15 Multicolored Roses to Brighten Up Your Garden

I love multi-colored roses. With sophisticated stripes, confetti-like speckles, or nuanced blends worthy of a watercolor painting, these roses draw the eye like no other. Even better, they let you have fun and play with color in the garden. Do you love yellow? Purple? Can’t decide? Why not pick a variety that gives you both?

Multi-colored roses come in a variety of styles and sizes. Whether you’re looking for a ground cover rose, standard, shrub, or climber, there’s a multi-colored rose that will bring your favorite shades together.

Let’s jump into our favorite multi-colored roses, with names and pictures of each!

‘Ringo Ⓡ’

	botanical name Rosa ‘CHEwbullseye
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 2’ – 3’
	hardiness zones 4-8

This rose boasts large and bright single-petaled blooms that remind me of tropical hibiscus. With six international awards, including the Royal National Rose Society’s Certificate of Merit, you can trust that ‘Ringo’ will be a high performer in your garden.

‘Ringo’ is a splashy, low-growing floribunda. The flowers open a vivid banana yellow with a bright red ring in the center. As they mature, shades of pink, pale yellow, orange, and white join the fun. If you love warm shades but can’t settle on a palette, this rose will be a perfect fit.

‘Ringo’ is low maintenance, disease-resistant, and repeatedly blooms in flushes throughout the summer. Plant it en masse for a striking effect, or let it shine as a stand-alone specimen in a large pot. Either way, you get instant garden color!

‘Purple Tiger’

	botanical name Rosa ‘JACpurr
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 2’ – 3’
	hardiness zones 6-10

‘Purple Tiger’ has showy, double raspberry-red to violet blooms, each streaked with white. Like many multi-colored roses, each individual flower is a masterpiece with its own pattern and look.

This floribunda has an appealing antique rose scent. It repeat blooms in flushes from spring through frost and stays compact. It would be perfect in twin containers to flank an entryway.

I’m not going to lie. ‘Purple Tiger’ is a bit of diva. This rose is susceptible to black spot and mildew in humid climates, this rose is not the best choice for beginners.

If you love ‘Purple Tiger’, make sure to space her at least 2-3 feet from other roses and prune regularly to maintain a vase shape with good airflow. This kind of beauty doesn’t come without a bit of effort!

‘Peace’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Madame A. Meilland’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 4’ – 7’
	hardiness zones 5-9

If you love multi-colored roses with a bit more subtlety, ‘Peace’ will appeal. This World Federation of Rose Society’s Hall of Fame winner comes in a pretty blend of pale butter yellow, cream, and shell pink. Not a shouty or bold presence in the garden, this rose whispers, “Come take a closer look”.

‘Peace’ has classic, high-centered florist style blooms. It’s an excellent candidate for a cut flower garden and has a nice tea rose fragrance.

‘Peace’ has good disease resistance, especially among the high teas. It has been a favorite for decades due to the unique shading of its continued summer blooms and dark green foliage. Named to celebrate the end of World War II, this is a prized rose that you won’t regret adding to your collection.

‘Distant Drums’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Distant Drums’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 3’-4’
	hardiness zones 5-10

‘Distant Drums’ is a current wedding bouquet favorite. With unusual, distinctive coloring, you really have to see this rose in person to get the full effect of its nuanced blooms.

The buds of ‘Drums’ begin a nice jammy pink and open to pale mauve-lavender flowers with coppery centers. The 40+ petals are waved and give it an elegant sculptural look. ‘Drums’ is popular in the florist industry and the garden, deservedly garnering lots of attention.

Bred by Griffith Bucks to be exceptionally high performing, this rose is cold-hardy, disease-resistant, and ever-blooming. Plant several together for a swathe of unexpected color and cut often to enjoy its intense anise-myrrh scent.

‘Joseph’s Coat’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Joseph’s Coat’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 8’– 12’
	hardiness zones 4-10

Do you want to make the most of your vertical space? Check out ‘Joseph’s Coat’, a bestselling climber popular since the 1960s for good reason. This dazzling rose climbs up to 12 feet high and has an evolving color variation that’s exciting to watch in the garden.

The buds of ‘Joseph’s Coat’ start as cherry red rose blooms and gradually open to reveal shades of pink, golden yellow, and orange.  The colors change as blooms develop at different times on the bush, resulting in a dynamic display.

