Gardening Flowers Roses How to Plant and Grow Miniature Roses Use this guide to grow miniature roses in containers, as flowerbed borders, hedges, or as groundcover. By Lynn McAlpine Lynn McAlpine Lynn McAlpine is a lifelong gardener and long-time editor of gardening and home articles. Her work encompasses both print publications and online sites. She has hands-on experience with annuals and perennial beds, vegetable gardens, herbs, houseplants, and woodland management. Lynn has a B.A. in Journalism, Magazine Production from the University of Memphis and is a member of ACES, the American Copy Editors Society. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on April 19, 2023 In This Article View All In This Article Where to Plant Planting Tips Care Pests and Problems Propagation Types Companion Plants FAQs Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Edward Gohlich Gardeners with limited space can grow roses by cultivating miniature roses in containers, but they grow just as well in a garden bed. Miniature roses emerged in the 1930s as an accidental result of rose hybridizing. These perennials usually stay under 2 feet tall and respond to all the care basics of regular-size roses—deep irrigation, sunshine, and regular fertilizing. Some miniature roses have the standard upright form of many of their standard-size relatives but come in climbing and cascading varieties. In addition to being beautiful and fragrant, they have no thorns and are robust rebloomers. Miniature roses are incredibly hardy but need extra winter protection in cold climates. In Zone 5 and colder, bury the plant in a mound of soil to prevent it from dying back to the roots. The 17 Easiest Roses to Grow to Add Tons of Colorful Blooms Miniature rose Overview Genus Name Rosa Common Name Miniature rose Plant Type Rose Light Part Sun, Sun Height 1 to 3 feet Width 1 to 2 feet Flower Color Blue, Green, Orange, Pink, Red, White Foliage Color Chartreuse/Gold Season Features Fall Bloom, Spring Bloom, Summer Bloom Special Features Cut Flowers, Fragrance, Good for Containers, Low Maintenance Zones 10, 11, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Propagation Stem Cuttings Where to Plant Miniature Roses Plant miniature roses outdoors in Zones 4-11. In colder areas, they can be grown in containers indoors and then moved outdoors in spring. Select a location that receives 6 to 8 hours of sun a day. They can tolerate partial sun but won't bloom as profusely. To be their best, these plants need rich, loamy, and well-drained soil. Miniature roses adapt well to flowerbed edging, front-of-the-border socializing with perennials and annuals, and low hedges. How and When to Plant Miniature Roses Plant miniature rose bushes much like you would plant full-size rose bushes. Dig a hole the same height as the pot it came in and about a foot wider. After removing the plant, loosen the roots. Spread out the roots on top of the soil that you've enhanced with organic matter. Add mulch after watering. Like bigger roses, miniature roses do best if planted in spring. Miniature Roses Care Tips Miniature roses aren't fussy and require the essentials: sunlight, water, and well-draining soil. Light Miniature roses do best in full sun at least six to eight hours per day. Too much shade can cause them to become sparse. In addition, lots of sun helps with disease resistance. Soil and Water The best soil for miniature roses is loamy, rich, and well-drained. If you plant them in containers, use light, nutrient-packed soil that drains well to avoid root rot. Water deeply and add water when the soil is dry, about 1 inch per week. Potted miniature roses, especially those grown indoors, need more water than in the garden. When watering miniature roses, aim the hose or watering can at the base of the plant to avoid getting the leaves and blooms wet. The 6 Best Watering Cans for All Types of Gardeners in 2024, According to Testing Temperature and Humidity Moderate temperatures are the best environment for miniature roses—they do best when it's around 70ºF. If it's going to be below freezing, bring any potted plants indoors to protect them from the cold. You can also protect plants in your garden by adding additional soil to the base of the plants and topping it with mulch. Fertilizer Roses need plenty of fertilizing to bloom throughout the season. A commercial rose food or all-purpose product is fine. Begin fertilizing in spring when the first leaves appear, then repeat after each abundant bloom. Consult product label instructions to determine the correct amount to use. Stop feeding your plants six to eight weeks before the first frost. Pruning Prune roses in late winter or early spring before new blooms appear. Cut away any dead wood and trim back around one-third of the plant to maintain its shape and encourage growth. Deadhead roses weekly to promote new growth during the season. Potting and Repotting Miniature Roses To pot miniature roses, use a container 6 to 8 inches deep with drainage holes. It helps to add gravel to the bottom of the pot to facilitate drainage. Use potting soil with good nutrients that promotes drainage. Keep