9 Lookalike Alternatives for Difficult-to-Grow Roses

Roses are enchanting in the garden, but some of them can be difficult to care for. Fortunately, there are some great, lower-maintenance alternatives to those difficult varieties. Join gardening expert Melissa Strauss to talk about easy replacements for those fussy roses.

Written by Melissa Strauss Horticulture review by Sarah Jay Last updated: February 18, 2025 | 5 min read

Creamy yellow camellia with dense, ruffled petals and a golden center, surrounded by dark green leaves.

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Roses are incredibly popular in floristry and in gardening alike. However, they don’t have a reputation for their ease of care. As much as we love them, so do many garden pests. They tend to have issues with diseases as well. Black spot is a common disease that many cultivars are prone to.

In addition to pests and diseases, these plants have significant care needs. Most require a significant amount of pruning. They are heavy feeders and are sensitive to changes in their environment.

Some colors are also considered more difficult to cultivate. Yellow and lavender varieties have a love-hate relationship with sun exposure, making them among the most tricky. They all need substantial fertilizing, too.

It’s difficult to find flowers that compare to roses when it comes to the cutting garden. But I’ve come across a few that make a great substitute. There are also some gorgeous blooming shrubs that can take the place of ornamentals and even exceed expectations in this way. Let’s take a look at alternatives to some of the most difficult roses to grow.

‘Teasing Georgia’ vs. Peony ‘Yellow Crown’

Bright yellow peony with large, frilled petals and deep yellow stamens against dark green foliage. — ‘Yellow Crown’ peonies tolerate -40° and have bright gold, eight-inch blooms with deep yellow stamens.

	common name Peony ‘Yellow Crown’
	botanical name Paeonia x intersectional ‘Yellow Crown’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Yellow roses have a reputation for being difficult to grow in cold climates. Most of them won’t survive the winter north of Zone 6, though they will be happiest in Zones 7 and 8. Although you may find some indicated for Zone 5, don’t count on them making it through the winter without significant protection.

Peonies, on the other hand, have great cold tolerance. They can handle long periods as low as -40°F (-40°C). ‘Yellow Crown’ is a gorgeous variety that rivals even the largest and brightest yellow rose. With eight inch blooms in bright gold with a cluster of deep yellow stamens, these have excellent disease resistance. They look like garden roses and make an impressive replacement for floral arrangements.

‘Mister Lincoln’ vs. Dahlia ‘La Recoleta’

Deep red dahlia with tightly packed, velvety petals forming a rounded bloom against green leaves. — ‘La Recoleta’ has deep red, four-inch blooms and can be stored in colder months if needed.

	common name Dahlia ‘La Recoleta’
	botanical name Dahlia ‘La Recoleta’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3’-4’
	hardiness zones 8-10

‘Mister Lincoln’ is a stunning, deep red cultivar that can be somewhat difficult when it comes to care needs. It needs regular pruning and is prone to fungal diseases. You’ll have to be extra vigilant to keep this thinned out and disease-free. Dahlias are sturdy, and though they don’t last as long as cut flowers, they do make a lovely replacement.

If you’re looking for a red velvet replacement for ‘Mister Lincoln’, ‘La Recoleta’ is perfect. Four-inch blooms have a beautiful shape, and the color is magnificent. The petals are deep red with a slightly lighter edge that gives them depth and interest. They are perennial in Zones 8-10, but you can dig up the tubers in the fall and store them during the colder months.

‘Scepter d’Isle’ vs. Camellia ‘Kings Ransom’

Large, fluffy pink camellia with ruffled petals and a golden center on a leafy green shrub. — Camellias bloom in winter and tolerate shade, and ‘King’s Ransom’ features large, fluffy pink flowers.

	common name Camellia ‘Kings Ransom’
	botanical name Camellia japonica ‘King’s Ransom’
	sun requirements Partial shade
	height 8’-12’
	hardiness zones 7-10

Tree roses are lovely but can be difficult to care for. They need extra support to prevent wind damage. They also tend to be less cold-tolerant because of their exposed trunk. They need a ton of pruning to maintain their attractive shape. ‘Scepter d’Isle’ is gorgeous, but it won’t be the easiest plant in your garden.

Camellias don’t mind the cold, though they typically won’t do well north of Zone 6. They do, however, bloom in the winter, which brightens things up during the colder months. ‘King’s Ransom’ is a striking camellia with large, fluffy, pink blooms on a large shrub. Camellias are easy to care for, and they tolerate shade well.

‘John F. Kennedy’ vs Gardenia ‘Double Mint’

Pure white gardenia with layered, double petals and glossy green leaves in the background. — Gardenias are fragrant and easy to care for, and ‘Double Mint’ has large, creamy white double blooms.

	common name Gardenia ‘Double Mint’
	botanical name Gardenia jasminoides ‘Double Mint’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3’-4’
	hardiness zones 6-11

Hybrid teas are sweet-smelling and beautiful but prone to diseases. ‘John F. Kennedy’ is a lovely white cultivar that has a delightful fragrance. It needs a lot of attention, though, so it isn’t great for gardeners who don’t have sufficient time to invest.

