Rose Classification

What is a rose? The American Rose Society (ARS) classifies roses into three main groups: (1) Species Roses - wild roses; (2) Old Garden Roses - those that existed before 1867; and (3) Modern Roses - those developed after 1867. The abbreviation following each class is used in the American Rose Society's "Handbook for Selecting Roses," available at the ARS Web site.

GENUS ROSA

Species Roses

Species (Sp)

Old Garden Roses

Alba (A)
Ayrshire (Ayr)
Bourbon & Climbing Bourbon (B & Cl B)
Boursalt (Bslt)
Centifolia (C)
Damask (D)
Hybrid Bracteata (HBc)
Hybrid China & Climbing Hybrid China (HCh & Cl HCh)
Hybrid Eglanteria (HEg)
Hybrid Foetida (HFt)
Hybrid Gallica (HGal)
Hybrid Multiflora (HMult)
Hybrid Perpetual & Climbing Hybrid Perpetual (HP & Cl HP)
Hybrid Sempervirens (HSem)
Hybrid Setigera (HSet)
Hybrid Spinosissima (HSpn)
Miscellaneous OGRs (Misc. OGR)
Moss & Climbing Moss (M & Cl M)
Noisette (N)
Portland (P)
Tea & Climbing Tea (T & Cl T)

Modern Roses

Floribunda & Climbing Floribunda (F & Cl F)
Grandiflora & Climbing Grandiflora (Gr & Cl Gr)
Hybrid Kordesii (HKor)
Hybrid Moyesii (HMoy)
Hybrid Musk (HMsk)
Hybrid Rugosa (HRg)
Hybrid Tea & Climbing Hybrid Tea (HT & Cl HT)
Hybrid Wichurana (HWich)
Large-Flowered Climber (LCl)
Miniature & Climbing Miniature (Min & Cl Min)
Mini-Flora (MinFl)
Polyantha & Climbing Polyantha (Pol & Cl Pol)
Shrub (S)