Bare Root and Potted Roses: What's The Difference?

When you think roses do you think of a potted plant, a bouquet or a field of wild roses growing?

At Apuldram Roses we have two rose seasons, the Bare Root season and Potted Rose season, which means you can get your roses from us all year round.

Here's the big difference, and what you need to know.

Bare Root Rose Plants

As the name suggests, these plants have "bare roots", meaning that they are open and uncovered. We also trim down the main plant so that it is a compact plant ready for planting.

Our freshly trimmed bare root plants.

If you buy roses from us in the cooler half of the year, you'll receive bare root roses. They are dispatched to customers between November and March, during which time the roses are dormant until they are potted in the Spring, when they can begin to grow and flower.

It is generally thought that the Autumn and Winter months are the best time to plant roses. This is because, although they are not growing, they will still establish over the winter months, so that when Spring comes and the plant begins to grow again, it has an established root system in place. This generally means faster growth, and earlier flowers.

Bare root plants also tend to be cheaper that potted plants, both the price of the plant and delivery because there is no additional costs of pots or compost to contribute and plants can be bundled together easier to send in smaller packaging.

Another advantage to ordering bare root plants is the guarantee of getting the variety that you want. Growers will have a full stock list for the bare root season as it is the technically speaking, the beginning of the rose season.

Potted Rose Plants

Potted plants are, as their name suggests, in pots. They will be a full plant with leaves and flowers (depending on the time of year).

Potted roses at Apuldram Roses nursery

In Winter we plant bare root roses in pots, which are then available for customers during the rose growing season, between March and October.

The advantage of potted plants is that they provide more of an instant effect. With the plant likely to be growing, in bud or even in flower. For this reason they also can also make excellent gifts.

The slight disadvantage that potted plants have is only that because they are growing plants and not dormant like bare root roses, they need a little more care and attention to help them establish. Generous watering and feeding in a potted plants first season is crucial.

Potted roses can be dispatched 12 months of the year, although new plants in the winter are primarily bare roots. Get in touch with us if you have a specific potted requirement.

Roses all year round

So there you have it, a obvious difference, but lots to consider when planning your rose garden. The good news is you can shop online or visit our nursery all year round to find the right plants for you.