How many times have you seen beautiful blossoms and thought, “WOW! What are those flowers that look like roses? – THEY’RE GORGEOUS!”
They most likely were one of the flowers we’re going to talk about.
Remember that roses are certainly not the only plants with beautiful buds. There’s everything from Hydrangeas, Hibiscus, and Tulips to look into (plus MANY MORE).
We’re going to show you how they look, what they need to thrive, and how you can get the most out of each.
If you’re a gardener willing to give your flower garden a boost with unmistakably spectacular flowers, then keep reading!
20 Types of Flowers Like Roses
#1. Amaryllis ‘Red Lion’ (Hippeastrum)
Red Lion amaryllis flowers look almost the same as roses when you’re far. Despite having fewer petals and straighter ones, amaryllis flowers are hard to distinguish – even from the way they grow.
But amaryllis blossoms are more for warm environments, only growing in temperatures over 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
They prefer indirect light of about 4 hours a day but also thrive with direct sun exposure. And if you keep the soil decently moist, they are likely to flourish for a long time.
TO CONSIDER: This plant grows well indoors, so you can add it as a household ornament without worries.
#2. Anemones (Anemonastrum)
While they look different when you get up close, they’re easily mistakable from a rose at a distance. The Double Anemones are the most similar among anemone varieties.
Some anemones grow deep red, sometimes boasting purple blossoms, white, blue, and even pink.
A typical anemone grows to about 15 inches tall, given temperatures stay within 55- and 65-degrees Fahrenheit.
They prefer full sun exposure but can also thrive indoors, as long as the sun hits consistently.
CURIOUS FACT: The flowers open the petals as soon as the sun appears in the morning and close back at night when the sun disappears.
#3. Buttercups (Ranunculus)
It is entirely possible to mistake buttercups for roses, as they have almost the same size and grow similar colors (including dark red).
A typical Ranaculus will grow to about 12 inches high and measure up to 6 inches in diameter. While the petals tend to spread in contrast to roses, they boast ruffly looks.
You will need to keep these flowers under a bright sun. As long as temperatures stay over 55 degrees Fahrenheit, there will be no issue.
WORTH KNOWING: Buttercups come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. The most similar to the rose is dark red, but you may also find it in peach, yellow, orange, and white.
#4. Camellias (Camellia sansaqua)
Among the easiest to mistake for a rose, these striking blossoms feature the ruffly petals and intense vibrancy that makes it hard to tell apart.
As for the colors, you can find camellias in all kinds of hues, going from pink to white, orange, purple, and yellow. The closest one to roses will feature a dark red.
For growth, you need to ensure temperatures are no lower than 20 degrees Fahrenheit. They withstand mild frosts and may bloom during the winter.
KEY FACTOR: As busy flowers with tons of petals make any place a lot more attractive, camellias can also smell amazing.
#5. Carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus)
Pleated petals with vibrant red and pink colors make carnations look almost like any rose. Even the size is similar, so you can fool anyone with these.
You will need at least 6 hours of sunlight for these flowers to appear. And if the soil is rich and the temperature stays higher than 50 degrees, you’ll see the blossoms every year.
They’re super-easy to care for and will thrive with little effort. As long as you water them consistently, blooms will appear without a doubt.
ALSO IMPORTANT: You can find them in red, pink, orange, yellow, white, and even variegated – adding up to their beauty.
#6. Common Poppies (Papaver rhoeas)
There are many different types of poppies, coming in a variety of colors. But it is the common or corn poppy that looks the most like a rose. Many poppies can achieve a darker tone that makes them even more attractive.
The ruffled petals and the red hue make it similar to a rose. Even though the plant is more of a weed than a shrub, a typical poppy flower can grow to about 28 inches high and measure over 4 inches in diameter (they’re perfect for flower beds).
You will need temperatures no lower than 50 degrees and 8 hours of sun exposure for the flower to thrive.
DON’T FORGET: Many poppies overlap their petals to the point of looking almost exactly like a rose.
#7. Dahlias (Dahlia)
There are more than 60,000 varieties to consider. Some of them are entirely different from a rose, while others look excitingly similar.
The most common is the Red Dahlia. It is not precisely a variety but the one that grows with this hue. As such, it looks close to a rose from afar while still holding a bit of resemblance up close.
