Roses are Shrubs
Roses are deciduous shrubs, meaning they lose their leaves in winter, but their woody bases and stems (called canes) remain year-round and get longer with the next year's growth.
Some roses grow long canes which can be trained on walls, trellises or other structures and look almost like vines. These are often called climbing roses. But the long stems don't have any parts that attach, like suckers or twining stems, so strictly speaking, these plants aren't "climbers," they're "leaners." The canes lean against supporting structures and must be tied to remain in place. These roses too are shrubs, just with extra-long stems.
Best Sites for Growth
Most roses thrive in the sun. They need at least six hours of sun every day for optimal growth, meaning that the sun strikes the leaves of the plant directly for all of that time. Roses prefer getting sunlight all morning and into the afternoon. In cooler or cloudier climates, they will do well in locations that receive full sun all day; in hot climates they might prefer receiving dappled shade during the hottest hours of the day.
Roses' other main requirement is soil that drains quickly. Roses need regular moisture, but they do not survive long in waterlogged soils.
Spacing depends on Climate
In cold climates, rose canes may die back to ground level each year. In this situation, they will never get as large as in warmer climates. Typical modern rose species, like hybrid teas and grandifloras, could be planted 2 to 2 1/2 feet apart where winters are severe. In more moderate climates, the same species should be spaced 3 feet apart to accommodate greater growth each year. And in frost-free climates, where growth takes place year-round, these roses need to be spaced at least 4 feet apart.
Shrub roses and most older varieties are heftier plants and need significantly more room. In areas with cold winters, leave 5 to 6 feet between plants, double that in warmer areas. In any climate, the types with long, arching canes need more room than those with shorter canes.
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