9 Plants That Look Like Roses

Roses symbolize a surprising number of things, such as love, passion, friendship, etc. They are undoubtedly the flower of choice for those special occasions. These plants are pretty well-versed, heightening feel-good emotions. It’s no wonder many want to own rose-look-alike plants.

Roses are unique flowers and are prevalent in nurseries and homes worldwide because they come in a fantastic variety of styles, shapes, and colors. There are over 150 different varieties of roses that can be grown in different ways, whether as climbers, shrubby plants, etc.

Their petals can be eaten, and rose water, which is quite popular, is frequently added to the likes of jellies and jams. Pink roses radiate elegance and sophistication in addition to red roses representing love and romance. The vivid hue of yellow roses stands for cheer and camaraderie.

White roses are interesting as they represent sympathy, which is the reason you would frequently see them at funerals. Yet they are also considered to stand for innocence, faith, and purity. Roses are perennial woody plants. A rose is the only flower that is more sensory-overwhelming than the others.

This is demonstrated by things like appeal and wonderful fragrances. The Northern Hemisphere’s temperate zones are where roses are native. Rose species are indigenous to Asia, and a smaller number originate in North America, a select few in Europe, and very few in northwest Africa.

Roses from many parts of the world easily cross-pollinate, creating overlapping types. There are more than 150 varieties of roses, and they all have a beautiful and romantic appearance. Although rose plants are a popular addition to gardens, you could choose something different to jazz things up.

Related: Are Roses Poisonous? | When Are Roses In Season?

1. Peony Flower

Peony Flower
sherribear Peony Flower

The Peony is one subset of the plant kingdom that is similar in appearance to a rose. In fact, this flowering plant in the Paeonia genus is thought of as a peony rose or, more aptly, a thornless rose.

Peony flowers look like roses as they tend to have bloom shapes similar to that of roses. They have single blooms where the flower is almost identical to a rose called Morning Mist. The rosette-like appearance is a trait that this flower boasts.

Peonies also have semi-double and double blooms similar to the Stormy Weather and Jewel box roses. Not only that, but peonies have a variety of colors, some of which make them look like roses, such as pink and white.

Related: Are Peonies Poisonous? | When Are Peonies In Season?

2. Blue Rose Echeveria

Blue Rose Echeveria
Geoff McKay Blue Rose Echeveria

The Blue Rose is a stunning succulent that belongs to the Echeveria genus. This succulent bears a striking resemblance to a rose. It displays a compact rosette that roses are well known for. In this case, they are blue-green and have a slightly waxy surface.

Although they have the same rosette display, the leaves of the Blue Rose are a bigger version of rose petals as they are broad and wide.

It is worth noting that this Echeveria is one of the only plants in this genus that has slightly rounded leaves as opposed to the narrow, pointed ends that this genus has, such as the Echeveria Lola. This plant is incredibly easy to grow, making it great for beginners.

3. Ranunculus Flower

Ranunculus
Amy the Nurse Ranunculus

This is a highly decorative rose-like flowering plant that belongs to the Ranunculus; L genus and is considered a buttercup. The rose flower shape is evident in the large, soft rose-pink flower heads perched atop sturdy, long stems. It isn’t known as a Rose of Spring for no reason.

The Ranunculus gives the rose a run for its money, particularly the Ranunculus Tango and Amandine Rose. They both have layers of lush, small, rounded petals arranged in a pompon bloom shape.

Like roses, this plant also comes in various colors, from pink to white and even yellow.

4. Ghost Plant (Graptopetalum Paraguayense)

Graptopetalum Paraguayense
saiberiac Graptopetalum Paraguayense

Ghost plant, otherwise known as Graptopetalum Paraguayense, is another beautiful succulent with bluish-grey leaves displayed in a compact rose-like rosette, much like roses. This plant looks even more like a rose on maturity as the leaves take on a pinkish, yellow hue.

Ghost plants have thick, slightly pointed, waxy leaves compared to how delicate and thin rose petals are. This mother-of-pearl plant has trailing rosettes that start tightly packed in the center and flare out towards the bottom, similar to rose plants.

This plant thrives outdoors and enjoys warm temperatures above zone 9.

5. Camellia Flower

Camellia
raymondtan85 Camellia

This evergreen flowering shrub is one of the most well-known rose-look-alike plants. Camellia Japonica is one variety of Camellia blooms. It is one of the popular species of the genus Camellia.

This flower is often referred to as the rose of winter. They have a beautiful rosebud-like shape and, once mature, have a full bloom shape with roughly 26 to 40 arch-shaped petals that consist of three or more rows.

The Camellia comes in many different vibrant colors. Still, the Japonica is the one that closely resembles the rose as it has a deep red color.

Related: 9 Camellia alternatives

6. Mountain Rose (Greenovia Aurea)

Greenovia aurea
Pavel Golubovskiy Greenovia aurea

This plant, known as Greenovia Aurea, looks like a rose due to its thick rosette. Interestingly, it looks like a rose before and after it matures. This is because before it matures, it takes on the shape of a closed rosebud.

Once it matures, the waxy green leaves tend to take on the stunning cupped bloom shape. Blooms sometimes begin globular and then unfold into a cupped shape.

Like a rose’s outer petals, the Mountain succulent outer leaves are slightly longer than the leaves towards the center. The top surface has a tiny cup-like hollowness to it. The Mountain Rose also has yellow flowers that bloom from the plant’s center.

7. Sedum Rosea

Rhodiola rosea
Ania Rhodiola rosea

This succulent plant has dense, round leaves similar to roses with a double bloom shape. This is because the leaves of the Rosea overlap in either three or more rows.

The leaves of the Rosea are initially green. Still, they look even more like roses upon maturity as they take on a stunning burgundy. This is similar to the Dragon’s blood Sedum as it also looks similar to a rose and is greenish-red in color.

The Sedum Rosea is a great plant for busy people, as it requires less attention when compared to a rose.

8. Lisianthus (Eustoma Grandiflorum)

Lisianthus
Yay Lisianthus

You’d mistake a Lisianthus flower for a rose because they look alike. This flower almost resembles the globular bloom, but because the petals do not enclose the stamen, this flower resembles roses that have a cupped bloom shape.

This is because there aren’t that many petals and the outer petals are longer than those in the middle. This flower has more of an open cup which further resembles roses like the Sue Hipkin.

The Lisianthus’s petals resemble a rose and are even comparable to them in delicacy. They come in a variety of colors, just like roses, and even have petals that have two colors, such as white petals with purple tips.

9. Green Rose Bud (Aeonium Arboreum)

Aeonium Arboreum
leighklotz Aeonium Arboreum

The Green Rose Bud is another succulent plant that is a rose look-alike. This plant’s glossy, vibrant green leaves are arranged in a rosette manner that is very similar to a rose.

The leaves are much more interesting than the rose petals as they have tiny hair-like fibers on the edges. They also have an ovate shape with a pointed tip. It also produces incredible-looking yellow flowers when it blooms.

The Green rose is a genus of Crassulaceae. You can anticipate the plant to develop and grow up to 10′′ in diameter.