‘Joseph’s Coat’ is a bloom machine that flowers in clusters from spring through fall. It has a lovely fruity scent and looks great in the vase.

This rose tends to get black spot in humid areas and isn’t recommended for regions plagued by Japanese Beetles, who tend to love it as much as we do. If neither is a major problem in your garden, this constantly blooming showstopper is a time-tested choice.

‘Paradise’

	botanical name Rosa ‘WEZeip’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 4.5’ – 5’
	hardiness zones 3-4

If you’ve scanned rose offerings at your local nursery, you’ll notice that lavender is an elusive shade. Fortunately, a few treasured roses have hit the right note of pale violet and purple rose petal tones that are so hard to find in the rose family. A standout among the lavenders is ‘Paradise’, a gorgeous high tea with classically shaped blooms.

‘Paradise’ wows with large lavender blooms edged in bright magenta. The combination is head-turning and works beautifully with fuschia shades in a mixed border. Try it with hot pink dianthus for a gorgeous perennial combination.

‘Paradise’ is an All-America Rose Selection and gold medal winner. It’s a high producer with loads of flowers all season long. This rose tolerates shade but prefers full sun. An excellent choice for hot climates.

‘Peach Drift’

	botanical name Rosa ‘MEIgilli’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun to Part Shade
	height 1’ – 2’
	hardiness zones 5-10

Do you have a pathway that could use a bit of pizazz? A bare area in need of an eye-catching ground cover? ‘Peach Drift’, part of Star Ⓡ Roses and Plants Drift series, is a workhorse rose perfect for the job.

‘Peach Drift’ stays under 2 feet. Plant several, and they will slowly spread to fill a garden border or edge a pathway. Smothered from spring through frost in small, frilly blooms, you can’t go wrong with this rose.

‘Peach Drift’ is double flowering with an attractive bushy habit. It shines in shades of apricot, peach, yellow, and pink, often appearing all at the same time. My Drift rose has been pretty much indestructible, surviving freezing winters and over-enthusiastic chewing from my dog (she loves it too!).

This variety is often the first to flush out in spring. A reliable, tidy crowd-pleaser! 

‘Green Romantica’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Green Romantica’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 4’ – 5’
	hardiness zones 7-10

I’m willing to bet you’ve never seen a rose quite like ‘Green Romantica’. With lime green buds that open to creamy centers, each bloom has a variation of ivory, chartreuse, or spring green, often in combination.

This is a best-selling, highly-sought after variety cherished for its one-of-a-kind look. It would be stunning interplanted with bright green sedums or even spring herbs with pretty texture, like dill or fennel.

Unusual coloration is just the beginning of ‘Green Romantica’s’ attributes. This rose has a gorgeous scent and is exceptionally long-lived in arrangements. It prefers hot, dry climates and will respond by staying healthy and disease free. 

‘Ketchup and Mustard’

	botanical name Rosa ‘WEKzazette’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 4’ – 5’
	hardiness zones 6-9

I find that most either love or hate ‘Ketchup and Mustard’. Either way, this bicolor beauty is always a conversation piece in the garden! Don’t let the condiment association dissuade you. This rose has an appealing contrast of vibrant red petals and a mustard yellow reverse that looks almost unreal.

Don’t worry- there’s nothing to remind you of hamburgers or hotdogs in this lovely rose’s perfume. It smells of fresh green apples and tea. Plant it with bright red salvia or penstemon for a vivid, unexpected mixed bed.

‘Ketchup and Mustard’ is an international award winner with a great vase life and endless summer blooms. Though it performs well in many climates, this rose produces even more blooms in cool temperatures.

‘Lyda Rose’

	botanical name Rosa ‘LETlyda’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 4’– 5’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Do you have a shady spot in the garden that could benefit from a makeover? Plant the ‘Lyda Rose’, a beautiful single-petaled variety with excellent low-light tolerance and an ethereal appearance.

‘Lyda’ has delicate, open blooms beloved by pollinators. Flowers are a blend of white and blush pink, with upturned petals that show off a dark pink reverse. You may be struck by how much it resembles the blooms of a flowering Dogwood!

