Last Updated on December 1, 2023
Do you love the beautiful shape and aroma of the rose? Or you might love the look of them but have an aversion or even an allergy to their scent. You might love everything about roses, but your green thumb has gone missing and you’ve not been successful at growing them.
Well, my friend, you don’t have to live with a completely rose-less garden or backyard. There are a number of flowers that look like roses but can be much easier to grow, depending upon where you live.
You can enjoy a “rose garden” that is uniquely designed and filled with beautiful flowers that look like roses, but they’re not.
So let’s take a look at each of these fourteen flower species more closely. It’s always a good idea to confer with your local greenhouse for specifics on planting and growing flowers in your area!
You’ll find shopping resources for flower seeds along with the images and short descriptions of each of the flowers highlighted.
By the way, if you click on a link and then make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
14 Flowers That Look Like Roses
1 | Begonia
The humble begonia has over 1400 species. Their foliage looks like… you guessed it, roses! They come in an array of colors and some even have two-toned leaves. The flowers on some begonias look very much like miniature roses.
Begonias are durable plants that love lots of sunlight and can thrive indoors or outside in your garden, as long as the temperatures stay above freezing.
Because they typically grow as annuals, most people use them as bedding plants, but they can also be grown as potted plants and even trained as topiaries.
2 | Gardenia
Not only are gardenias flowers that look like roses, but they also share some of roses’ more famous qualities!
The double flowers of this exotic flower resemble roses, with leaves that are dark green and very beautiful. They bloom in late spring to summer.
Gardenias are not low maintenance, but they smell heavenly and their blooms last for months. The tough part about these plants is that growing them can be tricky depending on where you live, but the rewards are worth all of the effort!
Gardenias typically grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 11. There are some tropical species that grow in zone 10.
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3 | Camelia
Camelias are shrubs that have many showy flowers, which are often fragrant and look very much like red and white roses. There are about 150 different types of camelias with flower colors ranging from white to red and nearly every color in between.
It may take a few years for the camelia plant to become established, but once it does, it can tolerate more sun than during it’s first couple of years.
The camelia blooms in early summer but may bloom sporadically throughout the rest of the summer.
Camellias require moist, well-drained soil, partial sun, and will not tolerate soggy soil. They are best suited for USDA zones 6 through 9, but there are some species that can grow in tropical climates or cooler ones where winter temperatures stay above freezing.
4 | Lisianthus
This beautiful garden flower has many rose-like qualities, including the fact that it’s named after the Greek “Lisias” meaning “of roses.”
The Lisianthus is a bushy plant that grows up to 1 foot tall, which is not quite as large as rose shrubs, and blooms from June until frost. The flowers are cup shaped, with a white or pink-purple coloration. These flowers attract bees and butterflies, so if you have a butterfly garden, this flower fits right in!
In fact, it’s also known as “Butterfly Bush” because of this!
Lisianthus is the perfect flower to cut for bouquets and other flower arrangements. It will attract bees and butterflies, bringing more life to your garden. It is hardy in USDA zones 8 to 10.
5 | Dahlias
These large, showy flowers with massive flower heads grow on long stems and look like roses. Dahlias come in every color of the rainbow as well as bicolors and even multicolor varieties.
Typically, dahlias like to be planted directly into the ground after all danger of frost has passed for your area. The soil must be well draining and kept constantly moist.
Dahlias require full sunlight and may need staking to remain upright. The flower blooms in late summer and continues to grow until frost after that. Dahlias also make wonderful cut flowers and last for several days in a vase if kept away from direct sunlight and wrapped in paper towels (to keep the stem damp).
6 | Peonies
Peonies are beautiful flowers with a sweet fragrance that resembles roses. Their blooming season is usually in early summer. You’ll see them growing in gardens all over the world!
As perennials, they will come back every year if you let them go dormant during winter. Peonies prefer rich soil and do not tolerate dampness well. Plant them in full sun for best results.
You can even grow peonies in containers or window boxes if you provide full sun and well-drained soil. If you want to try growing them on your patio, use a large container that has drainage holes on the bottom so water doesn’t puddle up inside it.
Peonies are easy to care for so they could be a good choice or the beginner gardener, but require a lot of space, so make sure you have the room before planting! They can grow up to a height of three feet and a width of four feet. The blooms can be large, too, up to eight inches in diameter.
7 | Double Impatiens
Double impatiens have a beautiful coloration that includes deep purple, pink, magenta, white and red. They are round with pointed tips on the petals, much like several other types of flowers that resemble roses.
