Also affectionately known as the “The Fairy” or Baby Rose, the Polyantha Roses are hybrids of Multiflora roses. They have been around since 1932. While they are generally compact shrubs some are climbers. The blooms are compact but the bush flowers prolifically.

The pom-pom type flowers are delightful and flower with abundance. This makes for an amazing display. They can be tricky to find (in garden stores)  but the combination of beauty and hardiness makes them a worthy addition to any garden. They also do well in containers and the climbing varieties are a delight to behold. If you want a vibrant and easy to care for highly rewarding rose, the Polyantha is one to look out for.

In this article we will discuss the following:

Polyantha Rose Details

The History of the Polyantha Rose

Although there are countless modern hybrids and varieties, the Polyantha rose is a descendant of the Chinese climbing roses and the Multiflora roses. These were multiflora roses (many flowers) and make a desirable addition to any rose collection. While many were originally climbing roses, most modern varieties are compact shrubs. They bloom with enthusiasm for many months of the year.

The very first one was the Pâquerette. This hybrid created by Jean-Baptiste Guillot was introduced in 1875. The initial term for the new hybrid was poms-poms, given the prolific flower clusters. Ultimately, the Greek term meaning many flowers, polyantha, was adopted—an appropriate name for these magnificent roses.

The flowers are smaller than the Floribundas but they still put on a show-stopping display with their many flowers. They grow in large clusters.

Polyantha Growth Habit

As discussed, the original Polyanthas were mainly climbers, but hybridization resulted in many varieties that are compact shrubs. The flowers are bountiful and make a spectacular display. Many are dwarf shrubs that grow 3 to 4 feet and have minimal spread. Others grow up to 5 or 6 feet and the climbers can grow 10 feet plus. This makes them ideal for potted plants or boarders.

They work well in pots or containers. They are also ideal for hedging roses, or landscaping. The climbers grow with vigor and deliver a bountiful display.

Polyantha Flower Structure

The flowers are compact but magnificent and significant. They grow in abundant clusters through most of the growing season. They are often referred to as pom-pom roses given the small yet full blooms. Many are double blooms. This enhances the display.

Despite the compact nature of the blooms, the vast numbers they deliver make for a great display that is sure to be noticed.

Polyantha Fragrance

The fragrance is a bit hit-and-miss with these roses. Some have a delightful fragrance while many only have a subtle aroma. A few retain the heady perfume of the older roses while others only have a hint of fragrance. If fragrance is important to you, you will need to seek out those with a more profound fragrance.

Polyantha Rose Applications

 The Polyantha is a versatile rose and fits in well with any rose garden. While most are small compact shrubs, others grow a lot taller and some are climbers. Many have minimal prickles or thorns. The big clusters also look great in a vase.

They are ideal for containers and border plants. Depending on the size. they can be used beside walkways or in beds. Naturally, the climbing varieties can grow over a trellis, pergola, or fence. They are tough hardy roses so will often survive where more delicate varieties might battle.

They like full sun but can handle partial shade.

Polyantha Rose Growing Zones

Polyantha roses generally do well in zones 4 to 9

Planting the Polyantha Rose

The Polyantha requires rich fertile soil that is well-draining. The more organic material in the area, the better for the plant. The soil must have good drainage as they do not like to have their feet wet. This could lead to root rot or other issues. While they are hardy, a good start will give you better results.

Plant them as you would with most roses. Dig a hole that is twice as wide and more than deep enough for the root ball. Place well-rotted manure at the base of the hole or some decent organic fertilizer. Deposit the newly planted rose at the same depth it was in the container it arrived in. Firm the soil down well without compacting it. Water well for the first 3 weeks.

Watering Polyantha Roses

Given the hardiness of these roses, they require a bit less water than your average garden rose. Water it abundantly in the growing season in the warmer months. Try to only water the base of the plant, not the blooms or foliage. Allow the soil to dry between watering but when you do, drench each plant well. Do not simply wet the top layer of the soil. This will do more harm than good.

Polyanthas planted in pots will dry out more quickly so water them more regularly. The same is true of newly planted roses. They need a fair amount of water for the first three to three to four weeks. In general, these roses can get away with a bit less water than the average rose.

Propagating Polyantha Roses

Growing these roses from seeds is a challenging process They are best grown from stem cuttings.  This is done in much the same way as you would with any other rose bush. The great news is that the vast majority of the roses are not under any patents so you are generally free to make cuttings for a greater selection or to gift or swop with friends and family. This is a relatively easy way to grow and enhance your rose collection.

Here is some information on growing new roses from cuttings.

