Do thornless roses truly exist? The saying goes that every rose has its thorn. But what if that isn’t always true?
In fact, a surprising number of thornless rose types exist! These varieties are just as beautiful as their thorned counterparts, but without the pain and annoyance of handling prickly stems.
Thornless (or nearly thornless) roses are ideal for planting along walkways, patios, and fence lines. You can confidently add these varieties to your landscape without worrying about children, pets, or unsuspecting passersby.
Here are some types of thornless roses to consider growing in your own garden this year:
Quick Look
- ‘Goldfinch’
- ‘Smooth Angel’
- ‘Leander’
- ‘Smooth Buttercup’
- ‘Smooth Satin’
- ‘Chloris’
- ‘Zephirine Drouhin’
- ‘Brother Cadfael’
- ‘Kew Gardens’
- Rosa banksiae (Lady Banks Rose)
- ‘Ghislaine de Féligonde’
- ‘Reine des Violettes’
- ‘Lichfield Angel’
- ‘Madame Legras de St. Germain’
- ‘Veilchenblau’
- ‘Hippolyte’
- ‘The Shepherdess’
- ‘Mary Delany’
- ‘Madame Alfred Carrière’
- ‘Smooth Ballerina’
- ‘Madame Plantier’
- ‘Climbing Pinkie’
- ‘Paul Neyron’
- ‘Kathleen Harrop’
- ‘Amadis'
25 Thornless Rose Types For All the Beauty and None of the Pain
1. ‘Goldfinch’
| Type | Rambler |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | 5 to 9 |
| Approx. Height | 15 feet |
| Light | Full Sun |
| Flowering | Once |
This multiflora rambler is a beautiful addition to any garden or landscape. While ‘Goldfinch’ wasn’t developed until 1907 by rosarian William Paul, it is reminiscent of the Victorian gardens' multiflora varieties first gained popularity within.
The most distinct quality of the ‘Goldfinch’ rose is its small, creamy-yellow flowers. This nearly thornless rose bush blooms only once per year. But each brief burst of flowers is incredibly dense and wonderfully fragrant!
2. ‘Smooth Angel’
| Type | Shrub |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | 7 to 10 |
| Approx. Height | 3 to 4 feet |
| Light | Partial to Full Sun |
| Flowering | Repeat |
‘Smooth Angel’ is just one of several trademarked varieties of Smooth Touch Thornless Roses. These unique roses were developed by California-native Harvey Davidson and are at least 95% thorn-free (if not completely thornless!).
This particular thornless cultivar boasts flowers that are a vibrant apricot color and repeatedly emerge throughout the summer. Its compact size makes it ideal for border beds and large containers.
3. ‘Leander’
| Type | Shrub |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | 5 to 11 |
| Approx. Height | 6 to 8 feet |
| Light | Full Sun |
| Flowering | Repeat |
‘Leander’ is a hybrid tea rose that produces very few thorns just by the nature of its genetics. The apricot-colored flowers are fresh and romantic and will blend into a variety of garden styles without issue.
While this rose variety naturally forms a large shrub, it can be trained to climb up a trellis or arbor with relative ease. The repeating blooms will fill the area around the rose with a strong fragrance throughout the growing season.
4. ‘Smooth Buttercup’
| Type | Shrub |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | 6 to 9 |
| Approx. Height | 2 to 3 feet |
| Light | Partial to Full Sun |
| Flowering | Repeat |
If your ideal rose bush is bright and sunny, the canary yellow blooms of ‘Smooth Buttercup’ certainly deserve a place in your garden! This is another member of the Smooth Touch Thornless Roses line-up.
‘Smooth Buttercup’ is quite small, maxing out at around 3 feet tall and just as wide. As a result, the double-petaled, clustered flowers cover the entire shrub in color throughout the growing season.
While not the most fragrant cultivar available, this rose is also resistant to a number of common diseases.
