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The best roses for Mediterranean climate
Choosing planting

The best roses for Mediterranean climate

Discover the most suitable varieties

Contents

Modified the 8 October 2025  by Alexandra 4 min.

Although roses adapt to different climates, some are better suited than others to the warm climate of the Mediterranean area. The Mediterranean climate is indeed particular, with mild temperatures in winter and hot, dry summers, combined with significant sunshine. However, roses can suffer from summer heat and drought, while certain varieties will cope much better with these conditions. This is particularly true for Noisette roses, Banks roses, and botanical roses. Even if you live in a Mediterranean region, it’s no reason to deprive yourself of roses… But don’t grow just any variety: discover in this guide which ones are the most suitable!

Difficulty

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Noisette roses

Noisette Roses are old roses, derived from Rosa x noisettaeana. They are perpetual, very floriferous, and fragrant. Their flowers are gathered in clusters and often have very delicate, pastel shades. They tolerate poor soils and are well suited to hot, dry climates.

Rosa x Noisette 'Madame Alfred Carrière'

Rosa x Noisette 'Madame Alfred Carrière'

This is a climbing rose that produces double pale pink flowers, gathered in clusters, from June and sometimes until October. They are pleasantly fragrant. This rose has the advantage of being vigorous and healthy, and it has very few thorns!
  • Flowering time July to November
  • Height at maturity 4 m
Rosa Blush Noisette - Climbing Rose

Rosa Blush Noisette - Climbing Rose

‘Blush Noisette’ also has beautiful qualities! It is vigorous and healthy, with few thorns. Its flowering begins in June and can last until October. We appreciate its lovely small double flowers, soft pink, gathered in clusters. Depending on how it is trained, it can take on a bushy or climbing habit.
  • Flowering time July to November
  • Height at maturity 1,80 m

Read also

Roses: best varieties and how to grow them

Banks' Rose

Banks’ Rose (Rosa banksiae) is a stunning liana rose that produces a profusion of yellow, white, or pink flowers in spring, typically in May-June! It only blooms once a year, but the effect is truly impressive. Moreover, Banks’ rose is vigorous and grows very quickly! It is ideal for climbing on a pergola and providing shade for a garden seating area. There are several varieties:

Rosa banksiae 'Lutea' - Rambling Rose

Rosa banksiae 'Lutea' - Rambling Rose

This rose offers a multitude of bright yellow flowers! It is the most vigorous variety among Banks' roses.
  • Flowering time May to July
  • Height at maturity 12 m
Rosa banksiae var. banksiae 'Alba Plena' - Hybrid Banksia - Rambling Rose

Rosa banksiae var. banksiae 'Alba Plena' - Hybrid Banksia - Rambling Rose

This is a very elegant variety that bears lovely double white flowers made up of numerous imbricate petals.
  • Flowering time June, July
  • Height at maturity 12 m

Discover other Roses

Wild Roses Collection
Wild Roses Collection
New arrival
Available to order
25,00 € -16%
Rugosa roses Collection
Rugosa roses Collection
New arrival
Available to order
31,00 € -16%
Rosa x moschata 'Twins' - Moschata Rose
Rosa x moschata 'Twins' - Moschata…
Available to order
From 20,90 € • Wrapped bare root

Available in 2 sizes

Rosa floribunda La Grande Motte
Rosa floribunda La Grande Motte
147
From 17,50 € • 2L/3L pot

Available in 2 sizes

Rosa Bring Me Sunshine - English Rose
Rosa Bring Me Sunshine - English Rose
Available to order
From 15,90 € • Wrapped bare root

Available in 2 sizes

Rosa Eve de Rothschild - Hybrid Tea Rose
Rosa Eve de Rothschild - Hybrid Tea Rose
New arrival
Available to order
From 14,50 € • Wrapped bare root

Available in 2 sizes

Rosa Ice Meillandecor - Groundcover Rose
Rosa Ice Meillandecor - Groundcover Rose
New arrival
32
From 17,50 € • Wrapped bare root

Available in 2 sizes

Rosa x floribunda 'Rose de la petite Chabotte' - Miniature Rose
Rosa x floribunda 'Rose de la petite Ch…
7
From 19,90 € • Wrapped bare root

