Classification of Roses

The American Rose Society, in cooperation with the World Federation of Roses, has recently adopted a new classification scheme that reflects both the botanical and evolutionary progress of the rose. This is NOT the only classification system in use - however, the majority of the established rose societies in the world have approved this scheme for classifying roses for competition and/or identification.

There are three main groupings of roses: the Species (like the 'wild roses'); Old Garden Roses (classes of roses in existance before 1867); and Modern Roses (classes of roses NOT in existance before 1867).

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

Questions about classification of roses should be sent to the ARS Classification Committee in writing (e-mail is acceptable). We cannot guarantee immediate answers, but each query will be followed up. Please send references or relevant research articles for each query asking for a change in classification.