17 Beautiful Low Growing Ground Cover Roses

Ground cover roses are an oft-overlooked option for mixed beds, path edges, and sloped areas. They also look beautiful spilling from containers. Bred specifically to stay compact, they are surprisingly tough and hardy.

While most perennials only bloom for a short period, ground cover roses will bloom in repeat flushes throughout the growing season, providing you with reliable color every year. Usually self-cleaning, this easy care rose requires little maintenance or deadheading to look good.

With single to semi-double blooms, ‘Gourmet Popcorn’ is a pollinator magnet. It’s also a proven choice for easy landscaping and an American Rose Society Hall of Fame winner.

‘Gourmet Popcorn’ would look lovely at the front of the bed interspersed with lavender, or in front of a backdrop of purple or blue salvias. You can even try it in a hanging basket for a pretty display that comes back every year. Bushy, robust, compact, and versatile- this is a failsafe choice.

‘Easy Elegance Ⓡ Little Mischief’

	botanical name Rosa ‘BAIeif
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 2’ – 3’
	hardiness zones 4-9

‘Little Mischief’, from the Easy Elegance Ⓡ collection, is smothered in raspberry pink double roses all season. Topping out at 3 feet, it’s ideal for a low-maintenance short hedge. Several planted among ornamental grasses make an easy and attractive garden bed.

Perpetually blooming, this little rose is tolerant of hot and cold temps. It has low water needs once established. The shiny green foliage is disease resistant and healthy.

The blooms of ‘Little Mischief’ are cute and appealing, with gently waved petals opening to white centers. Produced in abundance, you can cut them often for mini-bouquets without limiting the beauty of the bush.

‘Red Ribbons’

	botanical name Rosa ‘KORtemma’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 2’-2.5’
	hardiness zones 4-9

‘Red Ribbons’ is a flashy red cluster-flowering rose that produces trailing garlands of blooms. It draws the eye at the front of the border and looks beautiful in a sloped rock garden.

If you usually depend on annuals for bright summer color, consider ‘Red Ribbons’ instead. Plant once, and this little bloom machine will perform for years to come! Though it naturally stays low, you can prune it back if it grows higher than you’d like.  This friendly little flower will bounce right back with new blooms. 

‘Red Ribbons’ prefers full sun. It sometimes throws out long flowering canes that sprawl along the ground, a desirable characteristic if you have some space to cover. Once established, it’s both cold and drought-tolerant. If you love red, you can’t go wrong with this gold medal winner.

‘Oso Easy Lemon Zest’

	botanical name Rosa ‘CHEwhocan’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 1’ – 2.5’
	hardiness zones 5-10

This buoyant little rose is a simple way to add cheer to the garden. ‘Oso Easy Lemon Zest’ has canary yellow semi-double rose blooms that don’t fade in the sun and a mild sweet fragrance to boot.

This garden workhorse doesn’t need deadheading to keep the blooms coming. It’s a good candidate for areas that need a pop of color, fast. It grows quickly and starts blooming right away once planted.

‘Oso Easy Lemon Zest’ is an American Rose Society Award of Garden Merit recipient. It survives harsh winters with ease. Plant with Anise Hyssop for a lively, easy-care garden bed.

‘Flower Carpet Apple Blossom’

	botanical name Rosa ‘NOAmel’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 1’ – 3’
	hardiness zones 5- 9

Do you love the look of dainty blush apple blossoms? What if you could channel the same fresh look all summer long? ‘Flower Carpet Apple Blossom’ is pale pink to white, with delicate everblooming semi-double flowers that provide the charm of spring throughout the season.

This little rose is bulletproof. It thrives through summer drought and harsh winters and even sprouts back if hacked to the ground. It gently spreads to fill a bed and looks stunning in front of larger pink roses that complement its blush tones.

Bred with resistance to black spot and mildew, ‘Apple Blossom’ will remain healthy despite neglect. Though there are many attractive ‘Flower Carpet’ varieties, this one has something special.

‘Strawberry Swirl’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Strawberry Swirl’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 1.5’-3’
	hardiness zones 5-9

‘Strawberry Swirl’ is a unique bicolor moss rose in gorgeous dark pink with ivory stripes and speckles. Moss rose here does not refer to the popular Portulaca, but to a unique variety of rose that has fuzzy sepals and stems that smell faintly of pine.

