The hybridizer gets to choose whatever category he wants. Many of the roses hybridized for disease resistance are put into the shrub category. All of the Kordes roses intended for outdoor gardens are hybridized for disease resistance--they abandoned their old breeding lines and started over when it became obvious that pesticide use would be severely curtailed in Germany.

"Many of the roses hybridized for disease resistance are put into the shrub category"

Huh...so that tells me shrub is probably the way to go since I am a lazy rose gardener and don't like the idea of spraying even if I weren't lazy. Thanks.

A lot of hybrid teas were just bred for perfect show blooms at the expense of the actual plant . Expecting the gardener to spray and maintain to get those perfect blooms . What a nightmare for the average person not showing roses !

I don't love the shape of the hybrid tea shrub , but Beverly has been exceptional, especially if I cut it and bring it in . Very clean and pretty bush . There are many excellent shrubs if you want suggestions let us know . So many of us don't spray . Some of us do but still grow very disease resistant shrubs and can help you :)

The only indicator that HTs are more susceptible to disease is that they tend to be more hybridized while shrubs tend to be closer to old garden roses therefore tend to be stronger overall plants. This however is just a generalization. There are plenty of healthy hybrid teas out there and plenty of disease prone shrubs so it's all down to each exact variety and how that variety performs in your climate. But on average shrubs tend to be stronger, healthier plants than hybrid teas. This is due to the fact that they are (again, usually) closer in relation to their old garden rose parents which tend to be much stronger, healthier and vigorous plants, usually at the expense of bloom form, size, color or quantity (once blooming). But years of breeding for health and other positive attributes has given us both healthy and beautiful roses that can be grown without pesticides. Wedding bells, Beverly, Belinda's dream, easy does it and The drift roses are all good examples of this.

As mentioned most Hybrid Teas aren't garden plants, with a substantial and rounded or arching plant habit that lends itself to planting with other plants in decorative beds or borders - when I see people trying to use them in this way - as landscape elements - here it usually doesn't come off. The common appearance being a small number of canes that grow straight up to soon produce over-sized flowers at the very tops - they look like cut roses from a bouquet stuck into the ground, without an actual shrub in between these and the roots.

Instead of looking for categories like Shrub that you want to be all inclusive look for listings under terms that refer specifically and directly to the key point for you, which is disease resistance. Ones containing terms like "easy", "resistant" - or better, "immune" - and so forth.

Well thanks to all for the great educational posts. I am an "intermediate" gardener if there is any such thing. I have grown teas to some degree of success but not always happily. Touch of Class was a beauty but did get BS-by the mid of August leaving few leaves. Europeana also beauty but not much bs. Apricot Nectar was a good grower for me-not much bs. Same Showtime. I did not spray any of them and just put up with how they looked if bs did develop. I brought 4 of them with me to RI - two lived through the transplant - Apr Nect and Show. They have been in the ground now for about 3 months and as yet no sign of bs on either. It has been hot and humid for many days on and off throughout July which is not enough time to develop bs but I am hoping for the best. Of course, the rabbit trimmed a lot of the leaves on Ap Nect but she has rebounded with many more leaves.

I just purchased two shrub roses - Limoncello - so it's a yellow flower. They are termed vigorous and they look quite healthy right now. I understand that there are variations throughout all of these classes of roses - thought I'd try a shrub since it sounds like they may do it for me. I appreciate the input from each of you and will let you know how I make out with my new roses. Thanks again!!

I'm not an expert. I'm learning by trial and error. The above advice is great and informative. I have planted a huge variety of roses (65) in the last 3 years to see what does well in my area. I have found the hybrid teas, grandifloras & floribundas to have more black spot in general than many of the "shrub roses" in my garden. However, I have also learned that within those classes some of the roses just are less resistant in general. Whereas, some of them are very disease resistant. The kordes roses are doing really well here in terms of health & vigor. The best thing to do is find the roses you like, than research or ask about them on this forum. Certain roses are highly popular for good reasons. And on another note, the shrub roses may also do better in your zone in regards to winter hardiness as well.

Wow - 65 roses. You must have a lovely garden. I find this garden forum to be very helpful - people are so willing to offer their knowledge and it sure does help. I planted my two yellow roses today. Perfect day to plant - overcast and on the cooler side. I am looking forward to all of my roses coming forth after the winter passes - I have only been in this house since last December so have a lot of planting to do - nothing here at all. Anyway, I now have 5 roses planted - 2 HT - and now 3 shrub. We'll see. One of the shrubs is an Easy Elegance rose - supposedly disease resistant. Yes, the shrub tags say minus 20 tolerance which should be fine here in R.I. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experiences.