This is a charming mid-sized shrub that blooms in flushes throughout the season. Though its beauty alone is enough to merit it a spot in your collection, ‘Lyda’ ices the cake with an intoxicating fragrance that perfumes the whole garden. Stop deadheading it in late summer for a display of pretty orange hips that persist through winter.

‘Mutabilis’

	botanical name Rosa Chinensis ‘Mutabilis’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 6’ – 10’
	hardiness zones 7-10

Are you drawn to Old Garden roses? ‘Mutabilis’ is an old China Rose that’s been beloved ever since its introduction to the world by a Swiss Botanist in 1891.

‘Mutabilis’ is most admired for its lovely single blooms, which look painted by an artist in watercolor blends of cream, pink, and yellow, aging to crimson. Frequently called “The Butterfly Rose” an abundance of blooms at different stages make the shrub appear as if a flurry of butterflies has alighted on the foliage.

‘Mutabilis’ is easy-care and highly resistant to disease. It was designated the Earth-Kind Ⓡ Rose of the Year in 2005 for drought tolerance and health. When happy with its conditions, it will spread up to 10 feet tall and wide, so plan to give it lots of space! Try it with ornamental grasses for an informal combo that flutters prettily in the breeze.

‘Camille Pissarro’

	botanical name Rosa ‘DELstricol’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 3’– 4’
	hardiness zones 6-10

Named for the Danish-French impressionist painter, ‘Camille Pissarro’ is a stunning combination of golden yellow to ivory blooms decorated with strawberry red stripes and speckles

This rose is phototropic, meaning it changes color dramatically in response to sun exposure. The color changes make for a fascinating garden specimen. The flowers are fully double and astoundingly gorgeous.

The blooms of ‘Camille Pissarro’ are set off by lots of healthy, deep green foliage and a nice bushy growth habit. It has a sweet fruity fragrance. Try it with crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ or red yarrow for a pretty perennial palette.

‘Stephen Rulo’

	botanical name Rosa ‘WEcrulo’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 4’ – 6’
	hardiness zones 5-10

This is an intriguing rose! ‘Stephen Rulo’ has romantic blooms in silvery lavender, rusted gold, and apricot. You really can’t find this combination of shades anywhere else. A prolific bloomer with interesting scalloped petals, its a clear standout.

‘Stephen’ is perfect for cutting, with long sturdy stems and a classic rose scent. It changes color in response to fluctuations in temperature, tending more to a cool lavender-gray in the cold, and warmer mocha-gold in the heat.

This beauty looks great with pastels or whites in the garden. Try it with white and blush gaura or sweet alyssum, which attract desired beneficial predators. In high demand and limited supply, you’ll want to begin your search for this rose right away!

‘Livin’ Easy’

	botanical name Rosa ‘HARwelcome’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 3’– 5’
	hardiness zones 5-11

‘Livin’ Easy’, from Weeks Roses Easy to Love series, is a low-maintenance rose that glows in the garden. With double, ruffly petals in radiant orange, pink, and apricot, this rose is not shy.

‘Livin Easy’ has won multiple prestigious awards, including the Royal National Rose Society gold medal. It’s a vigorous producer. Hardy and robust, this rose is an excellent, consistently performing choice for beginners.

This shrub is scented with delicious pairing of cloves and citrus. You’ll want to inhale it every time you visit the garden! It looks vibrant in contrast with deep purple alliums and asters.

‘Rainbow Sunblaze’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Chewallbell’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 2’– 4’
	hardiness zones 4-9

‘Rainbow Sunblaze’ is a cheerful mini rose that packs a lot of impact in a tiny package. While it grows only 12-18 inches tall, it will draw you in with bright dandelion-yellow blooms edged in scarlet.

All roses in the Sunblaze Ⓡ series are floriferous, tough miniatures that thrive just as well directly in the ground as in patio containers. Try planting a row of ‘Rainbow Sunblaze’ for a cute low-growing hedge!

A gold medal winner with ideal bloom form, ‘Rainbow’ is small but bouquet-worthy. Miniature roses are just as hardy as their larger relatives but benefit the gardener by providing increased flexibility. They fit in almost anywhere!

If you do choose to grow ‘Rainbow Sunblaze’ in a pot, offer it extra winter protection. Container roses are more susceptible to damage from freezing temps.