What soil does Shrub rose grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay.

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

Is Shrub rose toxic to dogs?

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

Is Shrub rose toxic to cats?

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

Is Shrub rose toxic to children?

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

How far from the house should Shrub rose be planted?

Plant it at least 1.5 m from buildings. Keep it at least 0.5 m from paving.

How far apart should Shrub rose be planted?

Planted on its own, it needs 1.2 m between plants. For a hedge, allow 1.5 plants per metre.

When does Shrub rose flower?

Flowering: May–October, pink, red, white, yellow, orange, purple.

How much water does Shrub rose need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

Shrub rose

Rosa Shrub Group

Shrub rose (Rosa Shrub Group) is a shrub. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -29 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Non-toxic to dogs, cats and children. Sold in local shops from about €7.90.

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

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

A large, varied group of roses that grow into big, loose bushes; modern shrub roses and English roses belong here. Use them as specimens, at the back of a shrub border or as an unclipped flowering hedge; most cultivars repeat from May until the frosts, while a few older types flower once in early summer and follow with hips in autumn. Size (from 1 m to 2.5 m), fragrance, hardiness and disease resistance differ a lot between cultivars, so check the mature size before buying, and choose ADR-rated cultivars or ones described as resistant if you do not want to spray. The stems are very prickly, so keep them back from paths and play areas.

Watch out for

Black spot, powdery mildew and rust can strip susceptible cultivars, many English roses among them, by midsummer: those need several preventive sprays a season, whereas resistant cultivars (ADR-rated ones, for example) stay healthy without spraying if you clear fallen leaves and give them an airy position. In spring aphids cluster on shoot tips and buds, rose sawfly larvae chew or roll the leaves and rose chafers and other flower beetles eat into the blooms; a big bush usually grows out of the damage. Most cultivars are winter hardy in Central Europe, though the cane tips may die back in a hard winter. Plants sold in the region are nearly always budded onto a wild rose rootstock: set the graft union about 5 cm below soil level when planting, mound 15 to 20 cm of soil over the crown in autumn, and tear off at the base any suckers from the rootstock (smaller, paler leaves), because they overtake the cultivar. Pruning is light: in early spring cut out dead and old canes and shorten repeat flowerers by about a third, then deadhead in summer.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 1.5 m × 1.5 m
Hardiness: down to -29 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D May–October, pink, red, white, yellow, orange, purple

Group	Shrub
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	1.5 m × 1.5 m
Ultimate size	1–2.5 m × 0.9–2 m
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	May–October, pink, red, white, yellow, orange, purple
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 1.5 m
Distance from paving	at least 0.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	120 cm
For dogs	Non-toxic
For cats	Non-toxic
For children	Non-toxic
Typical price	from about €7.90

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

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
size not stated	approx. €7.90

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 13, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Shrubs for part shade Plants that are non-toxic to dogs Plants that are non-toxic to cats Plants that are non-toxic to children Hedge plants Shrubs for pollinators Flowering shrubs

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