How to Grow Tree Roses: A Guide to Planting and Care

Tree Roses Create Unique and Stunning Garden Displays

‘Always and Forever’ 36-inch Hybrid Tree Rose

Tree roses, also called rose standards, are one of the most striking and space efficient ways to bring the beauty of roses to your garden. With their elevated blooms and sculptural form, they’re perfect for framing entryways, accenting patios, or lining walkways and front porch steps. Available in 24-inch and 36-inch sizes, tree roses combine vibrant blooms with the appeal of a small ornamental tree, in any size of garden or outdoor small space.

You can grow tree roses in containers or directly in the ground. Pay close attention to the growing Zone recommendations for your rose. Tree roses are not as hardy as shrubs, especially when planted in containers. We’ll cover that, too.

Why Grow Tree Roses?

• Dramatic Visual Impact: With their elevated blooms, tree roses create height and an elegant look that few other plants can achieve. They add a formal touch to gardens and bring sculptural beauty to patios or decks.
• Compact Versatility: Tree roses thrive in containers, making them perfect for small gardens, balconies, or urban spaces where planting options are limited.
• Year-Round Flexibility: In colder climates, growing tree roses in containers allows you to move them indoors or to a protected space for winter, ensuring they return for another season of beautiful blooms.
• Custom Color and Form: Grafted with 2-4 buds of exceptional rose varieties, tree roses offer a wide array of colors, shapes, and even fragrances to suit your garden’s personality.
• High Quality and Guaranteed: Tree roses from Jackson & Perkins are of the highest quality on the market. Using reliable rootstock and our famous roses, we offer a satisfaction guarantee, too.

How to Grow and Care for Tree Roses

When growing any rose in a container, a good rule of thumb is to purchase a rose that is hardy in two growing zones colder/lower than yours. This is particularly important to adhere to for tree roses.

Planting in Containers

Tree roses grow happily in pots, letting you to easily move them to sunny spots or protect them from winter’s chill. Here’s how to do it:

• Choose the Right Pot: Use a large container with good drainage—bigger is always better. A 16-18 inch pot works well for most tree roses.
• Prepare the Soil: Use high-quality potting soil mixed with organic matter. Avoid heavy garden soil, which can retain too much water and harm the roots.
• Plant Properly: Soak the roots of the bare root rose in water for a few hours before planting. The container should be wide enough to spread out the roots and deep enough to accommodate the root ball without burying the trunk too deeply.
• Placement of the Plant: Center the tree rose in the container, ensuring the trunk is vertical. Backfill with soil, gently firming it and watering to remove air pockets.
• Location Matters: Place the container where your rose will receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.

Planting in the Garden

If you live in a warmer climate, tree roses can be planted directly into the ground:

• Choose the Site: Pick a sunny location with well-draining soil. Dig a hole deep and wide enough to accommodate the root ball. Soak the roots of the bare root rose in water for a few hours before planting.
• Prepare the Soil: Amend the planting area with compost 2-3 days before planting to improve nutrient content and drainage.
• Plant at the Right Depth: Position the tree rose ensuring the trunk is vertical, then backfill and water deeply.

Winter Care Tips

Tree roses aren’t as cold-hardy as other rose types. For zones colder than their hardiness rating, grow tree roses two zones higher than your own (i.e., for Zone 5, choose a rose hardy to Zone 3).

Containers: Move potted tree roses to an unheated garage, shed, or indoor space during winter.

In-Ground Roses: For planted tree roses, mound mulch around the base and wrap the trunk with burlap to protect it from freezing temperatures.

Why 24-inch vs. 36-inch Tree Roses?

24-inch Tree Roses: Ideal for small spaces or container gardening, these compact trees fit perfectly on patios, balconies, and entryways. Their height ensures blooms are close to eye level when seated, creating an intimate and elegant display.

36-inch Tree Roses: Best for larger gardens or creating dramatic garden features, these taller tree roses make a bold statement, perfect for lining walkways or framing outdoor seating areas.

Explore our collection of the highest-quality tree roses for sale and begin your journey to growing these breathtaking blooms.

Watch this inspirational video in which Paul Zimmerman talks about training a climbing rose to look like a weeping standard. Of course, this method is recommended for in-ground growing.