7 Roses for Shaded Gardens

The rose ‘Blush Noisette’, a delicate and fragrant variety

‘Blush Noisette’ is an old rose that can either form a small bush (1.8 metres in height and 1.5 metres in spread), or be used as a climber, trained on a support.

This is a repeat flowering variety that blooms abundantly throughout the summer and until the first frosts, almost without interruption. This rose reveals small double flowers grouped in refined bouquets. Their petals are slightly crumpled and are adorned with a very soft pale pink, almost white. The flowers exude a spicy clove fragrance.

Resistant to both cold and diseases, ‘Blush Noisette’ also has the advantage of having few thorns. This characteristic makes it easier to maintain and allows it to be placed even in high-traffic areas on the terrace, balcony, or at the entrance of the house, to fully enjoy its fragrance.

This rose dislikes scorching sun and prolonged drought. Conversely, it thrives well when planted in semi-shaded areas, or even in shaded areas, although it will be less floriferous there. It can be placed at the edge of a flowerbed, in a free-standing hedge, or as a cover on a trellis or fence.

Rose ‘Blush Noisette’

Also consider its companion ‘Narrow Water’, which excels in the art of flowering in the shade.

The rose ‘Francis E Lester’, a grand silhouette with minimal maintenance

The rambling rose ‘Francis E Lester’ is an easy-going variety, even for beginner gardeners. It blooms once at the beginning of summer, during which time it transforms into a true cascade of fragrant flowers. It produces charming white dog roses, delicately speckled with pink at the edges, and illuminated by a heart of golden stamens. The flowers will then turn into lovely decorative orange fruits (hips), particularly appreciated by birds.

Fast-growing, it will reach 3 to 5 metres in height and 2 metres in spread at ripeness.

Unfussy and robust, it thrives in all types of soil, from the most ordinary to the sandy or heavy, provided that care is taken to work the soil before planting. It readily accepts partial shade or even shade in the warm climate of southern France. It will charmingly adorn the base of an old tree, a rather sad wall, or an unsightly structure.

Rambling rose ‘Francis E Lester’

The ‘New Dawn’ rose, a modern rose with the charm of old varieties.

The climbing rose ‘New Dawn’ flowers twice a year, first in early summer in June-July, and then again in autumn in October-November. It produces large, well-formed double cup-shaped flowers, a delicate pearly pink that is slightly deeper at the heart, with a light fruity fragrance.

There is also a variety for amateur gardeners with immaculate white flowers: ‘White New Dawn’.

Vigorous, low-maintenance, hardy down to -15°C: these are just some of the qualities that have earned it awards. Shade will not prevent it from flowering, and it will tolerate all types of soil, bringing lushness and light to areas that can be difficult to plant.

Its silhouette can reach up to 5 metres in height and 3 metres in spread. It will effortlessly enhance trellises, pergolas, or arches, creating an entrance with a particularly refined appearance.

Rose ‘New Dawn’

The ‘Perennial Blue’ rose, a vibrant flowering even in the shade.

‘Perennial Blue’ is a climbing variety that blooms abundantly and relentlessly throughout the summer, until the first autumn chills. It is adorned with semi-double purple-violet flowers, taking on lavender-pink hues at the centre, all highlighted by a bright white eye and a nest of golden stamens.

Its dimensions are rather modest for a climber, as it does not exceed 2 metres in height at ripeness with a spread of 80 cm. This “mini variety” with reduced growth can thus be cultivated both in the ground and in a large container or pot.

Little susceptible to diseases and resistant to cold, ‘Perennial Blue’ is an easy-to-grow rose that will even tolerate partial shade or light shade. An uncommon colour that will wonderfully and vibrantly dress up pergolas, arches, pylons, terraces, and balconies.

Rose ‘Perennial Blue’

The 'Cuisse de Nymphe' rose, a highly adaptable old rose.

‘Cuisse de Nymphe’ is an old variety that blooms opulently in early summer. Its double rosette-shaped flowers reveal a pale pink subtly enhanced by a heart of yellow stamens. The flowers exude a very soft powdery fragrance and will transform into small elongated fruits, further extending the decorative aspect of the plant.

This harmonious bush with flexible branches and semi-evergreen foliage (retained in mild winters) reaches a maximum height of 2 metres and a spread of 1.2 metres.

Vigorous, low-maintenance, and not very susceptible to diseases, this rose also shows great adaptability. It will thrive in ordinary soil, in sunny exposure, but also in partial shade or shaded conditions in hot climates. It is hardy down to about -20°C, making it an ideal candidate for most of our regions.

Rose ‘Cuisse de Nymphe’

The rose ‘Madame Alfred Carrière’, an award-winning variety

‘Madame Alfred Carrière’ is an old climbing rose with multiple qualities: floribundity, disease resistance, great hardiness, vigour… It is also a variety that is almost thornless.

This rose will bloom even in shaded areas and poor soils, almost continuously from May-June to September-October. It will reward us with large double roses of 10 cm grouped in bouquets, in a cream-white with a delicate pink heart. The fragrance is fruity and powerful.

Versatile, it can be trained to climb, quickly covering a wall, gate, or structure, or grown as a large bush to be pruned, reaching up to 4 metres in height at ripeness.

Rose ‘Madame Alfred Carrière’

The ‘Stanwell Perpetual’ rose, a highly tolerant rose.

‘Stanwell Perpetual’ is an old-fashioned shrub rose that reveals lovely small double flat flowers from summer until the first frosts, in a pale pink that fades to white. They exude a sweet, yet moderate fragrance.

From one of its Scottish ancestors, it has inherited great cold resistance, robust health, and a high tolerance for even difficult conditions. Drought-resistant, it fears neither poor sandy soils nor wind. Naturally, it tolerates partial shade and even full shade.

Wider than tall, this bushy plant barely exceeds 1.5 metres in height and 1.8 metres in spread. Its arching thorny branches can be used for defensive or bocage hedging, or even as a solitary specimen to add a wild touch to the garden.

Rose ‘Stanwell Perpetual’