Are you thinking about adding some rose-like flowers to your garden but aren’t sure which ones to choose? While roses are stunning, they can be high maintenance. In this piece, we explore some fantastic alternatives that resemble roses, offering you a variety of options for your garden.
Roses are adored by gardeners worldwide for their delicate and romantic appearance. With a wide variety of over 150 species to choose from, rose bushes are a popular choice for gardens. However, if you’re looking for something a bit more unique, there are plenty of other flowers that mimic the beauty of roses. These flowers share similarities in color, scent, and petal shape, making them a great alternative for both beginner and experienced gardeners. Whether you’re looking for a well-known bloom or a hidden gem, there are plenty of rose-like flowers to explore. Let’s dive in and discover some amazing options, such as the Alpine Pink Dianthus.
Camellias are stunning flowers known for their large, colorful blooms that can range from pink to red to white. With their full and vibrant petals, camellias are a popular choice for gardens and floral arrangements. These elegant flowers are a symbol of love and affection, making them a perfect gift for someone special. Whether planted in the ground or in a decorative pot, camellias are sure to bring beauty and charm to any space.
With their vibrant red, pink, white, or variegated flowers, camellias are stunning flowering shrubs that add a touch of romance to any garden. Known for their elegant, heavily petaled blooms, these evergreens also boast shiny, dark leaves that beautifully complement their blossoms. Often used in bridal bouquets for their dainty and graceful appearance, camellias are a popular choice for adding a touch of femininity to outdoor spaces. In particular, the red camellia varieties are favored by many gardeners for their resemblance to roses.
Carnations, also called Dianthus, are often sold as cut flowers and are a favorite choice for corsages. With their frilly petals, they can add a touch of elegance to your garden, similar to roses but with a unique charm, especially if you opt for the multi-colored types. These flowers come in shades of pink, coral, red, and white, but you might also come across vibrant blue, purple, green, or tye-dyed carnations that are dyed for special occasions.
As for the Catawba rhododendron…
The Catawba rhododendrons are absolutely breathtaking shrubs with a mound-like shape and lush, shiny leaves. These shrubs boast charming bell-shaped flowers in shades of rosy pink or violet, blooming in clusters.
These lovely evergreen plants thrive in areas with partial shade and consistently moist, acidic, well-drained soil rich in humus. While they may start off growing at a slower pace, typically around a foot each year, they will gradually flourish and continue to grow for many years.
The Cotton rose Hibiscus is another delightful plant that adds beauty to any garden or landscape.
Contrary to its name, the Cotton rose Hibiscus is not actually a member of the rose family, but belongs to the mallows family instead. While most people would associate Hibiscus flowers with those typically found in Hawaii, the Cotton rose Hibiscus resembles more of a rose than a tropical flower.
This shrub boasts vibrant green leaves and blooms in shades of white, light pink, or dark pink. What sets this flower apart is its ability to quickly change colors over just a few days.
Another interesting plant to consider is the Double Impatiens.
If you’ve ever strolled through a garden, chances are you’ve come across the popular Impatiens variety. But have you heard of Double Impatiens? These beauties boast twice the number of flower petals, making them a stunning addition to any garden. Known for their easy-growing nature, Impatiens are a favorite among flower enthusiasts for their resilience in various climates.
With a color palette ranging from purple to pink, red, orange, and even multicolor, Double Impatiens come in both bright and pastel hues. They typically form a mound of vibrant green foliage, which makes them perfect for planting in pots or hanging baskets throughout your garden.
Looking to add a touch of elegance to your garden? Consider planting Double Tulips for a stunning floral display.
Similar to Double Impatiens, Double Tulips also have denser and fuller flowers with double the petals. They come in a variety of vibrant colors such as red, purple, pink, orange, yellow, white, and even bi-colors. These flowers are famous for their long-lasting blooms and are available in both tall and short varieties.
For a timeless and romantic touch, consider including these dazzling Double Tulips in your garden beds or pots.
Gardenias, part of the coffee family, are often grown indoors as houseplants. Their beautiful blooms, reminiscent of roses, release a lovely fragrance that can easily envelop a room. While growing Gardenias can be challenging, the allure of their delicate white flowers and natural aroma makes the effort worthwhile. If you choose to grow them from seeds, it will take a minimum of two years before your plant will blossom.
At first glance, the ‘Helen Elizabeth’ Poppy may be mistaken for a soft pink rose with its delicate appearance. Adding a touch of romance to your garden is easy with this Poppy variety, as its pinkish peach petals have a luxurious satiny texture.
These dainty and frilly flowers can be planted in a row along a garden bed or displayed in a pot. They are low-maintenance, quick to grow, and animals like rabbits and deer tend to steer clear of them.
Japanese Quince
While the Japanese Quince may not resemble a traditional rose, it shares many characteristics with the beloved flower. Featuring thorny branches in a grayish-brown hue, it creates a similar look to a rose bush. Its blooms typically showcase striking reddish-orange tones, though occasionally they may appear in pink or white shades. With their delightful fragrance, these colorful flowers entice various pollinators, including butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.
