Groundcover Roses (also known as Creeping Roses, Carpet Roses, Trailing Roses, Low-Growing Roses, and even Landscape Roses) are a gardener's dream come true! These low, spreading Roses form a lush, flower-filled carpet of color that brightens borders, slopes, and pathways all season long. Perfect for mass plantings or solo stars, Groundcover Roses offer continuous blooms, impressive disease resistance, and easy care that fits busy lifestyles.
Thanks to modern breeding, varieties like Drift®, Happy Trails™, and Oso Easy® Roses provide season-long color with improved hardiness and repeat flowering. These low-maintenance beauties thrive from spring through frost, adding romantic charm wherever you plant them. Even Climbing Roses can make excellent sprawling groundcovers when left unsupported, creating broad, natural-looking sweeps of color.
Landscaping Uses
Creeping, trailing, and low-growing Roses make incredible alternatives to traditional bedding annuals or mulch. They’re perfect for:
- Sunny borders and slopes where they prevent erosion and suppress weeds
- Curb appeal plantings around mailboxes, driveways, and front walks
- Container gardens spilling color over pots, walls, or retaining edges
- Mixed perennial beds alongside Catmint, Lavender, Salvia, or ornamental grasses
- Low-maintenance pollinator gardens buzzing with bees and butterflies
- Edging along garden transitions for a low-maintenance divider between lawn and garden
- En Masse planting for easy-care swaths of color all growing season
For something unexpected, let Climbing Roses trail freely across open ground. Without vertical support, they behave like spreading Carpet Roses, forming romantic cascades of bloom that cover large spaces beautifully. Combine golden Sunshine Happy Trails™ with purple Catmint or plant soft Pink Drift® Roses beside Russian Sage for stunning contrast.
Drift® Series
Compact, cold-hardy, and prolific bloomers ideal for edging and containers.
- Coral Drift®: Vibrant coral-orange blooms on glossy green foliage
- Red Drift®: Bright scarlet flowers from spring to frost
- Peach Drift®: Soft peach tones that glow in evening light
- Apricot Drift®: Warm apricot blooms and excellent disease resistance
- Lemon Drift®: Sunny yellow blooms that brighten any border
- Pink Drift®: Classic rosy pink for timeless charm
- White Drift®: Pure white blooms that mix effortlessly with perennials
- Popcorn Drift®: White to yellow-cream flowers like buttery popcorn
- Sweet Drift®: Lightly fragrant pink rosettes in abundance
Happy Trails™ Series:
Vigorous spreaders with generous bloom clusters.
- Sunshine Happy Trails™: Radiant golden-yellow blooms
- Sunset Happy Trails™: Fiery orange-gold with red highlights
- Playful Happy Trails™: Pink and white petals for a cheerful mix
- Rainbow Happy Trails™: Multicolored tones like a summer sunset
Oso Easy®/Oso Happy® Series:
Tough, resilient Roses that deliver unmatched color and easy care.
- Oso Easy® Double Red: Bountiful cherry red blooms
- Oso Easy® Honey Bun: Creamy yellow flowers with soft blush tones
- Oso Easy® Petit Pink: Masses of tiny pink blooms on compact plants
- Oso Easy® Fragrant Spreader: Spicy-scented, low-growing habit
- Oso Happy® Cherry Pie: Deep cherry-red blooms and glossy leaves
- Oso Easy® Peachy Cream: Long-lasting peach and cream color blends
Other Groundcover Rose Favorites:
- Red Ribbons®: Scarlet blooms perfect for large, sunny areas
- White Meidiland®: Pure white, endlessly blooming, and ideal for big spaces
Care & Maintenance
Groundcover Roses (also sold as Flower Carpet® Roses) need little pampering. Plant them in full sun with well-drained soil, water deeply until roots establish, and apply mulch to retain moisture. Feed with a balanced Rose fertilizer in spring and mid-summer for continuous color.
Deadheading is optional, but trimming lightly after each flush of blooms encourages repeat flowering. Prune your Roses in early spring to shape and remove any winter dieback. These hardy Roses are drought-tolerant once established and naturally resistant to black spot and powdery mildew.
Wrap-Up: Spreading Beauty the Easy Way
Creeping and spreading Groundcover Roses are like living mulch with petals, blanketing your garden in color, fragrance, and texture all season long. Mix Drift®, Happy Trails™, or Oso Easy® varieties for a patchwork of beauty that asks for almost nothing in return.
Happy Planting!