Fairy Roses, Polyantha - Midwest Gardening

The most commonly known of the Polyantha roses are the ‘Fairy Roses and Cecile Brunner. The Polyantha roses are typically small and compact or spreading, perfect candidates for planting in containers, small spaces, and borders.

Polyantha ‘The Fairy’

Class: Shrub rose
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Height: 2-3’
Spread: 2-3’
Growth Habit: Spreading clumps
Bloom Color: Light pink
Flower Form: Double, rosette
Flower Size: Small, 1” in clusters of 15-30
Petal Count: 35-40
Bloom Season: Everblooming, June to frost
Fragrance: Little to no fragrance
Stem: Heavily thorned
Foliage: Fine, dark glossy green
Disease Resistance: Good resistance to disease and blackspot
Soil: Enriched well drained
Hardiness: zones 4-9

Also known as Sweetheart rose, ‘The Fairy’ blooms prolifically from June until frost. It does start blooming a bit later than other Polyanthas, but the weeks of heavy blooming is worth the wait. The cascading clusters begin with dark pink buds, open to light pink double blooms, then fade as the blooms mature. The foliage is almost fern-like and shows good disease resistance.

‘The Fairy’ makes an excellent weeping tree rose, as well as a groundcover, bedding plant or cascading out of pots. The blooms make very nice cut flowers. Very easy to grow with minimal maintenance, light pruning in very early spring to remove dead or damaged canes. ‘The Fairy’ is fairly tolerant of poorer soil, alkaline soil and salt. A small number of orange-red hips are produced. Propagates easily from softwood cutting. Hardy to zone 4, minimal protection suggested.

Polyantha ‘The Fairy CL’

Class: Climbing rose
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Height: 5-12’
Spread: 3-8’
Growth Habit: Climbing or rambling
Bloom Color: Light pink
Flower Form: Double, rosette
Flower Size: Small, 1” in clusters of 10-20
Petal Count: 25
Bloom Season: Everblooming, June to frost
Fragrance: Faint apple fragrance
Stem: Heavily thorned
Foliage: Fine fernlike, dark glossy green
Disease Resistance: Good resistance to disease and blackspot
Soil: Enriched well drained
Hardiness: zones 5-9

‘The Fairy CL’ is the climbing sport of ‘The Fairy’. It is a nice size for a pillar, trellis or fence. It does need to be well tended, as it will tend to spread horizontally. Like ‘The Fairy’, CL blooms prolifically from June until frost. It does start blooming a bit later than other Polyanthas, but the weeks of heavy blooming is worth the wait. The cascading clusters begin with dark pink buds, open to light pink double blooms, then fade as the blooms mature. The foliage is almost fern-like and shows good disease resistance. Very easy to grow with minimal maintenance, light pruning in very early spring to remove dead or damaged canes. ‘The Fairy’ is fairly tolerant of poorer soil and salt. A small number of orange-red hips are produced. Propagates easily from softwood cutting. Hardy to zone 5, minimal protection suggested.

Polyantha ‘The Red Fairy’

Class: Shrub rose
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Height: 2-3’
Spread: 2-3’
Growth Habit: Spreading
Bloom Color: Red
Flower Form: Semi double
Flower Size: Small, 1 1/2” in clusters
Petal Count: 35-40
Bloom Season: Everblooming, June to frost
Fragrance: Very light apple fragrance
Stem: Thorned
Foliage: Slightly larger foliage than ‘The Fairy’, not as fernlike
Disease Resistance: Good resistance to disease and blackspot
Soil: Enriched well drained
Hardiness: zones 4-9

‘Red Fairy’ blooms prolifically from June until frost. It does start blooming a bit later than other Polyanthas, but the weeks of heavy blooming is worth the wait. The cascading clusters are a brick red, and the bloom sprays are quite upright. The foliage shows good disease resistance and the stems are not as heavily thorned as ‘The Fairy’. ‘Fairy’ roses make an excellent weeping tree rose, as well as a groundcover, bedding plant or cascading out of pots. The blooms make very nice cut flowers. Very easy to grow with minimal maintenance, light pruning in very early spring to remove dead or damaged canes. ‘The Fairy’ is fairly tolerant of poorer soil and salt. A small number of orange-red hips are produced. Propagates easily from softwood cutting. Hardy to zone 4, minimal protection suggested.

Polyantha ‘White Fairy’

Class: Shrub rose
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Height: 2-3’
Spread: 2-3’
Growth Habit: Spreading clumps
Bloom Color: White
Flower Form: Double, rosette
Flower Size: Small, 1” in clusters of 15-30
Petal Count: 35-40
Bloom Season: Everblooming, June to frost
Fragrance: Little to no fragrance
Stem: Heavily thorned
Foliage: Fine, dark glossy green
Disease Resistance: Good resistance to disease and blackspot
Soil: Enriched well drained
Hardiness: zones 4-9

‘White Fairy’ blooms prolifically from June until frost. It does start blooming a bit later than other Polyanthas, but the weeks of heavy blooming is worth the wait. The foliage is almost fern-like and shows good disease resistance. ‘The Fairy’ makes an excellent weeping tree rose, as well as a groundcover, bedding plant or cascading out of pots. The blooms make very nice cut flowers. Very easy to grow with minimal maintenance, light pruning in very early spring to remove dead or damaged canes. ‘The Fairy’ is fairly tolerant of poorer soil. A small number of orange-red hips are produced. Propagates easily from softwood cutting. Hardy to zone 4, minimal protection suggested.

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