While the Quince fruit itself is too tough for raw consumption, it can be transformed into delectable jellies or jams. Additionally, this captivating tree is a popular choice for bonsai cultivation, particularly in Japan.
Japanese roses, despite resembling roses with their yellow, five-petaled flowers, do not belong to the rosa family. These easy-to-care-for shrubs bloom in spring and may even bloom again in the summer. Similar to other flowers, Japanese roses can have single or double petals. This stunning tree showcases vibrant yellow blooms against yellow-green or kelly green bark.
Lisianthus has quickly gained popularity as a top choice for potted plants. With the right attention, these flowers can produce stunning, intricate blooms in shades like purple, pink, and white. Resembling roses in shape, Lisianthus flowers are unique with their two-toned petals.
For optimal growth, it’s best to plant Lisianthus in the springtime as they don’t thrive when grown indoors.
Marigolds can also brighten up any garden with their vibrant colors and easy maintenance.
Marigolds are a popular choice for gardeners worldwide, often found brightening up garden beds with their vibrant hues of orange, yellow-white, red, gold, and bicolor. While not identical to roses, they bring a similar visual appeal to your garden with their lush, brightly colored petals. These fast-growing plants can reach maturity from seed in just a few months. “Mary Gay Lirette” daffodil is another lovely flower to consider for your garden.
Just like how roses have been carefully grown and nurtured for generations, horticulturists have also devoted time and effort to cultivating Daffodils. The ‘Mary Gay Lirette’ Daffodil stands out with its lovely pale, creamy pink blooms, a unique feature compared to the typical orange tones of most Daffodils. These delicate flowers may even remind you of peonies with their ruffled appearance. Planting these special Daffodils will bring a touch of charm, romance, and femininity to any garden.
Calibrachoa, also called Million Bells, is a popular choice for hanging baskets due to its trailing nature that elegantly spills over the edges. Despite its small blooms, usually around an inch in size, it tends to produce an abundance of flowers.
The vibrant colors of Calibrachoa flowers range from pink, red, and yellow to violet, white, blue, magenta, and bronze. These lovely blooms can be found in small plastic pots for replanting in garden beds.
Another common name for Calibrachoa is Moss Rose.
Moss roses are popular spring and summer sellers known for their ruffled blooms. Despite their name, they belong to the Portulacaceae family. These sturdy plants can handle drought well, making them perfect for novice gardeners who might forget to water them occasionally. While they are not frost-resistant, most gardeners treat them as annuals.
Their flowers come in a range of bright colors, such as pink, red, orange, and yellow. These easy-to-grow flowers are great for ground cover due to their thick spread.
Persian Buttercup is another name for them.
Known for their stunning hues, layered petals, and resilient stems, Persian Buttercups are a popular choice for floral arrangements. These ranunculus flowers come in a variety of colors such as vibrant pink, red, cream, yellow, purple, and orange. They can last up to a decade with proper care, making them a favorite among florists and gardeners alike.
It’s difficult to come across a flower shop that doesn’t carry these gorgeous blooms, as they are commonly used in wedding bouquets and as decorative vase flowers. With their quick growth rate, Persian Buttercups typically bloom from spring through summer, adding a touch of beauty and elegance to any setting.
Pink Mountain roses are another breathtaking option to consider for your floral arrangements.
Upon first observation, one might confuse the unique succulent known as Mountain rose with an actual rose. Mountain rose plants have leaves that naturally form the shape of a rose, coming in various shades such as green, blue, and pink. While the blue and green varieties are stunning, the pink ones particularly resemble a rose. These distinct plants have gained popularity in recent years due to their simple maintenance requirements.
Scarlet Charm Peonies
If you’re in the market for a standout flower that boasts a vibrant red hue and a lovely rose-like fragrance, then the red Charm Peonies are the perfect choice. These peonies are known for their striking blooms that not only catch the eye but also emit a delightful scent reminiscent of roses.
In a sea of pink and white peonies, the red Charm Peonies stand out with their deep crimson petals that create a stunning contrast against the lush green leaves. Another option to consider is the Solenia ‘Dusty Rose’ Begonia, which adds a touch of elegance and charm to any garden with its delicate pink flowers.
The ‘Dusty Rose’ Begonia by Solenia is a breathtaking hybrid with vibrant frilly flowers in a hot-pink shade that adds a pop of color to any garden. Its heart-shaped leaves remain lush and green throughout the year. This begonia grows in a charming mound shape, resembling a bush, making it a perfect choice for potted or hanging plants in outdoor settings.
Windflower, also known as “Anemone,” is a well-loved perennial plant that is usually grown from bulbs. One thing that makes Anemones stand out is the wide range of colors they come in, from vibrant reds and oranges to calming blues and purples, and even soft whites, ivories, and pinks. For those who enjoy roses, the bushy look of a Double Windflower might be particularly appealing.
These flowers grow quickly and can vary in size and lifespan depending on the specific type. It’s worth noting that all Windflowers have a level of toxicity to both humans and pets, so it’s important to handle them with care.