Thornless Roses: Fragrant Or Not?

Roses are long-lived, woody perennials that grace our gardens with unparalleled beauty and fragrance. Most rose gardeners learn to accept thorns as an inevitable part of the plant, but there are, in fact, many thornless varieties to choose from. Thornless roses are particularly useful for planting in high-traffic areas or children's gardens, where prickles could be a problem. While some thornless roses are fragrant, others are not, and there are several factors that could be responsible for a lack of scent.

Thornless roses for walkways

Thornless roses are perfect for planting along walkways, porches, steps, entranceways, and other high-traffic areas. They are also ideal for children's gardens and elderly gardeners. Here are some thornless or nearly thornless rose varieties that you can consider for your walkways:

Zephirine Drouhin

A lush pink old Bourbon variety with big, double blooms and a lavish fragrance. It produces bright pink flowers and can grow up to 20 feet tall.

Smooth Angel

A hybrid tea rose with delicate apricot-coloured flowers and a strong aroma. It grows to a height of 3 to 4 feet and is 95% thorn-free.

Veilchenblau

A delightful thornless rose that produces purple-blue flowers with white eyes and golden stamens. It is a rambling rose that can grow up to 20 feet tall.

Cinderella

A miniature rose that blooms with soft pink flowers and a pleasant aroma. It grows to a maximum height of 3 feet, making it suitable for small gardens.

Reine des Violettes

A thornless variety that produces abundant branches of soft pink flowers and small emerald leaves. It has a deep, old rose scent and is easy to find a spot for in mixed borders or containers.

Mary Delany (previously Mortimer Sackler)

A thorn-free option for gardeners in cold climates, named after an English artist known for her botanical drawings. It can be trained as a shrub or a small climber and has a light fruity scent.

Sterling Silver

The first true lavender rose produced in the US, with elegant, high-centred buds and nearly thornless stems. It has a citrus fragrance and prefers full sun.

Goldfinch

A cheerful, vigorous polyantha rambler with small, golden buds that open to pale yellow rosettes. It is a good choice for gardeners wanting an easy-care rose, but it is a fairly slow grower.

Lady Banks White

A wild hybrid that produces fluffy white pom-pom flowers with an intense fragrance. It can climb up to 20 feet and is incredibly tough, requiring minimal care.

Chloris

A sweet-scented, pale pink rose with nearly thornless canes and winter hardiness. It flowers once in midsummer with a lavish display that lasts 4 to 6 weeks.

Kathleen Harrop

A thornless variety with delicate creamy pink flowers and a fruity scent. It can be trained to climb up to 5 feet tall and is a sport of 'Zephirine Drouhin'.

Paul Neyron

A hybrid perpetual rose with enormous "cabbage rose"-style blooms and long, leggy stems. It is perfect for cut flowers and has a sumptuous fruity fragrance.

Madame Alfred Carriere

A noisette rose with creamy white blossoms tinged with pink and a fruity fragrance. It has nearly thornless stems that can reach 25 feet long.

Madame Legras de St. Germain

An elegant ivory alba rose with lemon undertones and fully double blossoms. It can be grown as a climber or an arching shrub, with nearly thornless 15-foot-long canes.

Madame Plantier

A noisette rose with big, fully double, heavily fragrant white blossoms. It can be trained as a climber or left as a delicately weeping shrub, and is hardy down to Zone 3b.

Marie Pavie

A polyantha rose with semi-double, pale pink flowers and a dark pink centre. It is highly floriferous and does well in containers or along walkways.

Heritage

A nearly perfect rose with shell pink, thickly petaled blooms and a delicious honey spice fragrance. It is a low-maintenance English variety that is often a favourite due to its lack of thorns.

Thornless roses for children's gardens

Roses are known for their beauty and their thorns, but did you know that they don't actually have thorns? Those prickly projections are called prickles. Fortunately, there are many thornless and nearly thornless varieties available that are perfect for child-friendly gardens. Here are some of the best options:

Zephirine Drouhin

This rose is often called the only true thornless rose. It's a lush pink old Bourbon variety with big, double blooms and a delicious almond cherry fragrance. Zephirine Drouhin is a climbing rose that can grow up to 20 feet tall, making it perfect for training along an arch or stone wall. It's also shade-tolerant and can handle poor soil conditions.

Smooth Angel

Smooth Angel is a hybrid tea rose with delicate apricot-colored flowers and a strong aroma. It's 95% thorn-free and grows to a height of 3-4 feet. This variety is perfect for growing in pots and makes an excellent cut flower.

Veilchenblau

Veilchenblau is a unique thornless rose with purple-blue flowers and a sweet fragrance. It's a rambling rose that grows 10-20 feet tall, making it a breathtaking choice for large gardens. Ramblers only bloom once a season, but the display lasts 3-4 weeks.

Cinderella

Cinderella is a miniature rose with soft pink flowers and a pleasant aroma. It's perfect for small gardens and can be used to create low hedges. Cinderella is drought-tolerant and does well in warm climates.

