Im looking to replace a knockout rose bush with either of these bushes. Although I loved the knockout rose, it got too large for the space I have in between my porch and garage and it had to be cut back several times a year to keep it off the house. I had just recently heard about these other roses and wondered if anyone had any experience with them? The space I am putting it in is about 4×5. Thank you for any information!
When it comes to landscaping with roses, drift roses and carpet roses are two excellent low-growing options. Both make beautiful and carefree groundcover roses. But they have some key differences when it comes to growth habit, height, blooming, maintenance needs, and uses
Understanding the distinctions between drift roses and carpet roses will help you determine which is better for your particular landscaping needs and climate. Read on for a complete comparison guide covering all the pros cons, and uses for drift roses vs carpet roses.
Drift roses, also known as groundcover roses, are low, spreading roses that were specifically bred to withstand heat, humidity, drought, and other challenges. They form a dense, mounding carpet of disease-resistant foliage and nonstop flowers.
Some key features of drift roses:
- Grow 1-2 feet tall and spread 3-4 feet wide
- Have a compact, dense, shrub-like growth habit
- Bloom continuously from spring through fall
- Ideal for borders, pathways, cascading over walls, or mass plantings
- Require minimal care and pruning once established
- Available in colors like white, pink, coral, salmon, yellow
Popular drift rose series include Drift®, Sweet Drift®, and Flower Carpet®. Some top varieties are Drift® Coral, Drift® Red, and Drift® Sweet.
An Overview of Carpet Roses
Carpet roses, also called ground cover or landscape roses, are prized for carpeting large areas densely with flowers and foliage. They spread via long, flexible canes that take root where they touch the ground.
Some features of carpet roses:
- Grow 2-3 feet tall and spread rapidly via trailing canes
- Have a loose, open, sprawling growth habit
- Bloom heavily in spring with some repeat blooms in summer
- Ideal cascading down slopes, banks, and mass plantings
- Require regular pruning to control size and shape
- Come in shades like pink, coral, red, white, yellow
Popular carpet rose series include Flower Carpet®, Pink Carpet®, Carefree Carpet®, and Forever Yours®.
Comparing Key Differences Between Drift Roses and Carpet Roses
While drift roses and carpet roses are both low-growing, spreading roses, they have notable differences when it comes to:
Growth Habit
- Drift roses are more compact and dense in form. Carpet roses are loose, open, and sprawling.
Height
- Carpet roses grow slightly taller, averaging 2-3 feet tall. Drift roses stay under 2 feet in height.
Flowering
- Drift roses bloom continuously all season long. Carpet roses flower heavily in spring with some repeat blooms.
Cold Tolerance
- Drift roses handle cold better with excellent winter hardiness. Carpet roses need winter protection in very cold climates.
Maintenance
- Drift roses are more carefree and need minimal pruning when mature. Carpet roses require more frequent shaping and pruning.
Uses
- Drift roses work well in garden beds and borders. Carpet roses excel at cascading down slopes, banks, and in mass plantings.
Tips for Choosing Between Drift Roses and Carpet Roses
When deciding between installing drift roses or carpet roses, keep these tips in mind:
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Go with drift roses if you want a shorter, denser, compact shrub-like form under 2 feet tall. Pick carpet roses for a taller, loose, spreading growth habit.
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Choose drift roses for continuous, nonstop blooms. Select carpet roses if you only need heavy spring flowering.
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Use carpet roses if you have a large area for them to spread and cascade down. Drift roses are better suited for smaller spaces.
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Pick carpet roses if you can prune regularly to shape and control growth. Drift roses need minimal pruning once mature.
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Prefer drift roses for challenging climates prone to heat, humidity, drought, and cold. They have excellent resilience.
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Consider bloom color, as both shrub roses come in pink, coral, red, white, yellow and more.
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Look for fragrant varieties like Sweet Drift® if scent is important to you.
Achieve Stunning, Low-Maintenance Landscape Impact
Both drift roses and carpet roses provide easy, low-maintenance ways to add flower power and year-round beauty to your landscape. Once you understand the differences in growth habit, height, blooming, and best uses, it’s easy to choose the right rose type for your specific landscaping needs and climate challenges. With their versatility, durability, and long season of color, drift roses and carpet roses are two of the best choices for hassle-free groundcover roses.
Re: Drift Rose or Carpet Rose
I have both. The carpet (or groundcaover roses I have are Happy Chappy from Jackson & Perkins. They are 8 years old and show no signs of withering. I live in Chicago, so although this past winter was unusually mild with temperatures averaging in the 30s to 50-ish, they have withstood winters of sub-zero wind chills, with average temperatures in the teens to 30-ish. I planted some Drifts last spring which I purchased at a local garden center. The branches are already greening, but this is due to the mild winter. It was so mild here they didnt go fully dormant until almost Christmas. The plants were beautiful last summer. Plenty of blooms for a first season transplant into a garden, but I dont know how they will withstand normal harsh winter conditions.
I actually planted red Drifts to replace some Knockouts which had grown too large for the space they were in. If the Drifts perform as expected they should reach a mature size of around 2 feet high/3 feet wide. This is very similar to the Happy Chappy (and other groundcover/carpet roses). In other words, I think youll be ok with either, so let color be your guide. Drifts by Star Roses come in red, white, deep pink, coral, a pale pink called Apricot drift, and a yellowish color called Popcorn drift. Carpets/groundcover are available in the same shades. The Happy Chappy is a combination of all these shades which is why I love them in a garden because they coordinate wth anything and everything.
Drift Rose versus Flower Carpet Rose; A Groundcover Rose Comparison
FAQ
Which is better, drift or knockout roses?
If you’re wondering what the difference is between Drift Roses vs. Knock Out Roses, it really comes down to size. Knock Out Roses will get much larger than Drift Roses since Drift Roses are groundcover plants. The Drift Rose is perfect for planting in small spaces, around mailboxes, and in planters.
Are carpet roses any good?
Flower Carpet roses are extraordinarily low maintenance and have exceptional disease resistance. Better still, once established, their well-developed root system means they’re drought and low-water tolerant: surface roots take up available surface water while deeper roots access lower level water in drought conditions.
What are common problems with drift roses?
Drift roses are fairly resistant when it comes to common plant diseases like powdery mildew, rust, and black spot. They can be susceptible to chilli thrips and Cercospora leaf spot. Chilli thrips may cause brown spots or leaf curling. To treat thrips, apply horticultural oil or insecticidal soap to the leaves.