The abundant little flowers of ‘Strawberry Swirl’ are packed with slightly pointed petals that last quite a while on the bush. It repeat blooms in flushes throughout the summer.

‘Strawberry Swirl’ is lovely when companion planted with tall yarrow or gaura. It stays compact and tidy and has a sweet scent. Plant this for a standout that looks stunning in a bed, a hanging basket, or a container.

‘Baby Faurax’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Baby Faurax’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 1’ – 2’
	hardiness zones 5-10

This perpetually blooming dwarf polyantha rose is made of tough stuff. Polyanthas are durable, hardy little bushes that are smothered with clusters of small blooms. ‘Baby Faurax’ mounds nicely and provides a lot of color in a small package.

Mini double blooms range from reddish violet to deep purple and have a cute white eye. Deep green bushy foliage adds to the appeal.

‘Baby Faurax’ is an award-winning variety with excellent fragrance. A natural choice for ground cover, as it gently spreads while staying below 2 feet. This rose is disease-resistant and blooms all season long. Try it along a pathway with lady’s mantle for a traditional look.

‘Rainbow Happy Trails’

	botanical name Rosa ‘WEKsurdicla’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 1’-1.5’
	hardiness zones 4-10

‘Rainbow Happy Trails’ is as cheerful as it sounds. A true ground cover rose that spreads much wider than it is tall, this fun little variety shines with golden yellow centers and bright pink to red edges.

‘Rainbow’ stands up to powdery mildew and black spot. Best of all, the color doesn’t fade in the sun, making for a clean and fresh look in the garden.

The spreading habit of ‘Rainbow Happy Trails’ works well in a tiered rock garden with sedums or at the front of a bed containing taller roses. Easy and constantly blooming, this is a great choice for those who can’t resist multicolored roses. 

‘Jean Mermoz’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Jean Mermoz’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 1’ – 2’
	hardiness zones 6-10

Do you love the petal-packed full look of cabbage roses? ‘Jean Mermoz’ produces the gorgeous cabbage-shaped blooms beloved in larger varieties, but only grows to 2 feet tall.

Another dwarf polyantha, ‘Jean’ will bloom in profuse flushes from spring through frost. The sprays of perfectly-formed mid-pink roses smother the bush and make for pretty mini-bouquets.

This rose, named for the famous French aviator, has a gently spreading habit. It is a great burst of color when used to edge a long border. The flowers have a mild sweet perfume that will make you want to picnic outside!

‘Magic Carpet’

	botanical name Rosa ‘JAClover’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 1.5’-3’
	hardiness zones 5-10

‘Magic Carpet’ will blanket your garden’s sparse areas with profuse flowers in lavender-pink. A recipient of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit as well as “Rose of the Year” in 1996, this rose is a popular and dependable choice.

‘Magic Carpet’ has semi-double blooms with white centers that open to yellow stamens, beckoning pollinators to pay a visit. A pleasing spicy fragrance adds to its list of desirable qualities.

This ground cover rose blooms from spring through frost. Its dark green foliage is remarkably healthy. Try it at the feet of deep purple roses like ‘Twilight Zone’ or the lighter violet ‘Petit Prince’ for a stunning, nearly monochrome effect.

‘Sunblaze Mandarin’

	botanical name Rosa ‘MEIdarin’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 1’-2’
	hardiness zones 5-10

‘Sunblaze Mandarin’ is here to provide a low-growing carpet of vivid orange rose blossoms throughout the season! This robust bloom machine is just as prolific as a Knock Out rose, without the need for heavy pruning to control its size.

This powerhouse mini from Star Roses and Plants Ⓡ Bloomables collection is bold and beautiful all summer long. A deep and autumnal orange with a glowing yellow interior, ‘Sunblaze Mandarin’ looks stunning with other bright shades.

This rose has a full, bushy habit and loads of glossy green foliage. Try it planted en masse for major impact, or grow it with tall spikes of purple Liatris for a complementary pollinator-friendly bed.

‘Rainbow Sunblaze’

	botanical name Rosa ‘MEIden’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 1’– 2’
	hardiness zones 5-10

‘Rainbow Sunblaze’, from the same sun-loving Bloomables collection as ‘Mandarin’, packs a huge punch of color in a tiny package. This healthy miniature rose only grows 12-18 inches tall, but grabs attention with bright dandelion yellow blooms edged in intense raspberry red.