Reine des Violettes

Reine des Violettes is a hybrid perpetual rose with lush flowers in shades of mauve to magenta. It has a deep, old rose scent and is highly shade-tolerant. This variety is a good choice for mixed borders or containers.

Mary Delany

Mary Delany, previously known as Mortimer Sackler, is a thorn-free rose with small emerald leaves and sprays of soft pink flowers. It's highly disease-resistant and winter-hardy, making it a great option for cold climates. Mary Delany can be trained as a shrub or a small climber.

Sterling Silver

Sterling Silver is the first true lavender rose produced in the US. It has nearly thornless stems and an enchanting citrus scent. This variety is perfect for patios and pairs well with other cool-toned flowers in the garden.

Chloris

Chloris is a thornless rose with pale pink flowers and a sweet fragrance. It's an Alba rose with remarkable blue-green foliage and is shade-tolerant. Chloris flowers only once in midsummer but puts on a lavish display that lasts 4-6 weeks.

Behold

Behold is a thornless miniature rose with vibrant canary yellow flowers. It's an award-winning variety that adds a bright splash of color to any garden. Behold is the perfect size for planting in pots or as a bright mini-hedge.

Lykkefund

Lykkefund is a low-maintenance rambler that grows up to 20 feet tall. It produces semi-double white roses with glowing yellow centers. This highly fragrant rose is beloved by wildlife and performs well in shade and poor soil conditions.

These thornless and nearly thornless roses are perfect for creating a child-friendly garden without sacrificing beauty and fragrance.

Thornless roses for elderly gardeners

Thornless roses are ideal for elderly gardeners who want to enjoy the beauty of roses without the hassle of thorns. Here are some thornless and nearly thornless rose varieties that are perfect for elderly gardeners:

Zéphirine Drouhin

A large, thornless climbing rose with lush, bright pink flowers. It is a vigorous grower, reaching up to 20 feet in height. Zéphirine Drouhin is known for its delicious almond cherry perfume and is perfect for training along an arch or stone wall. It is also shade-tolerant and can thrive in poor soil conditions.

Smooth Angel

Smooth Angel is a hybrid tea rose with delicate apricot-colored flowers and a strong aroma. It grows to a height of 3 to 4 feet and is 95% thorn-free. It is best suited for pots and prefers full sun and well-drained soil.

Veilchenblau

Veilchenblau is a rambling rose that produces purple-blue flowers with white eyes and golden stamens. It grows to a height of 10 to 20 feet and is a breathtaking choice for large gardens. Ramblers only bloom once a season, but the display lasts 3-4 weeks. Veilchenblau is shade-tolerant and perfect for north-facing gardens.

Cinderella

Cinderella is a miniature rose with soft pink flowers and a pleasant aroma. It is perfect for small gardens and grows to a height of 3 feet. It has a full, bushy habit and is excellent for creating low hedges. Cinderella is drought-tolerant and performs well in warm climates.

Reine des Violettes

Reine des Violettes is a thornless rose with abundant branches of soft pink flowers and small emerald leaves. It blooms from spring to frost and has a deep, old rose scent. It is a perfect size for mixed borders or containers and thrives in partial shade.

Mary Delany (previously Mortimer Sackler)

Mary Delany is a thorn-free rose with small, emerald leaves and sprays of soft pink flowers. It can be trained as a shrub or a small climber and is highly disease-resistant. It prefers full sun or dappled shade and has an unusual, frilled petal shape.

Sterling Silver

Sterling Silver is a thornless rose variety that produces silvery lavender flowers with a citrus scent. It is the first true lavender rose produced in the US and has elegant, high-centered buds. Sterling Silver is a popular choice for florists and prefers full sun.

Chloris

Chloris is a thornless rose with pale pink flowers and a delicious aroma. It is named after a nymph of the flowers and is an excellent choice for spring. Chloris is shade-tolerant and can thrive in woodland gardens.

Lady Banks Rose

The Lady Banks Rose is a thornless species of climbing rose that produces fluffy white or yellow flowers with an intense fragrance. It is a vigorous grower, reaching up to 20 feet in height. Once established, it requires minimal care and is known for its tough, disease-resistant nature.

Kathleen Harrop

Kathleen Harrop is a thornless variety with delicate creamy pink flowers and a fruity scent. It is a sport of the old Bourbon rose 'Zéphirine Drouhin'. It can be trained to climb up a trellis and has continuous bloom power.

These are just a few examples of thornless and nearly thornless roses that are perfect for elderly gardeners. With their beauty, fragrance, and ease of care, these roses will bring joy to any garden.

Thornless roses with strong fragrances

Roses are a beautiful addition to any garden, but their thorns can be a pain—literally! Luckily, there are several thornless rose varieties that will add colour and fragrance to your garden without the hassle of prickly stems. Here are some thornless roses with strong fragrances:

Zéphirine Drouhin

A lush, bright pink climbing rose, Zéphirine Drouhin is often considered the only true thornless rose. It has a delicious almond cherry fragrance and is a great choice for high-traffic areas. This rose can grow up to 20 feet tall and is tolerant of shade and poor soil conditions.