5. ‘Smooth Satin’
| Type | Shrub |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | 7 to 10 |
| Approx. Height | 3 to 4 feet |
| Light | Partial to Full Sun |
| Flowering | Repeat |
‘Smooth Satin’ is a unique specimen of thornless roses that slightly changes color as the season progresses. Its petals range from apricot to pink and can emerge as single blooms or in clusters.
The diverse flowering habits and thornless stems make ‘Smooth Satin’ a great option for any cutting garden. It doesn’t just look great arranged in a vase — the blossoms also give off a wonderful aroma!
6. ‘Chloris’
| Type | Shrub |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | 3 to 9 |
| Approx. Height | 4 to 7 feet |
| Light | Full Sun |
| Flowering | Once |
Developed all the way back in 1815, this hardy rose bush is sure to turn heads with its brilliant flowering display in early spring. Each bloom contains countless petals that age from soft pink to off-white.
‘Chloris’ rose shrubs can vary in height by several feet. Many gardeners opt to encourage horizontal growth by training the stems outward rather than up.
The nearly thornless canes are easy to train and won’t leave you with sore fingers.
7. ‘Zephirine Drouhin’
| Type | Climber |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | 6 to 11 |
| Approx. Height | 15 feet |
| Light | Partial to Full Sun |
| Flowering | Repeat |
‘Zephirine Drouhin’ is a versatile climbing rose that thrives in warm to temperate climates. Its repeating pink flowers can brighten up any arbor, fence, or exterior wall.
While this rose is technically a repeat bloomer, flowers emerge so rapidly that it can easily be mistaken for a continuous variety.
The only downside to planting this thornless climber is that it is more susceptible to disease than other modern roses.
8. ‘Brother Cadfael’
| Type | Shrub |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | 5 to 11 |
| Approx. Height | 5 feet |
| Light | Full Sun |
| Flowering | Repeat |
The inexperienced gardener may have a hard time deciding if ‘Brother Cadfael’ is a rose or if it’s a peony. But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing! This English shrub rose has extra-large blooms with rich pink petals.
The fragrance is strong and reminiscent of old Bourbon roses. Plant ‘Brother Cadfael’ in the back of your garden for a beautiful backdrop or cut the sparsely thorned canes for repeating bouquets.
9. ‘Kew Gardens’
| Type | Shrub |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | 5 to 11 |
| Approx. Height | 4 feet |
| Light | Partial to Full Sun |
| Flowering | Repeat |
Named for London’s famous botanical gardens, this award-winning rose variety is ideal for use as a hedge. While dense, the canes produced by this rose are entirely thornless.
Because it is a hybrid musk rose, ‘Kew Gardens’ gives off a sweetly spiced aroma from its flowers’ stamens. Growers recommend deadheading spent blooms and rosehips throughout the summer to encourage additional flowerings.
10. Rosa banksiae (Lady Banks Rose)
| Type | Climber |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | 6 to 9 |
| Approx. Height | 15 to 20 feet |
| Light | Full Sun |
| Flowering | Once |
Did you know that the world’s largest known rose plant is a specimen of Rosa banksiae? This climbing rose produces thornless vines that can reach over 20 feet, making it perfect for covering a trellis, pergola, or a similar structure.
In cooler climates, Lady Banks roses lose their foliage each winter. However, in warmer areas, this rose species is an evergreen plant. It boasts small yellow flowers and requires little maintenance to thrive.
11. ‘Ghislaine de Féligonde’
| Type | Rambler |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | 6 to 8 |
| Approx. Height | 6 to 10 feet |
| Light | Full Sun |
| Flowering | Repeat |
If you have a large piece of landscape to fill out, then ‘Ghislaine de Féligonde’ is a gorgeous rambling rose worthy of consideration. This thornless rose bears clusters of small, light-yellow flowers that repeatedly bloom throughout the summer months.
‘Ghislaine de Féligonde’ offers great disease resistance — earning it the coveted Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society — but isn’t so vigorous that its growth will overtake other plants in the garden.
