A Guide to Rose Varieties with Few Thorns
Roses are beloved for their beauty and fragrance, but their thorns can be a drawback for gardeners and floral enthusiasts. Fortunately, several rose varieties have few or even no thorns, making them ideal for cutting gardens, bouquets, and hassle-free landscaping. Here’s a florist guide to some of the best nearly thornless rose varieties.
1. Zephirine Drouhin (Bourbon Rose, 1868)
Color: Deep pink
Fragrance: Strong, sweet
Growth Habit: Climbing (up to 12 feet)
This classic climbing rose is nearly thornless, making it easy to train on trellises or archways. It blooms repeatedly throughout the season and thrives in partial shade, making it a favorite among gardeners.
2. Smooth Touch® Roses (Hybrid Tea & Floribunda Varieties)
Color: Various (pink, red, yellow, and more)
Fragrance: Light to strong (varies by variety)
Growth Habit: Bushy, compact
Developed specifically for their lack of thorns, the Smooth Touch® series offers beautiful hybrid tea and floribunda roses with lush blooms and easy handling, perfect for cut flowers.
3. Reine des Violettes (Hybrid Perpetual, 1860)
Color: Purple to mauve
Fragrance: Strong, old-rose scent
Growth Habit: Medium shrub (4–6 feet)
This heirloom variety is nearly thornless and produces stunning violet-colored blooms. It reblooms throughout the season and has a delightful fragrance, making it perfect for romantic gardens.
4. Cinderella Fairy Tale (Floribunda)
Color: Soft pink
Fragrance: Light, fruity
Growth Habit: Medium shrub (3–4 feet)
A modern, nearly thornless floribunda rose, Cinderella Fairy Tale offers delicate, full-petaled pink roses with excellent disease resistance and repeat blooming.
5. Kathleen Harrop (Bourbon Rose, 1919)
Color: Soft blush pink
Fragrance: Strong, sweet
Growth Habit: Climbing (up to 10 feet)
A sport of Zephirine Drouhin, this variety shares its nearly thornless nature and repeat-blooming habit, with a softer pink hue. It’s excellent for pergolas and trellises.
6. Smooth Prince (Hybrid Tea)
Color: Deep red
Fragrance: Mild
Growth Habit: Upright (3–4 feet)
A thornless hybrid tea rose with classic, elegant red blooms, Smooth Prince is perfect for cutting gardens and bouquets. It’s disease-resistant and easy to grow.
7. Smooth Angel (Hybrid Tea)
Color: Creamy white
Fragrance: Strong, citrusy
Growth Habit: Upright (4–5 feet)
A beautiful creamy-white hybrid tea rose with almost no thorns, Smooth Angel is a fantastic choice for fragrant floral arrangements.
8. Lady Banks’ Rose (Rosa banksiae, 1807)
Color: Yellow or white
Fragrance: Light, fruity
Growth Habit: Vigorous climber (up to 20 feet)
A nearly thornless species rose, Lady Banks’ produces small, delicate flowers in large clusters. It’s a vigorous grower and can quickly cover walls or fences with its elegant blooms.
9. Tausendschön (Multiflora Rambler, 1906)
Color: Soft pink, fading to white
Fragrance: Mild
Growth Habit: Climbing (up to 15 feet)
This charming, old-fashioned rambler rose is nearly thornless and produces clusters of soft pink blooms in early summer. It’s an excellent choice for fences and arbors.
10. Irene Watts (China Rose, 1896)
Color: Peach-pink
Fragrance: Mild, tea-like
Growth Habit: Compact shrub (2–3 feet)
A small, nearly thornless shrub rose with continuous blooms, Irene Watts is ideal for small gardens, borders, and containers.
Why Choose Nearly Thornless Roses?
Easy to handle for pruning, training, and floral arrangements
Safe for children and pets in home gardens
Ideal for pathways and archways where contact with roses is frequent
Great for bouquets as they can be cut and arranged with minimal effort
Whether you prefer romantic heirloom varieties or modern hybrids, these nearly thornless roses offer the beauty and fragrance of classic roses without the hassle of sharp thorns.
