The most popular flowering plant on Earth is the rose. Gardeners on every continent grow them in some form. You will find roses in formal beds, along fences, in pots, and covering arbors. Over 30,000 types exist today. That huge selection means every gardener can find a rose that fits their yard and climate.
I have grown roses in three forms over the past decade. A climbing rose turned my bare fence into a wall of pink blooms every June. Compact shrub roses along my front path flowered from May through October with almost no work. My grandmother's old hybrid tea roses needed spraying and constant care. Modern shrub types have made roses much simpler to grow. That ease of care is a big reason they keep gaining fans. You don't need your grandmother's skill level to grow a stunning rose bush today. The new types do most of the work for you.
Roses sit at the top for three reasons no other plant can match at once. You can find a rose for zones 2 through 11, which covers almost every spot on the map. Many modern roses bloom on new wood. They push out fresh flowers from late spring through frost. And roses come in sizes from 12-inch minis to 20-foot climbers. They fit pots, borders, walls, and hedges with equal ease.
Knock Out shrub roses changed the game in the early 2000s. They bloom from late spring through first frost. They resist black spot disease that used to make roses a pain. You don't need to spray them at all. They only need one hard prune in late winter to stay full of flowers all season. This low-care approach is why shrub roses now outsell hybrid teas at most garden shops. You can plant one in spring and enjoy flowers by early summer. That fast payoff hooks new gardeners right away. I planted three Knock Out roses in a row along my driveway and they put on a show for six straight months that first year.
Other top flowering plants that you might consider are hydrangea, tulip, and lavender. Hydrangeas rank high for their big flower clusters. Tulips draw people with bold spring colors. Lavender wins fans with its scent and drought toughness. These favorite garden flowers each shine in one area. But the rose performs well across all of them at the same time. That is why it keeps its crown year after year. You get beauty, scent, and variety all in one plant family.
Pick the right rose type for your needs and you will love the results. Choose shrub roses like Knock Out or Drift for color with minimal care. Try climbing roses to cover a fence, arbor, or blank wall. Use mini roses in pots on a patio or balcony where ground space runs tight. If you want long stems for cutting, a hybrid tea still gives the best single blooms.
Start with one shrub rose in a sunny spot that gets at least 6 hours of direct light each day. Water it deep once a week. Feed it with a rose fertilizer in early spring and again in midsummer. That simple routine gives you months of blooms. You will see why the rose holds its place as the most popular flowering plant on the planet. It earns that title every growing season. Your yard will look better for it, and you will wonder why you waited so long to plant your first one. Roses are one of those plants that reward you more the longer you grow them. Each year your bush gets bigger and produces even more blooms than the year before.
Read the full article: Best Flowering Shrubs for Your Garden