Smooth Angel

Smooth Angel is a hybrid tea rose with delicate apricot-coloured flowers and a strong aroma. It is 95% thorn-free and grows to a height of 3 to 4 feet. Plant it in full sun and well-drained soil for the best bloom production.

Veilchenblau

Veilchenblau is a rambling rose with unique purple-blue flowers and a sweet lily of the valley scent. It grows to a height of 10 to 20 feet and is perfect for large gardens. Ramblers only bloom once a season, but the display lasts 3 to 4 weeks.

Reine des Violettes

Reine des Violettes is a hybrid perpetual shrub rose with lush flowers in shades of mauve to magenta. It has a deep, old rose scent and is shade-tolerant. This rose is a great choice for mixed borders or containers.

Mary Delany

Mary Delany, previously known as Mortimer Sackler, is a thorn-free shrub rose with small emerald leaves and sprays of soft pink flowers. It has a light fruity scent and can be trained as a shrub or a small climber.

Madame Alfred Carrière

Madame Alfred Carrière is a climbing rose with lovely blush-white flowers and a strong, romantic fragrance. It is nearly thornless and dates back to 1879. This rose is healthy and repeat-flowers, making it a great choice for gardens.

Madame Legras de St. Germain

Madame Legras de St. Germain is an elegant ivory alba rose with lemon undertones. It grows to a height of 15 feet and is nearly thornless. This rose blooms once in early summer and requires deadheading. It is a great choice for Zones 4 to 9.

Kathleen Harrop

Kathleen Harrop is a thornless variety of rose with creamy pink flowers and a fruity, old rose scent. It grows as a sprawling shrub or can be trained to climb taller. It is a continuous bloomer and is hardy down to Zone 5.

Goldfinch

Goldfinch is a cheerful, vigorous polyantha rambler with small golden buds that open into pale yellow rosettes. It has a nice fruity scent and is nearly thornless. Goldfinch is a great choice for gardeners looking for an easy-care rose.

Chloris

Chloris is a sweet-scented, pale pink rose with long, graceful canes. It is an Alba rose with nearly thornless canes and is shade-tolerant. It flowers once in midsummer with a lavish display that lasts 4 to 6 weeks.

Thornless roses that are slow-growing

Thornless roses are a great option for gardeners who want to avoid the hassle of dealing with thorns. While truly thornless roses are rare, there are several "nearly thornless" varieties available that have scattered thorns along their stems. Here are some slow-growing thornless or nearly thornless rose options:

Goldfinch (Rosa 'Goldfinch')

Goldfinch is a cheerful, vigorous polyantha rambler with small, golden buds that open into pale yellow rosettes. It grows densely, forming a beautiful tapestry of blooms. While it is vigorous and hardy, Goldfinch is a slow grower. With some patience and training, it can be grown up a trellis or obelisk, reaching a height of 10-20 feet. It has long, arching canes that are nearly thornless, but beware of prickles hiding under its leaves. Goldfinch blooms once in spring or early summer, with profuse flowers lasting several weeks.

Rosa 'Raspberry Cream Twirl'

Raspberry Cream Twirl is a delightful rose with eye-catching blooms of raspberry and cream stripes. It is a slow-growing variety, so don't be discouraged if it takes a while to reach its desired size. This rose is known for its blackspot resistance and easy care. Its nearly thornless stems make it a great choice for cut flowers. Raspberry Cream Twirl blooms in spring to early summer, with scattered repeat blooms throughout the season.

Rosa 'Kathleen Harrop'

Kathleen Harrop is a thornless variety with delicate creamy pink flowers and a fruity scent. It is a sport of the old Bourbon rose 'Zephirine Drouhin'. It can be grown as a sprawling shrub or trained to climb up a trellis. Kathleen Harrop blooms profusely in early summer, with scattered repeat blooms until frost. It prefers full sun and may struggle with blackspot and powdery mildew, so regular pruning and watering in the morning are recommended.

Rosa 'Lykkefund'

Lykkefund is a low-maintenance rambler that produces magnificent clusters of bridal white, semi-double roses with glowing yellow centers. It grows vigorously, reaching up to 20 feet in height, and requires minimal pruning or special attention. Lykkefund blooms in a divine display for 4-6 weeks in spring, followed by abundant red hips in the fall that attract wildlife. It thrives in woodland and informal spaces, performing well in shade and poor soil conditions.

Rosa 'Lichfield Angel'

Lichfield Angel is a thornless shrub rose with pale peach flowers and a delightful scent of carnation and citrus. It is an English variety from David Austin, known for its elegant cupped petals that fade from peach to cream. Lichfield Angel blooms in clusters from spring through frost, and it makes an attractive hedge with gracefully nodding stems. It prefers full sun but can tolerate some afternoon shade to protect the color of its pale blooms.

These slow-growing thornless roses offer a range of colors, scents, and growth habits, making them excellent choices for gardeners seeking low-maintenance options that fit their specific needs and preferences.

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