Fertilizing Polyanthas

Again, these are hardy roses so need little in the way of fertilizer. Quality nutrients will still, however, enhance the health of the rose and ensure a magnificent display of blooms. Add a general organic fertilizer every few weeks in the growing season, the warmer months. Do not add much fertilizer in the rest period when the climate is cool.

Polyantha Pests and Diseases

One of the many benefits of this delightful rose is that are tough and hardy. Most tend to be resilient to most pests and diseases, provided they are healthy. If you plant the rose correctly, it gets enough sun and nutrients, you can expect very little in the way of pests and diseases. That is not to say you can ignore the threat so remain vigilant. As you appreciate the beauty of the plants, keep a watchful eye for any issues. Early action and treatment will minimize the problem.

We go into more detail in our Polyantha Care article (link) but the main pests to watch out for are slugs,  snails, and caterpillars. These critters are normally easy to spot and eradicate. If you do not see them you will see evidence of their activity.

Diesese-wise, keep an eye out for powdery mildew, a common rose issue. Also, avoid root rot from ensuring good drainage and not overwatering.

Pruning a Polyantha

Pruning the polyantha is more about getting the size and shape that you want. Always remove any dead or damaged parts of the plant and trim back to create the desired shape. Climbers need to be kept under control so that they only grow in the areas that you want them to. Always deadhead spent blooms to encourage more flowering.

Polyantha Cultivars

Those mentioned by us before were the sublime Rock & Roll, Tournament of Roses, Pink Flamingo, and the Queen Elizabeth Polyantha Roses. There are many more spectacular examples.

• The Fairy

The first and possibly one of the most popular of the Polyantha roses is the original 1932 hybrid “The Fairy”. It has small leaves and a spectacular ongoing display of pom poms of small light pink double blooms. This rewarding rose has clearly stood the test of time and deserves a spot in most rose gardens.

• Mlle. Cécile Brünner

Often called the Sweetheart Rose this beauty is a pale pink specimen that was first introduced in 1881. It is a climbing rose and is extremely popular. It is one of the easier roses to find at your local nursery. It also boasts a fairly powerful perfume, It flowers with abundance during the flowering season making a spectacular display.

• La Marne

This delightful rose grows to roughly 5 feet with a spread of 4 feet. It delivers masses of pink blooms with a subtle blush of white.  It was introduced in 1915. The open blooms have a pleasing fragrance and flower prolifically.

La Marne has great disease resistance and is ideal for hedges or beds. It also does well in containers.

• Climbing Pinkie

As the name suggests, this is a climbing variety. It produces multiple flushes of semi-double vibrant pike roses. It has minimal thorns and is ideal for a fence, trellis, or arbor. It can grow up to 10 feet. It can handle partial shade.

• Marie Daly

The many pink flowers on this dwarf rose turn white when the heat turns up. It grows to around 3 feet tall and has a 3-foot spread. It has very few thorns making it ideal for hedges, pots, and high-traffic areas. It makes an attractive rose in any environment.

• China Doll

China doll spreads quite a bit and delivers multiple flushes of pom-pom blooms in pink blooms. It was first introduced in 1946.

• Lullaby

This lady has white flowers with a pink tinge near the center. The compact blooms are bold with up to 75 petals. It has a mild carnation aroma. The pom-pom blooms are borne in small clusters. Lullaby has good disease resistance and grows to around 4 feet. It was founded in 1953 and has good disease resistance.

• Wing-Ding

This oddly named rose delivers massive clusters of rich red blooms. It grows upright and is highly rewarding. It is one of the more recent Polyantha roses, introduced in 2007.

• Verdun

An older variety is the compact Verdun, first introduced in 1918. The compact pop-pom blooms are a delightful crimson-purple that present in bountiful clusters.

Here is a novel series of this rose, based on the infamous Seven Dwarfs. They all grow in pleasing clusters:

• Grumpy Rose - medium pink
• Sleepy Rose medium pink
• Doc Rose - medium pink
• Bashful Rose -pink blend
• Sneezy Rose - deep pink to light red
• Dopey Rose medium red
• Happy Rose - medium red

Many more hybrids have been created over the years. The one downside is that they are often difficult to find in local garden centers. You might need to do a bit of homework or collaborate with other rose collectors. It will be worth the effort. It is always especially nice to have something different, particularly roses as delightful as these.

Conclusion

There is no doubt that Polyantha roses are an asset in any collection or garden. They are highly rewarding, hardy, and attractive. The beautiful pom-pom flowers will give you great pleasure for many months of the year. Every rose garden needs a few of the magnificent roses.