How Long Do Rose Bushes Live

With good care, most modern roses live and bloom well for ten to twenty-five years. Lifespan depends on the type, the climate, and the care: hybrid teas tend to be shorter-lived, while tough shrub roses, climbers, and old garden roses often persist for decades.

Some roses are remarkably long-lived — established climbers and species roses can thrive for fifty years or more, and the famous rose on the wall of Hildesheim Cathedral in Germany is said to be roughly a thousand years old. Regular pruning, feeding, and disease management are what keep a rose vigorous over the long term.