I haven't seen too much of a difference

Bare root are usually bigger to start, but also usually grafted. I prefer potted own root roses, because I know for a fact even if the top dies, anything that grows back will be the same rose. I planted a bunch of bare roots one time, and had a yard full of an ugly rose, because I didn't know. I'm only just now trying bare root again, now that I know what they are. If you get freezing temperatures during the winter, just make sure to bury bare roots deep enough to cover the grafted part, and they should do fine.

Bare root roses are less likely to spread pests than potted ones, but you can't plant them in the heat of summer, as you can potted roses.

Paul can explain it way better than I ever could. This video is what I'm talking about. https://youtu.be/SoX3ANlsMoQ

I think the most important thing for me is, which type will be blooming earlier after a purchase? The ones that are sold in a pot?

Unless coming right out of a greenhouse, where they were brought on early the same variety will start to bloom at the same time of year. If instead you mean earlier in life then a bare-rooted, grafted plant may be a little farther along in development than a small potted example of the same kind. But some container grown roses are sold in 5 gallon pots, so that in that case there will be little difference between them.

And no hybrid roses in particular, kept growing well after planting will take years and years to start flowering, even when planted out of band pots.

As I shovel prune this week after a horrible winter I am seeing a big difference in the size of roots on roses that were ordered bare root and the 3 gallon 'potted' roses I have planted in the past several years. The older bare roots had developed really big root stems. But to be fair the mechanically dug bare roots I bought three years ago were nowhere similar to the roses I used to get years ago that were hand dug and hand pruned. The 'potted' rose is just a bare root that has been shoved into a pot (more on this later) and fertilized and watered to excess to get a better price at the big box stores and some nurseries. Most of them will be budded and/or flowering when they arrive at the stores for sale. Unfortunately they seem to exhaust themselves before they get a good start in the ground and I think that is what is leading to all the failure I am having. Technically the experts used to say to cut off all buds and blooms the first year but who wants to wait for flowers when they are already there? I want to enjoy what flowers I can for my money as there is no guarantee the plant will even be alive the next year. Oh, and those bands? Most I have had needed to be potted up for a year or two before they could even go near the garden or they would be lost. Again supposed to cut off all buds and flowers and a very long wait to see if they flourish or not.

Ikayetw Have you ever planted anything from Chamblees? They come big enough to plant, and they're own root. I'm thinking you might have better luck, because even if the top dies you can whack them down, and they will grow new canes. That's my main beef with grafted roses. Once the graft is damaged, you're out of luck. Been there, and it sucks. *edit to add Chamblee plants usually come with some bud or blooms on them, and I never cut them off just lightly dead head the bloom after it looks bad. For less than 13 bucks plus shipping, I might have gave up, if I never ran across them, and gave it a shot. I got some for 10 back then I think. *Edit* again lol I'm not knocking bare roots, it's just my first experience with them was horrible. I planted awful condition body bag ones my first time. I was pampering a bunch of Dr huey, and didn't know it. LOL I know a lot of people on here get good ones, and love them.

I appreciate your comments, there seem to be a lot to learn. And not sure if i got the answer i was looking for, plus its difficult for me to understand cause its in english. I´ll just have to decide on my own i guess.

I was now reading a bit of info in swedish language. About the cons and pros of grafted & own rooted. It says that almost all roses in Sweden are grafted. And buying a grafted rose, im just wondering which would be blooming earliest out of buying an established rose in a pot, or, buying a bare rooted.

In US, when purchasing roses are the potted roses own root, and bare rooted roses grafted? It seems like that from the comments. :s

It all depends where you buy them here. A lot of online nurseries sell own roots in a pot. The big stores usually sell grafted.

Here is a quick summary. The answer which one is better is depend on your zones and preferences. The info is from a US gardener. If your seasons are different than US’ then you can adjust accordingly.

1. Grafted bare root: Available from Jan to April. Can be ordered online or locally. The rose is grafted to a mature rootstock like Dr Huey, Multiflora, Fortuniana...

Pro: Cheapest price for a 2-year-old root system rose. Many roses available in this form because they are cheaper to produce for big companies. Many roses aren’t strong on their own roots can grow well as grafted. You can enjoy the flowers the first year you grow the rose.

Con: If you live in a cold area, you need to bury the graft or bud union deep in the soil to protect it from the cold. Because if the bud union is damaged from the cold, you only have the rootstock rose left like Dr Huey which is not a rose you want.

2. Own root bare root: Available Jan to April. Can be ordered online or locally. I only see this type available the last few years. I think this type is available to meet the demand of growers from cold zones who have a big problem with the cold weather damages the bud unions. The disadvantage is only a few roses available in this form.

3. Grafted potted: After April, most grafted roses will break out of their dormant state and need to be potted so nurseries will pot them in 5-gallon pots and sell them from April to December.

Pro: Many of them have their flowers so you know whether you like the flowers and their fragrance or not. You can buy and plant this type through the rest of the year when bare roots are no longer available. Most beginners buy their first roses in this form at the local home improvement stores.

Con: Almost double the price of a grafted bare root. Normally you have to buy them locally because they are too heavy to ship or because of state restrictions. Roses grafted on Fortuniana can be shipped potted in 1 or 2 gallon containers.

4. Own root potted: smallest type, available all year long.

Pro: Very low price compared with other types. Available all year long. Some hard to find roses only available in this form. Many cold zone gardeners like this type. Even with winter die back, the roses will come back as the same roses because there are no rootstocks to worry about.

Con: The roses are small with small root systems so you need some experience and patience to take care of them. You may need to pot them first to help them grow to bigger size before planting them in the ground. You may have to wait 2-4 years to see their full potential.

I live in the warm zone 9b and there is no winter die back so I prefer grafted bare roots because of their low price compared with grafted potted and I can enjoy their flowers right away. From what I read, David Austin roses are doing better grafted for my area so that is another reason I go with grafted bare roots. I also ordered own root potted when that is the only form available for some rare roses and learn to be really patient with them. Helen

Marlorena Im looking at getting the tea hybrid Nostalgie. And online it cost about the same whether i get them bare root or one in a pot. Since price is roughly the same I´ll probably buy from the shop that has them potted bc of course i would of liked to have flowers as soon as possible, but not too soon thou cause the weather is unsteady atm. I´ve actually emailed them asking how long they have come in their growth.

At one Swedish rose site it said that potted roses are roses that werent purchased from last year, dont know true or not. If they are already potted in like april.

Thank you all for your help.

Oh 'Nostalgie' that's a Tantau hybrid tea, I've seen that over here for sale, we can get it either as a standard tree rose, potted or bare root...

I know what you mean about potting them in Spring, some places do that here, they are freshly potted and you can't really plant them until the roots have formed in the pot, but I get my potted roses from David Austin or Peter Beales, and they must keep them in greenhouses as when I get them they are much bigger plants full of buds ready to burst... much more advanced than the bare root I planted during the winter, and I can plant them out from about mid May usually..

I hope you enjoy your rose.

Here, I think I prefer bareroot grafted to the grafted roses in the small pots because to fit them in those pots the grower either has to cut the roots or shove them in so that they can't grow properly. If the pots are large that's probably not an issue.

Vapor I can verify that. My Olympiad was a bare root thrown in pot with roots bent up and over. :-(

Bayarea_girl To add to what you are saying... I ordered my first bare root own root. Young Lycidas. I'm hoping it's as large as a grafted, but even if it's just close, that will be pretty awesome. I hope more become available. You are right. Cold zonerish here, and I'd love more of them. That would probably stop any pests that are hitch hiking in pots too.