While there are no official rose classification schemes available, there are some which are very popular world-wide. One such is a system developed by The American Rose Society in cooperation with the World Federation of Roses. While this is one of the many in use, a vast majority of world-acclaimed societies follow this system of classification of roses.
 
American Rose Society, has classified the roses into three main categories: the Species roses; Old Garden Roses; and Modern Roses. The species roses is the mother of them all, the origin. Often referred to as “wide roses”, they are easy to locate with their exclusive five-petal formation and blooming only once. They are usually thorny shrubs or sometimes climbers. There are many popular Species Roses: Cherokee Roses, Dog Roses, Gallic Roses, French Roses, and Redleaf Roses.  Species Roses thrive in temperate weather conditions as a result of which can be found throughout the Northern Hemisphere.

While Species Roses have been in existence since time immemorial, Old Garden Roses were discovered before 1867 as a major class of rose.
 
Majority of Old Garden Roses bloom once annually just before the advent of summer. They grow in a large variety of shrub and vine sizes. While colors may vary, the typical Old Garden Rose is in white or a pastel color. Easy to maintain, these “antique roses” make a wonderful choice for home gardens. A lot of them have a strong fragrance, which is appealing to many. Several varieties are put in the Old Garden Rose category : China, Tea, Moss, Damask, Bourbon, Hybrid Perpetual and Noisette roses
 
The ancestor of  modern roses is the Old Garden Roses. Any rose spotted after 1867 is termed as a modern rose.  Developed as a cross between hybrid tea and polyanthus, these roses have gained a lot of popularity in recent times. Rich in color, these roses bloom several times in a year, if maintained properly.no wonder gardeners find this type so appealing. The popular types of Modern Roses are the hybrid tea, floribunda and grandiflora. One of the biggest drawbacks of Modern Roses is that it can not survive cold climates. 
 
Over and above the three main classifications, a rose can be further classified according to color, fragrance, growing habits, ancestry, date of introduction, blooming characteristics and size. Because of the hybridization, it is a near-impossible task for horticulturists to classify each and every rose – as these appear to be in a class of their own. While there is a lot of arguments for and against such classifications, the system established by the American Rose Society seems to be most functional. Perhaps this is why it has been adopted by so many rose-lovers across the globe.