This one boasts tons of petals, with blooms over 15 inches in diameter and stems that can reach 5 feet with ease. To sustain such growth, you will need environments between 60 and 70 degrees.
KNOW THIS: Dahlias can be anywhere from pink to orange, purple, yellow, white, and even variegated – so there’s a lot to pick from.
#8. Desert Roses (Adenium obesum)
The name comes from the ruffled petals that resemble some types of roses. And sure enough, they prefer dry environments, direct light, and warm temperatures (at least 40 degrees up to 90 degrees Fahrenheit).
Their colors vary from pink and variegated to dark red and even yellow or orange. The plant may grow to a couple of feet, while the roses may not achieve more than 5 inches in diameter.
These are gorgeous as they bloom, and the plant withstands harsh environments, so it’s an easy alternative to grow.
VITAL FACT: The plant is more succulent than a shrub or bush like the rose, but the flowers are pretty similar.
#9. Double Dianthus (Dianthus barbatus)
Flower clusters may not look much like roses, but the tiny blossoms within the clusters may.
That’s why the double dianthus couldn’t miss this list, as the small ruffled petals could still be confused with roses from afar. And that’s not all – the deep red color they achieve is sometimes unmistakable from that of a rose.
These flowers can grow to about 18 inches in height and bloom really fast, producing beautiful petals almost anywhere. As long as temperatures stay within -10 and 25 degrees Fahrenheit, the plant will thrive.
WHY IT’S GREAT: While the most popular tone is dark red, the flowers may also achieve pink, white, purple, yellow, and orange tones.
#10. Double Impatiens (Impatiens walleriana)
Surprisingly alike in many ways, the double impatiens blossoms offer rounded and ruffled petals that could be mistaken for roses with little effort.
It is not only their shape but their colors. Most impatiens boast a pink-with-white appearance that adds up to their beauty and resemblance to types of flowers.
Plus, the plant grows similarly to an actual rose in a shrubby form. It also demands temperatures between 30 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit. And a typical flower stem may reach 18 inches high.
WORTHWHILE FACTOR: They thrive in partial or full shade, so you can grow them indoors with little to no issue.
#11. Double Tulips (Tulipa ‘Annelinde’)
If we were to choose which flowers look the most like a rose, we wouldn’t hesitate to pick double tulips.
While common tulips are easy to tell apart, the double variety grows almost exactly like a rose with ruffled petals, a full crown, and a thick shape that’s as close to a rose as you can get.
These flowers are large, though. Stems can reach 16 inches high, and the crowns may get to 6 inches in diameter.
To thrive, they demand temperatures lower than 55 degrees and as little as 20 degrees. They may also be drought-tolerant, even though they require proper humidity and sun exposure.
EXTRAS: Tulips come in many hues, going from orange and white to deep red, purple, pink, yellow, orange, and even bicolored tones. Plus, they produce a delightful fragrance.
#12. French Marigold (Tagetes patula)
You wouldn’t think a marigold looks anything like a rose at first sight. But once you check the French marigold, you’ll know that it is actually decently close to one.
The intense red color with yellow borders makes this beautiful flower unmistakably beautiful. It is also a small variety, as it rarely grows longer than 12 inches, and the crowns rarely reach over 5 inches in diameter.
What makes it close to a rose is the ruffled petals and color. But you will also find it similar to how the shrubby plant grows, including its preference for warm environments (60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit).
FASCINATING PART: Cosmetic companies love French marigolds due to their essential oil with a strong fragrance, something you’ll also notice in your garden.
#13. Gardenias (Gardenia)
Is there something closer to a rose than ruffled petals? Gardenias have that.
These gorgeous blossoms come in many different colors and sizes, but their shape and petal form is almost identical to some roses. If you’re looking for the closest thing to a rose, gardenias make for a perfect alternative.
The tones go from bright white, pink, red, and even yellow (sometimes red). Either way, you’ll enjoy the waxy and fragrant petals as well, making them an excellent choice for any garden.
You’ll find gardenias ideal for warm environments between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. They require several hours of sunlight and moist environments (ideal flowers for hydroponics).
ATTRACTIVE FACT: The size of the flower makes it huge nectar produces (nectar that has an intense and enjoyable aroma).
#14. Hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla)
If you look them up close, hydrangeas are not too similar to roses. But from a distance, their colors are hyper-similar, and the shape is hard to tell apart.