The blooms of ‘Rainbow Sunblaze’ are fully double and stand out against dark forest green leaves. This rose will keep blooming in flushes throughout the summer and responds well to deadheading.

Resembling an exposition-worthy hybrid tea-style bloom in miniature, ‘Rainbow Sunblaze’ lasts for a long time on the bush and in bouquets. It has a light fruit spice fragrance to add to the appeal.

‘Ringo Double Pink’

	botanical name Rosa ‘CHEwdelight’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 2’-3’
	hardiness zones 4-8

Your neighbors will ask about this rose. A tidy and compact shrub with fragile-looking semi-double flowers, ‘Ringo Double Pink’ draws the eye with beautiful waved pink petals accented by deep magenta centers ringed in hot pink.

‘Ringo’ is lightly fragrant and profusely blooming. It will spread about 2 feet wide. Bred to be disease resistant and tough in a variety of conditions, it won the prestigious First Class Certificate in international trials.

To keep ‘Ringo Double Pink’ looking its best, prune in early spring and deadhead throughout the growing season. Fairly drought-tolerant once established, it thrives with weekly deep watering and well-drained soil.

‘Sunsprite’

	botanical name Rosa ‘KORresia’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 2’ – 3’
	hardiness zones 5- 10

If you can’t wait for the zesty, sunny colors of summer, herald in the season with ‘Sunsprite’. This punchy yellow rose will end cold-season doldrums with shining ruffled blooms and happy citrus scent.  

‘Sunsprite’ can be seen from across the street and will stop traffic planted en masse. A gold medal winner, it is nearly ever-blooming. The lemony scent is powerful and will perfume the whole garden.

‘Sunsprite’s’ flowers don’t last very long on the bush but are quickly replaced by a new flush. Cut them right as they begin to open for a bright dose of vitamin D you can enjoy indoors.

‘Happy Chappy’

	botanical name Rosa ‘INTERhappy’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 1’– 2’
	hardiness zones 5-10

Who can resist planting ‘Happy Chappy’? The name of this easy-going and vibrant little ground cover rose makes me smile. Even better is its ability to provide blankets of color all season.

‘Happy Chappy’ is highly rated for health. Consistently blooming from spring through fall, it’s covered in pollinator-friendly single blooms in fuschia, tangerine, yellow, and pink.

‘Chappy’ grows up to 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide. It’s a fantastic perennial swap for petunias in a hanging basket or a long border. Blooms are fragrant, and the colors scream spring! An excellent low-maintenance mini for gardeners new to roses.

‘Campfire’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Tom Thompson’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 2’ – 3’
	hardiness zones 2-10

Are campfires one of your favorite parts of summer? ‘Campfire’ is part of the highly cold-hardy Canadian Artist series and shimmers with the red, yellows, oranges, and pinks of bonfire flames. Named after Tom Thompson’s beautiful painting, ‘Campfire’s’ multiple colors appear simultaneously on the bush, making for a stunning combination.

‘Campfire’ is a mighty and floriferous mini that can survive winter lows down to -40℉. It has a pleasing mounding habit that fits in well in mixed beds with other low-growing perennials. Its fiery color changes are triggered by changes in temperature and sunlight, making this rose a fun one to watch in the garden.

‘Campfire’ is bred to be black spot and powdery mildew resistant. Plant it for a trouble-free and eye-catching display.

‘Red Drift’

	botanical name Rosa ‘MEIgalpio’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 1’-2’
	hardiness zones 5-10

I’m a big fan of Drift Ⓡ roses. So easy and high-performing, they are perfect for busy (or ahem, lazy) gardeners that want reliable blooms and color for little effort. This variety has sweet double blooms in classic crimson with occasional white streaks.

‘Red Drift’ is a perfect landscape shrub. Versatile and low-growing, you can pop it nearly anywhere in the garden that has a bit of sun. Try it with herbs like dill or thyme that complement the scarlet color, attract beneficial insects, and provide protection from aphids.

This rose is so low-care that it’s hard not to take it for granted. However, each perfect little bud and bloom is gorgeous and worth cutting for tiny centerpiece bouquets. Nearly thornless rose canes are just the icing on the cake!