Available in 2 sizes

Rosa x moschata 'Schubert' - Musk Rose
Rosa x moschata 'Schubert' - Musk …
Special offer
17
From 20,90 € • Wrapped bare root

Available in 2 sizes

Rosa x floribunda 'Rêve de Paris' - Street Colours - Floribunda Rose
Rosa x floribunda 'Rêve de Paris' …
214
From 13,50 € • Bare root

Available in 4 sizes

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Chinese roses

Chinese Rose (Rosa chinensis) is one of the ancestors of many current rose varieties. It has a rounded and airy habit, growing to 1 to 2 m tall, with lightly thorny stems. It flowers from June until the frost; in fact, it is the one that has given the perpetual character to modern varieties. Easy to care for, it enjoys full sun and is resistant to diseases.

Rosa x chinensis 'Mutabilis' - China Rose

Rosa x chinensis 'Mutabilis' - China Rose

This is a splendid Chinese rose that offers a light flowering with changing colours. The flowering begins in May and then renews in successive waves. Its flowers are initially orange-yellow when they bloom, then turn pink, and eventually take on a crimson to purple hue. The flowers are single, consisting of five petals, and are about 6 cm wide. This rose is sturdy, drought-resistant, and disease-resistant.
  • Flowering time June to November
  • Height at maturity 1,70 m
Rosa chinensis Old Blush - China Rose

Rosa chinensis Old Blush - China Rose

‘Old Blush’ is an old rose derived from Rosa chinensis. It has been cultivated in China for over 1000 years and remains very close to the wild rose Rosa chinensis var. spontanea. The flowering starts in April-May and then renews in successive waves. It offers semi-double flowers, lightly scented, initially light pink, then turning to a darker pink hue. It is not demanding regarding soil type, tolerating calcareous and poor soils, and is drought-tolerant once well established.
  • Flowering time June to November
  • Height at maturity 1,20 m

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Rosa rugosa

The rose Rosa rugosa grows naturally along the coasts of East Asia and tolerates poor, sandy soils. It is particularly suited for coastal areas. It forms a dense bush, with stems covered in small prickles, and crinkled, rough, glossy leaves.

Rosa x rugosa 'Hansa' - Rugosa Rose

Rosa x rugosa 'Hansa' - Rugosa Rose

This variety produces beautiful double flowers, in a mauve-pink colour, turning to purple. They are pleasantly fragrant, and later give way to large, decorative orange-red hips!
  • Flowering time July to November
  • Height at maturity 1,80 m
Rosa rugosa Pink Grootendorst

Rosa rugosa Pink Grootendorst

A lovely variety that produces small, double pink flowers, clustered in bouquets.
  • Flowering time July to November
  • Height at maturity 1,10 m

Other botanical roses suited to the Mediterranean climate

Botanical roses are wild, non-hybridised roses that have a natural form. Their flowers are simple, typically with five petals, revealing a bouquet of stamens at the centre. These are robust and sturdy roses, resistant to diseases, and require very little maintenance. They easily integrate into naturalistic or rustic-style gardens.

Rosa hugonis

Rosa hugonis

This is a botanical rose that offers a profusion of yellow, simple flowers with five petals in spring, around April-May. Its foliage is very fine, beautifully cut, and takes on lovely purple hues in autumn.
  • Flowering time May, June
  • Height at maturity 2 m
Rosa gallica Complicata - Old Gallic Rose

Rosa gallica Complicata - Old Gallic Rose

Derived from Rosa gallica, this rose produces flowers in June formed of five large pink petals surrounding a bouquet of yellow stamens. It forms a large bush with a flexible habit, reaching up to 1.5 m in height and 1.8 m in spread. Sturdy and low-maintenance, it adapts to most soils and easily tolerates poor, dry soils.
  • Flowering time July
  • Height at maturity 1,50 m
Rosa pimpinellifolia

Rosa pimpinellifolia

The burnet rose grows spontaneously in Europe and North Africa. It forms a bushy plant with very thorny stems, producing numerous simple white flowers with yellow stamens between May and July. It is truly low-maintenance and easily tolerates poor, sandy soils, even dry in summer. Additionally, it also withstands calcareous soils.
  • Flowering time June to August
  • Height at maturity 90 cm

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Roses for Mediterranean Climates