Gardenias, on the other hand, are not difficult to care for. A yearly pruning and fertilizer a few times a year will keep these sturdy shrubs looking great. They’re also a great replacement for ‘John F. Kennedy’s’ sweet scent. Gardenias are among the most fragrant plants in the garden. ‘Double Mint’ has large, creamy, white blooms with a double petal form.

‘Pearly Gates’ vs. ‘Peggy Martin’

Clusters of medium pink flowers on arching canes, densely packed against green foliage. — ‘Peggy Martin,’ also called the Hurricane Katrina Rose, survived weeks of saltwater flooding.

	common name ‘Peggy Martin’
	botanical name Rosa ‘Peggy Martin’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6’-15’
	hardiness zones 4-9

‘Pearly Gates’ is a wonderful climber with delightful clusters of pink flowers. While beautiful, black spots can be an issue for this rose. I’ve also heard some gardeners complain about inconsistent blooming. It still tends to be popular because the pretty pink blooms are an unusual color for a climber.

If you want an exceptionally easy replacement for this one, ‘Peggy Martin’ is my absolute favorite. It’s nicknamed the Hurricane Katrina Rose because of one that survived two weeks under salt water following that storm. It’s also an excellent bloomer with similar, medium pink flowers.

‘Sterling Silver’ vs. Lisianthus ‘Voyage Lavender’

Soft lavender lisianthus with ruffled petals and green buds against a warm yellow background. — Lisianthus, like ‘Voyage Lavender,’ thrives in partial shade and makes great floral arrangement substitutes.

	common name Lisianthus ‘Voyage Lavender’
	botanical name Eustoma grandiflorum ‘Voyage Lavender’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2’-3’
	hardiness zones 2-10

Pale purple roses are usually among the most difficult to grow, but there are some alternatives. Purple roses tend to be more susceptible to fungal diseases; black spot and powdery mildew show up here often. They’re also pickier about light, needing lots of bright but indirect exposure. They are sensitive to direct sun, and it can burn their delicate petals.

Lisianthus are a great substitute for roses in floral arrangements. If you’re looking for a substitute for the cutting garden, these are incredible. They prefer partial shade in warmer zones and full sun farther north. ‘Voyage Lavender’ has flowers in a pale purple shade that rivals the famously fussy ‘Sterling Silver.’

‘Abraham Darby’ vs. ‘Bliss Parfuma®’

Peachy pink blooms with layered petals on a bushy plant with dark green stems. — ‘Bliss Parfuma’ is disease-resistant, has large peachy pink blooms, and doesn’t weigh down branches.

	common name ‘Bliss Parfuma®’
	botanical name Rosa ‘KORmarzau’ PP 28,991
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2’-3’
	hardiness zones 5-11

‘Abraham Darby’ is difficult for a different reason than most: its flowers are simply too large! Not a terrible problem to have if you’re growing it for the cutting garden, but as an ornamental, it’s not the best. The large flowers tend to droop on their stems and can completely weigh down the branches, pulling them over. It’s a large shrub that grows quickly, so it requires a lot of maintenance.

‘Bliss Parfuma®’ is a slightly smaller plant that also has large, peachy pink blooms. The flowers look similar, but they are not so large as to weigh down the branches. It’s got great disease resistance, which is not typical for a floribunda.

‘Imogen’ vs. Camellia ‘Jury’s Yellow’

Large, creamy yellow camellia with ruffled petals and deep green leaves in the background. — Camellias, like ‘Jury’s Yellow,’ resemble roses, bloom in winter, and attract pollinators with yellow petals.

	common name Camellia ‘Jury’s Yellow’
	botanical name Camellia japonica ‘Jury’s Yellow’
	sun requirements Partial shade
	height 8’-12’
	hardiness zones 7-9

Like other yellow roses, ‘Imogen’ can be challenging to care for. There are special considerations where exposure comes into play. This cultivar is also susceptible to black spot and other common diseases. It needs special treatment in winter because it’s not as cold-tolerant as one would hope.

Camellias make a wonderful substitution for larger rose shrubs. They have similar blooms in many cases, and they flower in winter, which makes them extra special and important to pollinators. There are not many yellow camellias, which makes ‘Jury’s Yellow’ unique. The large, buttery yellow blooms are peony form, with dense, ruffled petals.

‘Garden Party’ vs. Lisianthus ‘Kiss of Blush’

Soft pink and white lisianthus with delicate, ruffled petals and green buds. — ‘Kiss of Blush’ lisianthus has pink and white ruffled blooms, tolerates humidity, and lasts long in vases.

	common name Lisianthus ‘Kiss of Blush’
	botanical name Eustoma grandiflorum ‘Kiss of Blush’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1’-3’
	hardiness zones 8-10

‘Garden Party’ is breathtaking, with white blooms that have the softest pink accents. It’s also prone to black spot and doesn’t like humidity. If you live in the South, this is not the rose for your garden. If you do decide to give this one a go, make sure it gets ample exposure and well-draining soil. I’ve heard this one referred to as ‘Garden Pity’ for its sometimes sad presentation.

Another beautiful lisianthus variety, ‘Kiss of Blush’ is a great substitute if you love the ruffled, pink and white blooms of ‘Garden Party. They are heat and humidity-tolerant and last an extra long time in a vase.