How big does Miniature rose grow?

About 40 cm × 40 cm after ten years (height × width).

What soil does Miniature rose grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil.

Is Miniature rose hardy?

Hardy down to -29 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

Is Miniature rose toxic to dogs?

No. Reliable sources list it as non-toxic to dogs.

Is Miniature rose toxic to cats?

No. Reliable sources list it as non-toxic to cats.

Is Miniature rose toxic to children?

No. Reliable sources list it as non-toxic to children.

How far from the house should Miniature rose be planted?

Plant it at least 1 m from buildings. Keep it at least 0.5 m from paving.

How much water does Miniature rose need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: low.

Miniature rose

Rosa Miniature Group

Miniature rose (Rosa Miniature Group) is a shrub that reaches 40 cm × 40 cm after ten years. Light: full sun. Hardy down to -29 °C. Drought tolerance: low. Non-toxic to dogs, cats and children.

Illustration of Miniature rose — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

Scaled-down versions of the big roses: dense little bushes 20 to 60 cm tall with tiny leaves and flowers 2 to 4 cm across that come in flushes from May until the frosts. They suit window boxes, tubs, border edges and rock gardens; the patio types make up the taller end of the group at 40 to 60 cm. The flowering pot minis sold as gifts in supermarkets are greenhouse-forced, with several cuttings crammed into one pot: they fade quickly indoors and are only worth planting out after dividing and gradual hardening off, whereas a nursery plant grown outdoors is reliably hardy. Most cultivars have little or no scent, and disease resistance varies by cultivar.

Watch out for

They get the same troubles as full-sized roses, only more visibly on such small plants: black spot, powdery mildew (especially when the pot dries out) and rust. A susceptible cultivar can be bare by late summer without preventive spraying, so choose one described as resistant, water at the base and clear away diseased leaves. Aphids, rose sawfly larvae and flower-eating rose chafers turn up here too, and in hot dry spots (against a wall, on a balcony, indoors) spider mites are the commonest pest. The shallow roots need regular watering and feeding, and the compost in a pot must never dry out. Planted in the ground they are winter hardy in Central Europe, but mound 10 to 15 cm of soil over the crown in autumn; in pots the roots can freeze through, so wrap the container or move it to a bright, cool, frost-free place. Many miniatures grow on their own roots and so make no rootstock suckers; on grafted plants remove any shoot from the rootstock at its base. Pruning is minimal: take out weak and frosted twigs and trim lightly in spring, then cut off spent flower clusters in summer.

Key facts

Light: Full sun
Water need: Medium
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 40 cm × 40 cm
Hardiness: down to -29 °C
Foliage: Deciduous

All details

Group	Shrub
Light	Full sun
Size after 10 years	40 cm × 40 cm
Ultimate size	20–60 cm × 20–60 cm
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	May–October, red, pink, white, yellow, orange, purple
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Low
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 1 m
Distance from paving	at least 0.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	30 cm
For dogs	Non-toxic
For cats	Non-toxic
For children	Non-toxic
Typical price	no data

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 17, 2026 · How our data is made

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Plants that are non-toxic to dogs Plants that are non-toxic to cats Plants that are non-toxic to children Plants for containers Flowering shrubs Low shrubs

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