Standard Roses

Pruning a standard rose is much the same as pruning a bush rose, with one key difference. All the cuts are made to the rounded head at the top of the clear stem. In the UK, the main prune is done in late winter to early spring once the worst frosts have passed. Remove any dead, damaged or crossing stems first, then shorten healthy shoots by about one third, cutting just above an outward facing bud. The aim is to keep a neat, open shape that allows air and light into the centre. Throughout summer, regular deadheading keeps flowers coming and helps maintain that classic lollipop form.

A standard rose is a rose that has been grafted onto a tall, straight stem, with the flowering variety forming a rounded head at the top. It looks more like a small tree than a shrub and is often called a tree rose. The clear stem lifts the flowers up, making them perfect for pots, patios, pathways and formal garden designs where structure and height really impress.

Standard roses do not grow much taller once established. The height of the stem is fixed when the rose is produced. What does grow each year is the head of flowers and foliage, which becomes fuller and more impressive with good care and correct pruning. If extra height is the goal, it usually means choosing a taller stem size at planting rather than expecting the rose to stretch upwards over time.

When planting standard roses in a row in the ground, space them around 90cm to 1.2m apart. This gives each rose enough room for its head to develop without overcrowding and allows good air circulation between, which helps keep plants healthy. In pots, one standard rose per container works best, with a pot large enough to keep the plant stable and well watered. They particularly draw the eye as a pair of pots framing a door, gate, walkway or entrance.

With the right care, a standard rose can live for 15 to 20 years or even longer. Longevity depends on good planting, regular feeding, annual pruning and protecting the graft point from severe frost. Keeping the plant healthy reduces stress and helps it perform reliably year after year.