indoor potted miniature roses where they'll get plenty of sunlight for most of the day, or they won't thrive. Also, they may need some additional humidity to stay healthy. Pests and Problems Keep fungal diseases like powdery mildew from infecting your miniature roses by ensuring good airflow around your plants and always watering them at the base and not from overhead. If you see signs of infestation by insects like Japanese beetles or mites, quickly spray your plants with a blast of water or insecticidal soap. If pests persist, try a chemical insecticide to minimize the damage. How to Propagate Miniature Roses Cuttings are the way to propagate miniature roses. Plant healthy cuttings in a mix of moist soil and perlite after snipping the base for better water absorption. Don't overwater the cutting or the soil—just mist it. Set a plastic bag over the top of the cutting, but don't let it touch the cutting. Keep it indoors in a bright area without direct sunlight; after a month or two, check that the stem has grown roots by gently tugging it to see if there's resistance. When that happens, remove the plastic bag. Once the stem is growing leaves, you can pot it or transplant it to your garden. Types of Miniature Roses 'Amy Grant' Rose Doug Hetherington Rosa 'Amy Grant' bears light pink blooms in a classic hybrid tea form poised on glossy, disease-resistant foliage. The plant grows 2 feet tall and wide. Zones 5-9 'Baby Boomer' Rose Doug Hetherington Rosa 'Baby Boomer' offers gorgeous, baby-pink blooms atop long stems, so they're perfect cut flowers. The foliage is glossy and dark green. Plants grow 2 feet tall and wide. Zones 5-10 'Baby Love' Rose Doug Hetherington Rosa 'Baby Love' usually outperforms all other roses, large and small. Single buttercup-colored blooms continually smother the upright plant. The bright green foliage is exceptionally disease-resistant. Plants grow 3 feet tall. Zones 5-9 'Black Jade' Rose Doug Hetherington Rosa 'Black Jade' features midnight-red, almost black buds that unfurl into velvety red flowers. The plant grows 2 feet tall and wide. Zones 4-10 'Carrot Top' Rose Doug Hetherington Rosa 'Carrot Top' bears double-petal, sizzling orange flowers. The rounded plants grow 12-16 inches high. Zones 5-9 'Dancing Flame' Rose Doug Hetherington Rosa 'Dancing Flame' features cerise-pink edging on yellow petals. An abundant bloomer, it also has glossy, disease-resistant foliage. It grows to 2 feet tall and wide. Zones 5-9 'Gourmet Popcorn' Rose Doug Hetherington Rosa 'Gourmet Popcorn' produces cascading clusters of fragrant snowy-white flowers on a disease-resistant plant all season. It grows 2 feet tall. Zones 5-9 'Little Artist' Rose Doug Hetherington Rosa 'Little Artist' shows off semidouble ruffled blooms that open to reveal a splashy color scheme of scarlet petals with large white centers. It blooms profusely and grows 16 inches tall. Zones 5-9 'Magic Carousel' Rose Doug Hetherington Rosa 'Magic Carousel' offers rounded petals edged in red that frame snow-white centers. The vigorous plants grow 18 inches tall and wide. Zones 5-11 'Rainbow's End' Rose Doug Hetherington Rosa 'Rainbow's End' blooms feature lemon-yellow petals highlighted by scarlet edging. The colors stay true when grown indoors or outdoors. It grows 22 inches high and wide. Zones 4-11 'Sun Sprinkles' Rose Edward Gohlich Rosa 'Sun Sprinkles' is an award winner with perfectly formed, deep yellow blooms and a spicy scent. This variety features generous flowering and glossy, dark green foliage. It grows to 2 feet tall. Zones 5-9 Miniature Rose Companion Plants Heliotrope Helen Norman This sweet-scented flower with purple or blue blooms is equally at home in a garden bed or a container. Heliotrope is covered in blooms during the summer and is particularly fragrant when planted in groups to maximize its subtle fragrance. Zones 10–11 Lantana David Nevala Lantana is a low-maintenance, sun-loving flower with small buds that attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. It comes in a range of colors. When grown as an annual, it reaches 3 feet tall. Zones 8–11 Verbena Justin Hancock Verbena blooms in cool spring weather before most of the other plants in the garden. The flower stalks bloom all season and continue to grow and produce new buds. Verbena also grows well in containers. Frequently Asked Questions Is rose the country's national flower? Yes, it is, and it's also the official flower of four states: North Dakota, Georgia, Iowa, and New York. Why aren't my rosebushes blooming? It could be the fertilizer you're using. If your fertilizer has too much nitrogen, it can encourage miniature roses to produce greenery instead of blooms. Use a fertilizer specifically for roses for the best results. What are the meanings of the different rose colors? Giving roses of particular colors can carry significant meaning to the giver and the recipient. For example, red roses indicate love, yellow means loyalty and friendship, peach roses represent gratitude or modesty, and lavender can express either enchantment or love at first sight. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit