White Roses for a Crisp, Classic Garden Look

For centuries, white roses have symbolized true love, innocence, and hope. Even today, young brides continue the tradition of carrying white roses down the aisle at their wedding to celebrate happiness and new beginnings. In the garden, white roses have also played starring roles, providing a cool and fragrant respite between more brightly colored bloomers. Check out this selection of bright and beautiful white roses including perky miniatures and petal-packed climbers.

First introduced in 1958, ‘Iceberg’ rose continues to wow gardeners around the globe. Almost in constant bloom, ‘Iceberg’ is also relatively disease-resistant.

Rose type: Floribunda

Size: 4 feet tall and wide

Garden use: Containers and landscape

Fragrance: Little

Zones: 5-9

One of the most reliable white-blooming climbers, ‘Climbing Iceberg’ grows quickly and produces a nonstop show of white blooms. This beauty was first introduced in 1968.

Rose type: Climber

Size: 15 feet tall, 5 feet wide

Garden use: Arbors and trellises

Fragrance: Little

Zones: 5-9

Named in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Macy’s department store. ‘Macy’s Pride’ is a rugged shrub rose that produces masses of creamy blonde flowers that mature to pure white.

Rose type: Shrub

Size: 5 feet tall, 4 feet wide

Garden use: Landscapes and hedges

Fragrance: Mild

Zones: 4-7

Looking for a blooming groundcover to blanket sunny spots in your landscape? Try ‘White Meidiland’ rose. It’s a tough-as-nails, low-growing variety that quickly carpets your garden with rounded, double flowers.

Rose type: Landscape

Size: 2 feet tall, 6 feet wide

Garden use: Groundcover

Fragrance: None

Zones: 4-9

Cold winters are no threat for ‘Blanc Double De Corbert’ rose. This super hardy rugosa rose will bloom reliably even after a brutal winter. It develops scores of highly fragrant, pure white flowers throughout the summer.

Rose type: Shrub

Size: 4 feet tall and wide

Garden use: Hedges or large flower borders

Fragrance: Strong classic rose scent

Zones: 3-8

The long stems and classic form of ‘Pope John Paul II’ rose makes it a top choice for fresh-cut arrangements. This disease-resistant variety produces a nonstop bouquet of pure white, fragrant flowers.

Rose type: Hybrid Tea

Size: 4 feet tall, 3 feet wide

Garden use: Containers, flower borders

Fragrance: Rich citrus scent

Zones: 5-9

White roses don't all look alike. 'French Lace', for example, develops ivory buds with apricot highlights, only turning pure white when the flowers are completely open. The mix of buds and flowers on the same plant is a sensational combination.

Rose type: Floribunda

Size: 3 feet tall and wide

Garden use: Containers, flower borders

Fragrance: Light, fruity perfume

Zones: 6-9

Ideal for mild climates, ‘Climbing Snowbird’ is covered in a cloud of pure white flowers in a classic rose shape. First introduced in 1949, ‘Climbing Snowbird’ isn’t always easy to find but definitely worth the search.

Rose type: Climber

Size: 12 feet tall, 5 feet wide

Garden use: Pillars, pergolas, arbors

Fragrance: Strong traditional rose scent

Zones: 7-9

Like many heirloom roses, ‘Madame Zoetmans’ blooms only once a year. But, when this little powerhouse does flower, it’s smothered in full-petal, rosette-shape blooms with an intoxicating perfume. It’s a must-have variety if you love old roses.

Rose type: Damask

Size: 3 feet tall and wide

Garden use: Perennial or rose beds, hedge

Fragrance: Rich, classic rose scent

Zones: 5-8

Bred in Iowa, ‘Prairie Star’ rose will shrug off even the coldest winters. Its high-centered, fully double flowers appear all summer on a handsome, disease-resistant, mounded plant.

Rose type: Shrub

Size: 4 feet tall, 3 feet wide

Garden use: Flower border, hedge

Fragrance: Light lemony perfume

Zones: 4-9

As fragrant as it is beautiful, ‘Secret’s Out’ produces classic, elegantly shaped flowers with a strong, spicy scent. If you like to cut your own bouquets, put ‘Secret’s Out’ on your shopping list.

Rose type: Hybrid Tea

Size: 3 feet tall, 2 feet wide

Garden use: Containers, flower border

Fragrance: Rich and spicy aroma

Zones: 5-9

Graceful trusses of 5-inch-wide, single flowers appear on ‘Sally Holmes’ all summer long. This super easy shrub rose looks amazing in the perennial border where it will mingle beautifully with delphinium, perennial salvia, lily, and garden phlox.

Rose type: Shrub

Size: 4-5 feet tall and wide

Garden use: Flower border, hedge

Fragrance: Moderate scent

Zones: 5-9

Fat buds and crisp white flowers with yellow centers give ‘Gourmet Popcorn’ its name. The fully double blooms open in generous clusters all summer long atop dark green, disease-resistant foliage.

Rose type: Miniature shrub

Size: 18-24 inches tall and wide

Garden use: Container, groundcover

Fragrance: Light

Zones: 5-9

Talk about elegant! 'Sombreuil' produces spectacular, flat, petal-packed, fragrant blooms right up through fall. This amazing climber looks terrific on a low arbor or trained up a porch pillar. Team it with clematis for a beautiful flower show.

Rose type: Climber

Size: 8-12 feet tall, 5-6 feet wide

Garden use: Arbor, trellis, or fence

Fragrance: Rich tea fragrance

Zones: 6-9

Even if you only have a tiny patio, you can still enjoy growing roses. Miniature roses such as ‘Cinderella’, thrive in containers and produce nonstop sprays of pretty flowers. ‘Cinderella’ shows off pure white blooms right up until frost.

Rose type: Miniature

Size: 10-12 inches tall and wide

Garden use: Containers, flower borders

Fragrance: Light

Zones: 5-9

A member of the Easy Elegance family of roses, ‘Snowdrift’ is prized for both its disease resistance and flower power. This nonstop bloomer is awash in pure white, fragrant blooms that look as good in the vase as they do in the garden.

Rose type: Shrub

Size: 4 feet tall and wide

Garden use: Flower borders, hedge

Fragrance: Rich rose scent

Zones: 4-9

If you love the beauty and fragrance of old roses, put ‘Madame Hardy’ on your must-have list. The fully double white flowers have an intoxicating fragrance that will perfume your entire garden. It has a single, extended bloom season in late spring and early summer.

Rose type: Damask

Size: 5 feet tall, 4 feet wide

Garden use: Flower border, hedge

Fragrance: Strong rose with lemon scent

Zones: 4-9