If you can picture a fully bloomed rose that is twice it’s typical size, that will give you an idea of what the double impatiens looks like.
Impatiens are annuals but can be grown as perennials in areas where they receive winter protection from the cold. These plants grow only about half a foot tall and prefer lots of sunlight as well as moist soil that drains well. They can be planted directly into the ground in your garden or in a container.
Impatiens are great cut flowers and grow easily, making them perfect for beginners! They also attract butterflies to your garden.
They are hardy in zones 2 through 11.
8 | Ranunculus
Ranunculus are usually large, three-inch blooms that are typically orange or pink in coloration. They resemble roses with their many petals and sturdy stems.
The petals are very thin and tightly wound with a size between three and six inches. The color of the leaves resembles celery – a beautiful combination!
Other colors they bloom in include white, yellow and red.
Like other flowers that look like roses, they prefer sun and don’t do well with damp soil.
They’ll start blooming in early to mid summer and can continue until frost hits. Ranunculus flowers are also good as cut flowers because they last a long time after being cut.
Ranunculus is hardy in zones 8 through 10.
9 | Double Dianthus
These flowers are quite popular as garden plants. They can be grown in pots or directly into the ground.
When compared with roses, they’re smaller and usually only grow to about a foot tall, although some varieties can reach up to eighteen inches.
Instead of coming one big flower like most roses do, Dianthus have many small double blooms that pack a powerful punch! The flowers are very colorful and usually stand out against a darker background.
You’ll see them in different colors such as pink, white, yellow and magenta. They grow well in zones 3 through 9.
10 | Carnation
Carnations, or carnations dianthus caryophyllus, are another one of the flowers that look like roses.
Typically, they’re pink with white markings on the tips of the petals. They come in several different shapes – each one more beautiful than the next! Their sweet fragrance also resembles roses.
You can purchase carnations in bunches and use them for flower arrangements or as cut flowers.
11 | Hydrangea
Hydrangeas are large, sometimes even huge, blooms that grow up to six inches in diameter! They resemble roses with their many petals and sturdy stems.
The color of the blooms can be pink, white or blue depending on the variety you’re growing. Some have multi-colored leaves while others have variegated leaves.
Hydrangeas are typically hard to grow, so they’re not the best option for beginners. They prefer lots of sunlight and acidic soil.
These large blooms tend to bloom in late summer or early fall, but the number of blooms you’ll see depends on what variety you’re growing.
The flowers are also used as cut flowers, but they don’t last very long after being cut.
12| Texas Bluebell
You can grow these beautiful flowers in containers or directly into the ground. They bloom early spring through mid summer. They are a wonderful substitute for roses because they have many petals, are very versatile and can be planted just about anywhere!
The Texas Bluebell is a bulb, so they are very easy to maintain. This flower likes shade and doesn’t do well with heat.
It’s also important not to let them dry out completely between watering.
They only reach about eighteen inches, making them ideal for smaller gardens.
As the image above shows, the Texas bluebell has been developed in shades of pink, white, and deep purple-blue colors, with both single and double petals.
Bluebells are native to parts of the Southeastern United States and they’re hardy in zones 5 through 9.
13 | Double Anemone
The double anemone is a perennial plant that grows in zones 4 through 9.
They grow to be about two feet tall and one foot wide, which makes them ideal for growing in groups!
As the name suggests, this variety of flower has many petals that resemble rose blooms. They also have green leaves with red veins on some varieties.
The double anemone can grow in full sun or partial shade, depending on the location you’re growing it in.
This flower is great for beginners because it’s easy to care for and doesn’t need much water! If you’re looking for a small plant that requires minimal maintenance, the double anemone is perfect for you.
The flowers are commonly used in wedding arrangements, funeral bouquets and other special occasions.
14 | Double Tulips
These flowers are a lot like the double anemone because they, too, have multiple petals.
They look very much like roses and come in many different colors such as white, yellow, purple and pink. In fact, some varieties of this flower even have speckled petals!
They grow between twelve to fifteen inches high and bloom in early spring.
The double tulip prefers partial sunlight and needs to be watered daily with a drip hose or watering can.
If you don’t water this flower enough, the blooms will fall off before they have time to fully develop!
They are perfect for beginner gardeners because they require minimal maintenance.
Summary
There are many flowers that look like roses, and some even have a beautiful scent! So, whether you are searching for a more gardener-friendly flower species, or have other reasons for rose alternatives, hopefully you’ve found just what you need here.
Your backyard garden will be blooming beautifully in no time!
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