A deep red Hot Cocoa rose with a yellow center
(Image credit: Caiquame)

Roses are often a staple in the home landscape. Shrub and climbing roses are celebrated for their magnificent bloom and effortless beauty. Though many varieties are popular in flower beds, avid rose growers may find themselves looking for cultivars with more interesting and intriguing characteristics. Below, we have compiled a list of some of the most unique roses for you to add to your garden.

Unusual Roses for the Garden

1. Cherry Parfait

Many unique roses are those that feature interesting combinations of color. Cherry Parfait buds unveil large white blooms with delicate pink edging. Boasting an impressive petal count, the full flowers make an excellent addition to formal flower beds and serve as a dependable focal plant. Since this rose remains relatively small, Cherry Parfait is a good candidate for growing in containers near porches, paths, and/or driveways.

2. Frida Kahlo

Named for the Mexican artist, this intriguing bicolor is among the most unique types of roses available to growers. The Frida Kahlo rose features flowers in stunning shades of pinkish-red, splashed with yellow and orange streaks. Rather than single blooms, growers should expect the plants to produce smaller, fragrant clusters.

3. Grace ‘N Grit

Grace ‘N Grit is a white and pink bi-color shrub. Resistant to disease, this variety has proven itself to be an excellent choice for gardeners across a wide range of climatic conditions, including those which are especially hot and humid. Growers of this variety will enjoy an extended bloom time, with flowers repeating throughout the growing season.

4. Hot Cocoa

Among the most unique roses to plant are solids in unusual colors. Hot Cocoa rose distinguishes itself in the garden by its intense orange-chocolate hue. Additionally, the large flowers offer visitors an alluring spicy fragrance, and charming dark foliage. Clustered flowers are a good choice for use in both formal flower beds and cutting gardens.

5. Oso Easy Paprika

Part of the Oso Easy series, Paprika rose is an exceptional variety of petite rose. Reaching only 24 inches (60 cm) at maturity, this mounding cultivar is ideal for use in containers, at the front of mixed borders, and as a ground cover. Attractive flowers first open in brilliant shades of orange. As each bloom ages, its center blends to a fantastic combination of yellow and coral tones.

6. Scentimental

Scentimental rose bushes produce large, full blossoms. With each flower containing over 50 petals, gardeners can expect tightly packed buds that are striped with splashes of red and white. Scentimental is well-known for its intense spicy fragrance, which may often be noticed from across the garden.

7. Summer Fashion

This multi-colored rose is prized for its unique coloration. Each flower opens in an appealing shade of pastel yellow. As the bloom continues to age, its outer petals develop to reveal deeper pink hues, creating a beautiful and multi-dimensional addition to the garden. Highly fragrant, Summer Fashion makes a memorable addition to flower beds and informal cutting patches.

8. Sweet Spot

Another compact rose, Sweet Spot is a good choice for containers and borders. Single yellow flowers open to display a deep, red center. This rose has demonstrated impressive resistance to many common rose diseases, as well as an increased tolerance to heat, humidity, and prolonged periods of drought.

Tonya Barnett
Writer

Tonya Barnett has been gardening for 13 years. Flowers are her passion. She has trasformed her backyard into a cut flower garden, which she regularly chronicles on her YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/@tonyawiththeflowers.