Illustration
Shrub Rose
Rosa
Shrub Rose blooms from May through October.
Months here are Northern Hemisphere months; in the Southern Hemisphere, shift them by six months.
Growing Shrub Rose
Plant it in full sun. It prefers moderate water. It is hardy in USDA zones 4–9. Expect it to reach about 4 ft tall and 3.5 ft wide at maturity, in roughly 3 years (not yet checked).
What was checked
Mature height and spread, hardiness zones, sun and the trait tags were checked against named botanical sources for this plant. The bloom months and water need on this page were not, and each fact above says which. The planting, spacing and size sections are derived from these checked facts by a fixed rule, not checked separately, and the plant type is the library's own classification.
When to plant Shrub Rose
Plant Shrub Rose in early spring as soon as the soil is workable, or in early fall at least six weeks before your first frost, so roots establish in cool weather. In zone 6, the middle of its hardy zones 4 to 9, spring means March to May and fall means August or September. Once settled, it blooms from May to October.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar; if you garden near zone 6, the middle of this plant's hardy range, start with zone 6 in March. Derived from the plant's category, zones and bloom months plus typical zone frost dates, not checked separately.
How big does Shrub Rose get?
4 fttall5 ft 7 inan adult3.5 ftwideSee Shrub Rose in a garden plan: the planner shows it in 3D beside everything else you add, growing toward this size over the years.
How far apart to plant Shrub Rose
Derived from the mature spread above by a fixed rule, not checked separately: spacing is the spread, center to center.
Space Shrub Rose about 3.5 ft apart, center to center, so each plant has room to reach its full width.
Add Shrub Rose to a garden plan and the planner draws it at its full width, so you see the spacing before you buy.
Where these facts come from
Shrub Rose's height, spread, hardiness zones, sun and trait tags were checked against 11 published sources on July 30, 2026. Each one is linked below with every fact it carried, which can include a fact this page still marks as not yet checked, because a source carrying a value is not the same as the value being held to the standard. Facts not in that list, and the planting, spacing and size sections, are not covered by these sources.
- NC State ExtensionRosaheight, spread, hardiness zones, sun, years to mature size and trait tags
- NC State ExtensionRosa setigeraheight, spread, hardiness zones, sun, years to mature size and trait tags
- NC State ExtensionRosa x centifoliaheight, spread, hardiness zones, sun, years to mature size and trait tags
- Missouri Botanical GardenRosa rugosaheight, spread, hardiness zones, sun and trait tags
- Clemson Home and Garden Information CenterGrowing Rosesheight, sun, years to mature size and trait tags
- Iowa State University ExtensionRose, Rosa sp.height, hardiness zones, sun and trait tags
- extension.missouri.eduUniversity of Missouri Extension G6600 (Roses: Selecting and Planting)sun and trait tags
- RHSRoses growing guidesun and trait tags
- University of Florida IFASRosessun and trait tags
- University of Illinois ExtensionIllinois Extension (Roses: Rose Types)height and trait tags
- Iowa State University ExtensionRose Types and Cultivarsheight
How the checking works, and what each standard covers, is on the verified plants page.
10 more colors in the Shrub & Landscape Roses group
Same genus, similar care - pick the one you are growing.
- Bonica
- Cécile Brünner
- Drift
- Flower Carpet
- Knock Out
- Louise Clements
- Oso Easy Double Red
- Rugosa
- Soeur Emmanuelle
- The Fairy
Compare every variety in the Shrub & Landscape Roses group
Every figure is the variety's own page fact. Tap a name to open it.
| Variety | Color | Blooms | Hardiness | Sun | Size (H × W) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonica | Pink | May–Oct | Zones 4–9 | Full sun | 3.5 ft × 4 ft |
| Cécile Brünner | Pink | May–Oct | Zones 5–9 | Full sun | 3 ft × 2.5 ft |
| Drift | Pink | May–Oct | Zones 4–11 | Full sun | 1.5 ft × 2.5 ft |
| Flower Carpet | Pink | May–Oct | Zones 5–10 | Full sun | 2 ft × 3.5 ft |
| Knock Out | Red | May–Oct | Zones 4–10 | Full sun | 3.5 ft × 3.5 ft |
| Louise Clements | Orange | May–Oct | Zones 6–10 | Full sun | 5 ft × 4 ft |
| Oso Easy Double Red | Red | May–Oct | Zones 5–9 | Full sun | 3.5 ft × 3.5 ft |
| Rugosa | Pink | May–Sep | Zones 3–9 | Full sun | 5 ft × 5 ft |
| Shrubthis page | Pink | May–Oct | Zones 4–9 | Full sun | 4 ft × 3.5 ft |
| Soeur Emmanuelle | Pink | Jun–Sep | Zones 6–9 | Full sun | 3.5 ft × 2 ft |
| The Fairy | Pink | Jun–Oct | Zones 4–9 | Full sun | 2.5 ft × 3.5 ft |
Good to know about Shrub Rose
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note. A note reports what its source says; where that differs from a fact above, the fact above is this entry's stored value, and its mark says whether it has been checked.
Worth knowing
The whole point of Knock Out roses is black spot resistance. Bred to shrug off the most common rose disease, they work as low-input shrubs needing no fungicide. per NC State and Missouri Botanical
Hardiness zone varies by source
Sources split on cold-hardiness: NC State rates the Knock Out group to zone 4a, while Missouri Botanical lists the original Knock Out more cautiously at zone 5. per NC State and Missouri Botanical
How hard to prune
How hard to prune divides sources: Nebraska takes off half to two-thirds of the height, NC State only light pruning. Both work; do the one-third cane renewal. per Nebraska and NC State
Rose rosette disease, no cure
A mite-borne virus that resistance breeding has not solved. Look for witches' broom of red, distorted, extra-thorny shoots; dig up and destroy the whole plant, roots included. per Clemson and UGA
No deadheading needed
Unlike hybrid teas, these rebloom continuously without deadheading. Removing spent flowers only speeds the next flush, so you can leave them alone: a core low-maintenance trait. per NC State
Safe around pets, but thorny
The ASPCA lists roses as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses, so the only real hazard is the thorns; a genuine plus next to many toxic ornamentals. per ASPCA
Blooms in part shade
Unusual for a rose, these bloom decently in part shade, on as little as 3 hours of direct sun a day, though full sun still gives the most flowers. per NC State
What pairs well with Shrub Rose
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Sea Thrift
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; opens in mid spring and overlaps into this one's season; lower at 8 in, for the front of the border; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Hyacinth
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in early spring, before this one opens; lower at 10 in, for the front of the border; both offer pollinator forage, in different months.
Rock Cress
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; opens in mid spring and overlaps into this one's season; low at 4 in, to carpet the ground beneath; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Creeping Sedum
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; low at 4 in, to carpet the ground beneath; both are strong pollinator plants; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Windflower
Takes full sun to part sun and moderate water; blooms in early spring, before this one opens; low at 6 in, to carpet the ground beneath; both are strong pollinator plants, and they feed in different months.
Eastern Redbud
Takes full sun to part sun and moderate water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; both are strong pollinator plants, and they feed in different months; taller at 23 ft, for the layer behind it.
Grape Hyacinth
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; blooms in early spring, before this one opens; lower at 8 in, for the front of the border; both offer pollinator forage, in different months.
Flowering Cherry
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; both offer pollinator forage, in different months; stands well above at 26 ft, a canopy to plant beneath.
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Design a garden with this
Drop this plant onto a 3D plan, see how it fills in, and watch your whole garden bloom across the year.