 to zone 9.

'Arctic Blue' live roses are available to order from Walmart.

In terms of how to grow floribunda roses, this variety can easily be kept in check, growing no more than three to four feet. Deadhead through the summer, and then prune roses late winter when growth is just resuming, usually around February or March.

'For another rose for small areas, I am partial to the Jalbert roses,' Robin adds. 'They stay nice and compact, around three by three feet, which, like 'Arctic Blue', makes them great for narrow walkways, beds, or pots.

'We have three new releases of his varietals coming in 2025. 'Caramel Kiss' is a brand new introduction to the US, which smells like a strawberry Jolly Rancher mixed with rose. Super sweet, and who wouldn't love that?'

Heirloom roses have a wide selection of plants available via Walmart.

FAQs

Are climbing roses good for small spaces?

Absolutely, climbing roses are brilliant for tight spaces. Maximizing growing space by using vertical surfaces is a clever design trick. Just be sure to choose a smaller-growing variety like 'Strawberry Hill', which can grow up to 10 feet, or 'The Generous Gardener', which can grow up to 15 feet. Just remember to tie in those long stems as they grow, training them horizontally to produce more blooms.

For balconies and patios, many different miniature roses can be grown in pots. For example, 'Cherry Sunblaze', live plants available from Nature Hills, is a miniature variety growing no taller than one or two feet.

So, if you want to add a little color and fragrance to pots and table displays, consider these smaller varieties that take up little room but are no less impactful.

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