Introduced by Harkness & Co. in 1991, Many Happy Returns is a floribunda shrub rose that has earned a loyal following for its unpretentious charm. The 4-inch blush-pink blooms are lightly fragrant and appear in generous flushes from summer through fall, carried on glossy foliage that holds its color well. At 2 to 3 feet tall with a spreading habit, it fits comfortably at the border front or in a mixed container. Give it good air circulation and well-drained soil, and it will ask for little else.

Hardiness zones 5 through 9 make it broadly adaptable, and its spreading nature means it knits together nicely in small groups or anchors a corner of a cutting garden. Prune in late winter, removing dead and crossed canes and reducing remaining growth by a third. The rose will set hips if spent blooms are left on, adding a small ornamental bonus into the colder months.