12. ‘Reine des Violettes’
| Type | Shrub |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | 5 to 11 |
| Approx. Height | 4 feet |
| Light | Full Sun |
| Flowering | Repeat |
With richly colored blooms that range from lilac to magenta, ‘Reine des Violettes’ is a unique addition to even the most established rose garden. This classic Old Rose is almost completely thornless, making it ideal for use as a hedge or patio border.
Most ‘Reine des Violettes’ roses naturally grow into shrubs. However, these plants also respond extremely well to training and can climb along short fences or exterior walls for a blanket of color.
13. ‘Lichfield Angel’
| Type | Shrub |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | 4 to 11 |
| Approx. Height | 5 feet |
| Light | Partial to Full Sun |
| Flowering | Repeat |
‘Lichfield Angel’ is an elegant English shrub rose whose cream-colored flowers take on various personalities as they mature. While new blooms are tightly cupped, the petals eventually open fully into a lush, peony-shaped inflorescence.
This rose variety grows into a large, well-rounded shrub with minimal training required. It would make a wonderful statement planting in any garden, and can even thrive in shady areas.
14. ‘Madame Legras de St. Germain’
| Type | Shrub |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | 3 to 9 |
| Approx. Height | 5 feet |
| Light | Partial to Full Sun |
| Flowering | Once |
If you enjoy the idea of a classic Old Rose that has been grown since the mid-19th century, look no further than ‘Madame Legras de St. Germain.’
This almost thornless rose can grow to a variety of heights, but most modern specimens reach between 5 and 10 feet. Technically, ‘Madame Legras de St. Germain’ is sold as a large shrub.
But it readily adapts to training as a climbing or rambling rose. Be sure to plant this white-flowered beauty next to a sturdy trellis, arbor, and wall!
15. ‘Veilchenblau’
| Type | Rambler |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | 5 to 9 |
| Approx. Height | 10 to 20 feet |
| Light | Partial to Full Sun |
| Flowering | Once |
‘Veilchenblau’ — sometimes sold under the name Blue Rambler or a variation of Blue Violet — is a vigorous rambler that produces unique purple flowers in early summer.
This rambler is extremely hardy and you won’t find a better candidate to cover a shady or north-facing exterior wall. Once established, the almost thornless canes are quite strong.
Pollinators will love flitting from flower to flower during this rose’s single bloom of the year!
16. ‘Hippolyte’
| Type | Shrub |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | 4 to 9 |
| Approx. Height | 4 to 6 feet |
| Light | Partial to Full Sun |
| Flowering | Once |
‘Hippolyte’ is another cultivar with stunning purple bloomage. This shrub may not provide a strong fragrance or repeat flowering, but it’s quite tolerant of shade and resists disease.
Since ‘Hippolyte’ grows as wide as it does tall, be sure to leave a decent margin when first planting this shrub. The tall, sparsely thorned canes are ideal for cutting.
17. ‘The Shepherdess’
| Type | Shrub |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | 5 to 11 |
| Approx. Height | 4 feet |
| Light | Partial to Full Sun |
| Flowering | Repeat |
While ‘The Shepherdess’ does have a few thorns, it may still win you over with its peachy coloring and citrusy fragrance! This repeat-flowering shrub is a cheery addition to the garden that is just as beautiful in the landscape as it is arranged in a vase.
‘The Shepherdess’ also has a vast climate tolerance. It’s ideal for areas on the cusp of various hardiness zones or for beds that receive a range of exposure types throughout the year.
18. ‘Mary Delany’
| Type | Climber |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | 4 to 11 |
| Approx. Height | 12 feet |
| Light | Partial to Full Sun |
| Flowering | Repeat |
An homage to the 18th-century botanical artist of the same name, ‘Mary Delany’ is a healthy climbing rose that produces vibrant pink blossoms all season long.
This rose performs best when trained up a dedicated obelisk or trellis. Fortunately, the lack of large thorns makes handling its canes much easier than those of other rose plants!
On top of tolerating a variety of climates, ‘Mary Delany’ is known for its disease resistance.
