I’ve always had a soft spot for miniature roses. For one thing, they are usually very inexpensive….you can pick up plants very cheaply at your local nursery. Often only a couple of dollars each.
There is also the fact that miniatures are grown on their own roots. None of those problems associated with grafted varieties. No weak bud unions, infected root stock and so on. Yes, miniatures have a lot going for them. It’s true that many of them are a little light on frangrance, but there are some highly scented varietes available
But I think it’s the fact that I can keep them in a pot inside over winter that appeals most to me. With a bit of care and attention, I can have indoor roses blooming.
Miniature roses come in all colors. Reds, yellows, white, multi colored. And all styles, from single flowers, to full doubles. Every detail is a replica of their full sized cousins.
Featured Miniature Rose: Green Ice
Green Ice is one of the most distinctive miniature roses, and a very easy one to like. Its small blooms open creamy white, then gradually take on that soft green tint that gives the rose its name.
It is not flashy in the usual sense, but that is part of its charm. The coloring is unusual, the flowers are neat and plentiful, and the plant suits pots, edging, and small garden spaces beautifully.
I think it is a good example of why miniature roses should not be dismissed as novelty plants. A rose like Green Ice has real character, and when grown well in a container or tucked into a small garden bed, it can be every bit as appealing as a much larger rose.
.
Where Miniature Roses Work Best
Miniature roses are useful where a full-sized rose would be too much. They can be grown in pots, small garden beds, courtyard gardens, balconies, edging, and even as little feature plants near a path or doorway.
They are also good roses for people who are just starting out. They are usually inexpensive, easy to find, and not too intimidating. If one does not do well, you have not spent a fortune, and if it does thrive, you quickly realize that small roses can still give a surprising amount of pleasure.
The main thing is not to treat them as disposable gift plants. Many miniature roses sold cheaply in pots can live for years if they are planted out, repotted, pruned, fed, watered, and given the same basic care as any other rose.
Breed You Own Miniature Roses
If you enjoy breeding your own roses, then minis make a great addition to your breeding program. There is a misconception that they are hard to breed. This is NOT true! While many miniatures don’t make good seed roses, most are fine when providing the pollen.
So it’s best if you use the minis as the pollenator, and cross them with your climbers, floribundas, and shrub roses. If you do that, and cross a miniature with a climber, what are you likely to produce? A mini, or a climber, or something in between?
Well, the mini gene is generally dominant, so you can expect 90% of the progeny to be miniatures! And the great thing about using them in this way, is that you will usually see flowers in the first year. This doesn’t happen with the larger roses… it can be 2-3 years before they bloom.
For those that want to get free miniature roses, they grow very readily on their own roots. That means you can strike cuttings, with a high success rate. Some of the more highly bred roses, such as Hybrid Teas often won’t do so well when taken as cuttings. But with miniatures, you will find that the majority of plants you buy in your local nursery or garden center have been started on their own roots.
Care of Your Miniature Roses
Minis pretty much look after themselves. Once they have finished flowering, prune them HARD. I prune mine back to 2-3 inches in height, leaving just a few buds. They seem to like this, and will always produce good vigorous growth in spring.
About the only other thing you need to do, is keep an eye open for aphids during the summer. These can just be rubbed off. Most minis are pretty hardy, and you will find that you don’t get too much trouble with the other rose diseases, such as rust, mildew, and blackspot
Explore More Rose Types