Hydrangeas are among the most popular flowers out there, given their ability to withstand warm and cold environments alike. Plus, they tend to flower from spring to fall, boasting the colorful bunchy blossoms gorgeously throughout.
The macrophylla variant is the biggest of the species. These blossoms grow in clusters reaching over 10 inches in diameter. And given enough space, the plant can take a decent amount of space in your garden, becoming a focal point.
SOMETHING ELSE: They thrive in either sunny or shaded areas, so you can rest assured it will grow well anywhere you place it.
#15. Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum)
The lisianthus blossom would be another blossom that you can easily mistake for a rose – as the waxy, soft petals boast that ruffled rose-like look.
Lisianthus blossoms can reach several inches tall, going up to 30 inches. And their crowns may get to 12 inches in diameter, making them one of the largest on the list. To grow them to these sizes, you will need environments between 30 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit and moist soil, and consistent sun exposure.
On top of that, the colors are outstanding, often featuring pink, white, violet, orange, purple, and very few times, red.
CHECK THIS: Lisianthus flowers are also mildly fragrant, so you can enjoy their beauty and smell in your garden.
#16. Moss Roses (Portulaca grandiflora)
Among rare flowers, few can match the moss roses. You can figure they’re almost like roses themselves by the name.
A typical moss rose stem is 12 inches tall and boasts a wide blossom of about 1 to 4 inches in diameter. Given the short shrubby growth of the foliage and the bright red, magenta, pink, yellow, and sometimes burgundy hues, it could pass as a miniature rose.
The plant requires warm areas to grow well (over 75 degrees Fahrenheit) and prefers slightly dry environments over moist ones.
ESSENTIAL FACT: This is a super-easy plant to grow, as it requires little to no effort to maintain and grows well even in nutrient-deficient soils.
#17. Peonies (Paeonia)
Untidy petals are almost impossible to not confuse with roses. Peonies have that.
These blossoms are large, growing to over 40 inches high and boasting more than 8 inches in diameter as they’re fully grown.
You will need consistent sun exposure and moist soil that drains well. Then, you can enjoy their pink hues, sometimes getting vibrant red to bright white. And with the bushy growth of the plant’s foliage, it could easily pass a rose in your garden.
The plant thrives in fresh areas going from 30 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
SURPRISING DETAIL: Peonies are among the longer-lasting plants you can grow, sometimes reaching over 100 years of life (blossoming without fault every year).
#18. Roses of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus)
The name is not a coincidence: it looks ALMOST EXACTLY like a rose.
These usually pink flowers with white, yellow, red, and orange tones are hard to dismiss in any garden. Plus, they can often grow to about 4 inches in diameter, and their stems can get to over 10 feet high.
The plant stands out for its ability to grow in cold and warm areas, going from -10 degrees up to 40 degrees Fahrenheit without problems. You need to grow it in either full sun or partial shade.
CONSIDER THIS: It is a cold-hardy species, so you can grow it problem-free in freezing temperatures as long as it is indoors.
#19. Tea Trees (Leptospermum)
Few people know about the Leptospermum. It is a type of large shrub that grows like a small tree. The bark is soft and flaky; white the branches are rigid but thin.
The most exciting part? It grows rose-like blossoms in miniature form, making it a great contender on the list.
These blossoms are no wider than 4 inches in diameter and boast messy petals, hard to distinguish them from roses.
DON’T DISMISS THIS: The leaves on these plants are often used to make tea, thus such a unique name.
#20. Tuberous Begonias (Begonia × tuberhybrida)
Common begonias look nothing like roses. The tuberous variety is WAY MORE ALIKE.
The name comes from the extra petals in the crown that makes it denser. It is undoubtedly the most attractive from the begonia family and indeed among the closest to a rose.
Most tuberous begonias require partial shade or filtered sunlight, require temperatures over 50 degrees (will die in anything lower than that), and will need super-fertile soil to thrive.
The blossoms can reach 12 inches in diameter, and a single stem may reach 5 feet – so they can take over your garden.
WHAT ELSE TO KNOW: Tuberous begonias include over 13 different varieties with different colors and shapes, but they all look pretty similar to most types of roses.
Get Those Flowers Like Roses Planted!
Your garden doesn’t have to be one flower only. There are so many flowers that look like roses to choose from that it would be a pity to stick to roses only.
Whether you’re looking for an alternative plant or just something new to grow in your garden, give these beauties a try. You won’t regret it!