19. ‘Madame Alfred Carrière’
| Type | Climber |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | 7 to 11 |
| Approx. Height | 25 feet |
| Light | Partial to Full Sun |
| Flowering | Continuous |
‘Madame Alfred Carrière’ is a fragrant climbing rose that can reach heights of 20 feet or more! It puts out elegant white blooms continuously throughout the summer and into fall.
This almost thornless variety is appropriate for planting in full sun or partial shade.
While allowing this plant to climb up a trellis or wall is the best way to show off its impressive foliage and flowers, it can easily be trained into a shrub or tree as well.
20. ‘Smooth Ballerina’
| Type | Shrub |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | 7 to 10 |
| Approx. Height | 4 feet |
| Light | Partial to Full Sun |
| Flowering | Repeat |
Some gardeners like to fill their beds with the unique foliage and petals possible. If that sounds like you, then consider adding the thornless ‘Smooth Ballerina’ to your collection.
Like other Smooth Touch Thornless varieties, this interesting plant grows as a compact shrub and repeatedly flowers. Its striped blooms are incredibly intriguing — each flower boasts a one-of-a-kind pattern!
This is also one of the most fragrant Smooth Touch roses available.
21. ‘Madame Plantier’
| Type | Shrub |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | 4 to 9 |
| Approx. Height | 8 feet |
| Light | Partial to Full Sun |
| Flowering | Once |
‘Madame Plantier’ delivers the drama of a true Old Rose with oversized blooms that are incredibly fragrant. It produces very, very few thorns and can be trained to climb or as ground cover.
The exact hardiness of this rose variety is up for debate. Some sources recommend planting it only in zones 5 and warmer. Others claim it will thrive in climates as cold as zone 3.
If you’re in one of the colder zones, take this into consideration by selecting a sunny yet sheltered location for your new rose.
22. ‘Climbing Pinkie’
| Type | Climber |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | 6 to 9 |
| Approx. Height | 10 feet |
| Light | Full Sun |
| Flowering | Continuous |
With its well-mannered growth habit, ‘Climbing Pinkie’ is a great introduction to climbing roses for gardeners who may be inexperienced with training and pruning.
And the almost complete lack of thorns means yearly maintenance is pain-free! This climbing rose can be kept clean and tidy with an arbor or similar support.
Or you can let the uber-fragrant, continuous blooms drape across your garden for a more romantic aesthetic.
23. ‘Paul Neyron’
| Type | Shrub |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | 5 to 9 |
| Approx. Height | 5 to 6 feet |
| Light | Full Sun |
| Flowering | Repeat |
This classic hybrid rose was developed in France over 150 years ago. It’s one of the original varieties to bear few, if any, thorns on its stems. But the size of its flowers — averaging 6 inches in diameter — is this rose’s most impressive feature!
As is typical of many Victorian roses, ‘Paul Neyron’ is susceptible to moisture-borne problems like leaf spot and rust. Plant this beauty in a sunny, breezy location to reduce the risk of disease.
24. ‘Kathleen Harrop’
| Type | Climber |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | 5 to 10 |
| Approx. Height | 10 feet |
| Light | Full Sun |
| Flowering | Repeat |
‘Kathleen Harrop’ is a sport of ‘Zephirine Drouhin,’ meaning that this variety emerged as a natural genetic mutation of the latter. As a result, it shares many of the great qualities of ‘Zephirine Drouhin’ (not just limited to its practical lack of thorns!).
This sweetly pink rose can be allowed to creep along a fence or wall or formally trained onto a trellis. The repeat-blooming flowers are not just large but are also quite fragrant.
25. ‘Amadis'
| Type | Rambler |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | 5 to 9 |
| Approx. Height | 10 to 15 feet |
| Light | Full Sun |
| Flowering | Once |
This vigorous rambling rose brings the perfect burst of color to any archway, fence, or exterior wall. While ‘Amadis' produces only one bloom each year, its flowering lasts for up to two months before fading away.
‘Amadis' blooms early than other roses and is incredibly sturdy — few diseases will gain an edge over this hardy variety.
It's difficult to name another rose that shares the best qualities of ‘Amadis' without also bearing a coat of nasty thorns!