Miniature roses

Story by Judy Horton

With their classic good looks and suitability for small spaces, miniature roses deserve serious consideration.

Miniature roses seem to flow in and out of fashion, but with the current trend towards more people living in apartments and having smaller gardens, I’d wager that they’re on the cusp of a major comeback.

Small wonders

Miniature roses are long-blooming dwarf roses with small flowers (usually up to 5cm across), foliage and growth all in proportion. The classification can be a little loose, with heights ranging up to 1m, but these days, the taller growing varieties are generally described as minifloras, as they fall between a miniature and a Floribunda in size. Internationally, some very tiny roses are called micro-minis or teacup roses, but these terms don’t seem to have become established in Australia. Another common descriptor is patio rose, because miniature roses do particularly well in pots – in fact, this is probably where they are most widely used. Some, such as ‘The Fairy’ (above), with its sprawling habit, can be grown as groundcovers. There are also climbing miniatures that reach up to 2m or more and grow well on pillars and small trellises. Blooms of miniature and miniflora roses come in all shapes. Some are open-faced or single, others are fully double and classically formal. Some have a slight perfume, but fragrance is not a common feature, and as these roses are farther from the nose than bush roses, it’s probably less important. Mini standards, where the rose is grown as a tree on a short trunk, can be effective in a landscape.

Care & maintenance

The general rules for rose care – sun, good drainage and regular fertilising and pruning – apply to miniature roses. They can be grown in most parts of Australia, although in the tropics, the humidity makes it more difficult. For pots, use a good premium-quality potting mix and watch that the pot doesn’t get too hot in the sun. Before filling, line the inside of the pot with sheets of newspaper or bubble wrap to insulate the roots. Fertilise mini roses with controlled or slow-release pellets; avoid salty granular rose foods. Pruning miniatures can be challenging – I prune mine with a pair of sharp scissors. One appealing feature of minis is that they grow happily from cuttings. Water in the morning, ideally at the base of the plant. Miniatures are impacted by the same pests and diseases that trouble full-sized roses and, because they’re often grown under cover, they’re more likely to be attacked by tiny mites. Look for discoloured leaves and fine webbing, and apply a potassium soap if needed.

Try…

‘Zepeti’
This is one for those who like their roses brightly coloured. ‘Zepeti’ has vivid red semi-double blooms that are about 4cm across. It’s highly disease resistant and flowers for much of the year. With upright growth to about 40cm and a width of 30cm, ‘Zepeti’ is ideal for a mini hedge or border.

‘Baby Boomer’
Bred by Frank Benardella, a much-awarded hybridiser who achieved fame in the rose world by consistently developing miniature roses with a classic Hybrid Tea form. The fragrant pink blooms of ‘Baby Boomer’ appear continuously through the warmer months on a bush 60–90cm tall, which is ideal for pots or as a border.