Calling roses "easy" may seem like an oxymoron, but there truly are some varieties that are low maintenance. Many roses are susceptible to black spot, aphids and fungal diseases and need a fair amount of spraying and fussing to keep them healthy, but these roses scoff at all that nonsense. Take a look at these easy-care beauties and then take the leap.
Proven Winners
1. 'Oso Easy'. This is actually a group of roses, and all live up to their name. They need no spraying or deadheading, stay compact (1 to 3 feet tall) in small gardens and thrive in USDA climate zones 3 to 9 (find your zone here). Their small size and low maintenance make them perfect for container plantings and for beginning gardeners.
And you have to love plants that have yummy food names like 'Cherry Pie', 'Honey Bun','Paprika' and 'Strawberry Crush'.
Shown: 'Oso Easy Peachy Cream'
The New York Botanical Garden
2. 'Carefree' roses. Another easy-care set of roses is the aptly named 'Carefree' series. These roses have admirable heat resistance, are pest and disease resistant, and grow up to 6 feet tall depending upon the variety. These repeat bloomers will thrive in zones 5 to 9.
Varieties to look for include 'Carefree Delight', 'Carefree Sunshine', 'Carefree Beauty', 'Carefree Celebration' and 'Carefree Spirit'.
Shown: 'Carefree Sunshine'
The New York Botanical Garden
3. 'Knock Out' roses. This family of roses is the most disease resistant on the market, requires no deadheading to have almost continuous blooming from spring to fall, is heat tolerant and is hardy to zone 5. They grow in a tidy shrub form, up to 4 feet tall, and are even drought tolerant once established.
Look for 'Double Knock Out', 'Sunny Knock Out', 'Rainbow Knock Out' and 'Double Pink Knock Out', with colors ranging from pink to red and yellow.
Shown: 'Knock Out'
The New York Botanical Garden
4. 'Graham Thomas'. This gorgeous deep yellow English shrub rose is resistant to black spot, mildew and rust, and blooms repeatedly from early summer on. It's a vigorous grower (up to 7 feet tall) and has a sweet honey fragrance. It also boasts excellent heat tolerance and is perfect for zones 4 to 9.
The New York Botanical Garden
5. 'Marmalade Skies'. This lovely pink to tropical-red bloomer is a floribunda rose with flowers that develop in clusters at the ends of the stems, making them ideal for cutting and displaying. It's a continuous bloomer with a sweet, fruity fragrance, and it stays low and compact, growing to 3 feet tall. Throw out the sprays after planting 'Marmalade Skies' — you won't need them. Grow it in zones 5 to 9.
The New York Botanical Garden
6. 'Peace' has been called the most famous rose of the 20th century; discovered in 1935, it was named after the end of World War II. It has unusual pink-tinged yellow petals and a sweet fragrance, and grows from 4 to 6 feet wide in zones 4 to 9. Aside from being a low-maintenance rose, it's notable for its extra-large, showy blooms that span 5 to 6 inches across.
Proven Winners
1. 'Oso Easy'. This is actually a group of roses, and all live up to their name. They need no spraying or deadheading, stay compact (1 to 3 feet tall) in small gardens and thrive in USDA climate zones 3 to 9 (find your zone here). Their small size and low maintenance make them perfect for container plantings and for beginning gardeners. 
The New York Botanical Garden
2. 'Carefree' roses. Another easy-care set of roses is the aptly named 'Carefree' series. These roses have admirable heat resistance, are pest and disease resistant, and grow up to 6 feet tall depending upon the variety. These repeat bloomers will thrive in zones 5 to 9. 
The New York Botanical Garden
3. 'Knock Out' roses. This family of roses is the most disease resistant on the market, requires no deadheading to have almost continuous blooming from spring to fall, is heat tolerant and is hardy to zone 5. They grow in a tidy shrub form, up to 4 feet tall, and are even drought tolerant once established. 
The New York Botanical Garden
4. 'Graham Thomas'. This gorgeous deep yellow English shrub rose is resistant to black spot, mildew and rust, and blooms repeatedly from early summer on. It's a vigorous grower (up to 7 feet tall) and has a sweet honey fragrance. It also boasts excellent heat tolerance and is perfect for zones 4 to 9.
The New York Botanical Garden
5. 'Marmalade Skies'. This lovely pink to tropical-red bloomer is a floribunda rose with flowers that develop in clusters at the ends of the stems, making them ideal for cutting and displaying. It's a continuous bloomer with a sweet, fruity fragrance, and it stays low and compact, growing to 3 feet tall. Throw out the sprays after planting 'Marmalade Skies' — you won't need them. Grow it in zones 5 to 9.
The New York Botanical Garden
6. 'Peace' has been called the most famous rose of the 20th century; discovered in 1935, it was named after the end of World War II. It has unusual pink-tinged yellow petals and a sweet fragrance, and grows from 4 to 6 feet wide in zones 4 to 9. Aside from being a low-maintenance rose, it's notable for its extra-large, showy blooms that span 5 to 6 inches across.