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Best rose shrubs for large terracotta pots

17 replies

FullSun · 15/08/2026 11:58

Hi, can anyone suggest or show me pics of their rose shrubs/bushes that are good for large terracotta pots. Looking for inspiration ☺️🌹 Thank you

OP posts:
Yamadori · 15/08/2026 12:03

Roses don't do particularly well in pots, and terracotta ones have a habit of drying out very quickly. What size pots are they?

FullSun · 15/08/2026 20:10

They are 60cm. I’ve struggled to have anything survive in them so far as they are in full sun.

OP posts:
senua · 15/08/2026 21:05

Have you heard of Bunny Guinness's baseless pots? Warning: she says it's not for the faint-hearted!

PS I know she has some Marie Pavie in pots (baseless, natch)

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NavigatingMyLife · 15/08/2026 21:15

Agree with others. Roses don’t thrive in pots. Hydrangeas do though !

Bideshi · 15/08/2026 21:15

David Austin has a list of roses that thrive in pots. I use terracotta pots for everything and don't find they dry out.

AtlasCedar · 15/08/2026 22:31

Yamadori · 15/08/2026 12:03

Roses don't do particularly well in pots, and terracotta ones have a habit of drying out very quickly. What size pots are they?

My Olivia Austin’s have absolutely thrived in big terracotta pots.

Yamadori · 16/08/2026 11:09

AtlasCedar · 15/08/2026 22:31

My Olivia Austin’s have absolutely thrived in big terracotta pots.

How big are the pots, and how long have they been growing in them? What fertiliser do you use?

Morethanadecade · 16/08/2026 11:11

I have some David Austin roses and they are described as suitable for pots. Mine are in the ground now but it’s too hot for them so I’ll transplant them into pots later in the year.

Yamadori · 16/08/2026 11:21

Bideshi · 15/08/2026 21:15

David Austin has a list of roses that thrive in pots. I use terracotta pots for everything and don't find they dry out.

Are they in full sun all day, and how often do you water them?

I'm curious about this, as botanically speaking, roses do need very small quantities of some trace elements (micronutrients) to stay healthy long-term which are available in the ground, but tend to get washed out of substrate in containers.

MiceSpiders · 16/08/2026 11:25

I've got flower power David Austin miniature rose, in a large pot, it's not terracotta, but it's stoneware of some kind, maybe slate? It flowers beautifully tiny peach/orange roses

TonTonMacoute · 16/08/2026 17:03

I agree with PP that roses just don't really like pots, even if the growers say they are suitable for pots.

I would choose something else tbh

AtlasCedar · 16/08/2026 19:06

Yamadori · 16/08/2026 11:09

How big are the pots, and how long have they been growing in them? What fertiliser do you use?

67L pots, they’ve been in them a year, I put mychorzial fungi and rose food around the roots when I potted, compost was a mix of John Innes 3 and Magic Jacks. Fertiliser is Neudorff Organic Tomato Feed.

Bideshi · 16/08/2026 19:28

Yamadori · 16/08/2026 11:21

Are they in full sun all day, and how often do you water them?

I'm curious about this, as botanically speaking, roses do need very small quantities of some trace elements (micronutrients) to stay healthy long-term which are available in the ground, but tend to get washed out of substrate in containers.

They are in full sun but I'm in Scotland. They are treated in pretty much the same way as the roses in the rest of the garden, which includes a dedicated rose garden. We make our own growing medium. I agree that on the whole roses are better in the ground, but if it was the only way I could grow roses, then I'd use pots.
I have a couple of roses in pots that didn't thrive in the garden so they were put into pots to convalesce; they have done so well that I'll leave they for now. They are 'William and Catherine' and 'Olivia Austen.'
I water them when they need watering.

Corianda · 18/08/2026 19:20

I never knew that Bunny Guiness looked like that she sounds like a posh school mistress - brilliant video - I have some big plastic pots I can use

lcakethereforeIam · Yesterday 10:37

I've got some roses in pots, it's supposed to be temporary. They're doing okay, I've mulched the top to retain moisture. It might be worthwhile, whatever you wind up putting in the pots, to use something to seal the inside of the terracotta so it doesn't wick moisture out of the soil/compost you fill it with.

ForPinkDuck · Yesterday 10:47

Love Bunny Guiness and im an inverted snob. Wouldnt put roses in a pot. Id go for something that needs less water tropicals?

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