Think all roses need hours of blazing sun to bloom? Think again. While most roses thrive with six or more hours of sunlight, there are a few standout varieties that can handle partial shade—making them ideal for New England gardens with tall trees, fences, or east-facing beds.

Here are six beautiful, shade-tolerant roses that don’t mind a bit of cover:

1. Zephirine Drouhin
A thornless climbing rose with deep pink, fragrant blooms. It tolerates partial shade and is perfect for growing against a wall or fence.

2. Ballerina (Hybrid Musk)
This airy rose has sprays of pink flowers with white centers. It handles dappled light well and looks lovely in naturalistic borders.

3. Buff Beauty (Hybrid Musk)
With warm apricot blossoms and a sweet scent, Buff Beauty grows well as a shrub or climber and thrives in morning or filtered sun.

4. Sally Holmes (Shrub Rose)
Creamy white blooms with a light fragrance make this rose a standout in partially shaded spots. It flowers in generous clusters.

5. New Dawn (Climbing Rose)
A vigorous climber with blush pink petals, New Dawn is known for its hardiness and ability to bloom even in light shade.

6. The Generous Gardener (English Rose)
A soft pink David Austin rose with a lovely myrrh scent. It’s part of his shade-tolerant collection and can be grown as a climber or tall shrub.

While these roses may not bloom as prolifically in the shade as they do in full sun, they’ll still put on a beautiful show—especially in gardens where direct sunlight is limited.

Tip: Look for 4–6 hours of direct light, ideally in the morning, and provide good air circulation to keep your roses healthy.