Roses That Climb S teve Jones, Chairman Program Services Committee 2005

All Photos by Steve Jones © ARS, 2005

Roses As Climbers Roses are not true climbers Roses do not have tendrils to hang on to walls, trellises, etc. Prickles (thorns) are not for clinging Any large rose can be made into a climber Large Flowered Climbers Climbing sports

Large Flowered Climbers Official American Rose Society classification Usually repeat blooming Different colors, bloom size, fragrance, and hardiness AARS has a test class for climbers

Paul’s Scarlet Climber Once bloomer to 12 feet

New Dawn Good repeat, winter hardy, to 12 feet. First rose patent

Altissimo Good repeat bloom, to 10 feet, somewhat winter hardy

Berries N’ Cream Good repeat, very fragrant, excellent hot weather rose, almost thornless, somewhat hardy, to 12 feet

Eden (Pierre de Ronsard) Excellent arbor rose, fairly hardy, grows to 12 feet

Fourth Of July AARS winner, to 15 feet, winter hardy, good repeat bloom

Joseph’s Coat Grows to 10 feet, somewhat hardy

Dr. Huey Common rootstock, somewhat hardy, to 15 feet

Other Large Flowered Climbers Aloha America Blaze Clair Matin Dublin Bay Golden Showers Handel

Ramblers Rambler class changed by ARS in 1999 Now Hybrid Wichuranas or Hybrid Multifloras Usually once blooming Large climbers, all sizes and shapes Ideal for pergolas, ropes, trellises, pillars Most are winter hardy

American Pillar Vigorous, popular in Europe, grows to 25 feet, winter hardy

Newport Fairy Vigorous, to 30 feet, fragrant, not winter hardy

Bobbie James Very popular in Europe, vigorous to 20 feet, fragrant, winter hardy

Chevy Chase Vigorous, to 18 feet, winter hardy

Russelliana Multiflora rambler, very hardy, to 20 feet

Silver Moon Very vigorous, to 30 feet, winter hardy

Violette Vigorous, to 15 feet, winter hardy

Veilchenblau Vigorous, to 15 feet, almost thornless, somewhat hardy

The Garland Very vigorous, to 25 feet, winter hardy, very fragrant

Other Ramblers Alberic Barbier Appleblossom Bleu Magenta Debutante Dorothy Perkins Excelsa Jersey Beauty

Species The original “climbers” Most are once blooming Some of the largest roses Good for pergolas, trees, houses Usually are fragrant Mixed hardiness, most are hardy

Rosa mulliganii Vigorous, to 25 feet, very fragrant

Rosa banksiae lutea “Lady Banks”, vigorous, to 35 feet, white version largest rose in world, not winter hardy

Rosa moschata “Musk Rose”, very vigorous and fragrant, to 18 feet

Rosa multiflora carnea Very vigorous, to 35 feet, winter hardy

Rosa multiflora Very vigorous, naturalized in US, to 15 feet, fragrant, common rootstock

Rosa roxburghii “Chestnut Rose”, vigorous, to 15 feet, naturalized in US, winter hardy

Other Species Kiftsgate Rosa eglanteria Rosa hugonis “Father Hugo’s Rose” Rosa laevigata “Cherokee Rose” Rosa moyesii Rosa soulieana Rosa wichurana

Old Garden Roses Wide range of sizes and colors Some repeat bloomers Some large bushes, can be made into climbers Most are fragrant Been around for 100s of years

Reine des Violettes Very fragrant Hybrid Perpetual, grows to 12 feet, somewhat hardy

Mermaid Very vigorous, to 30 feet, repeat bloom, fragrant, wicked thorns, not winter hardy

Louise Odier Large Bourbon rose, to 12 feet as climber, repeat bloom, not winter hardy

Stanwell Perpetual Large Hybrid Spinosissima, can be trained as climber to 15 feet, fragrant, winter hardy

Sombreuil Climbing Tea, vigorous, to 20 feet, fragrant, top show rose, repeat blooms, somewhat winter hardy

Zephirine Drouhin Climbing Bourbon, to 12 feet, very fragrant, almost thornless, not winter hardy

Other Old Garden Roses Baronne Prevost Hugh Dickson Mme Hardy Mme Isaac Pereire Mme Pierre Oger Reine Victoria Ulrich Brunner

Noisettes Climbers from feet Good repeat bloom, especially in fall Some fragrant, generally mild Most are not winter hardy, but can be grown in cold areas with protection Lots of colors, blooms in clusters, small or large blooms Only class created in United States

Celine Forestier Popular Noisette, to 12 feet

Alister Stella Gray Grows to 18 feet

Mme Alfred Carriere One of the shorter Noisettes, to 10 feet, good pillar rose

Aimee Vibert Lax growing Noisette to 12 feet

Nastarana Short Noisette, to 8 feet, very fragrant

Crepuscule Grows to 12 feet

Other Noisettes Blush Noisette Champneys Pink Cluster Jaune Deprez Jeanne d’Arc Lamarque Marechal Neil Reve d’Or

Hybrid Musks Good repeat bloom, especially in fall Good fragrance Most are winter hardy Usually blooms in small clusters Blooms small to large Wide color range

Nur Mahal Vigorous, to 12 feet, fragrant

Moonlight Vigorous, to 12 feet, very fragrant

Penelope Vigorous, to 15 feet, very fragrant

Will Scarlett Vigorous, to 12 feet, fragrant

Lavender Lassie Very vigorous, to 20 feet, fragrant

Kathleen G rows to 12 feet, fragrant

Skyrocket One of the shorter Hybrid Musks, to 8 feet

Other Hybrid Musks Buff Beauty Cornelia Danae Nymphenburg Prosperity Secret Garden Vanity

Shrubs - Other Most shrubs can be made into a climber Full list of colors, shapes, sizes Most are winter hardy Most have good repeat bloom Most versatile of all roses

Sally Holmes Large shrub or 12 foot climber, popular climber, top show rose, good repeat bloom, winter hardy

Flutterbye Vigorous, to 12 feet, good repeat bloom

Alchymist Large, to 20 feet, once bloomer, fragrant

Royal Pageant Harkness Shrub, small climber to 10 feet, fragrant

Montecito Very vigorous, to 50 feet, large blooms, once bloomer

Sea Foam Very vigorous, to 15 feet, repeat bloom

Dortmund Kordesii, to 10 feet, very winter hardy

Constance Spry First Austin England Rose, to 15 feet, once bloomer

Evelyn One of the largest English Roses, to 12 feet, very fragrant

Other Shrubs Belinda’s Dream Golden Wings Graham Thomas John Cabot Leander Nevada William Baffin

Other Climbing Sports Most are genetic sports of bush counterparts The climbing sports of most roses do not repeat well, typically 1-2 flushes per year Some climbing roses do not have bush counterparts, such as Aloha and High Noon Blooms generally like the bush counterpart Many different color sports

Cl. Cecile Brunner

Cl. Souvenir de la Malmaison Climbing Bourbon, to 15 feet, fragrant, repeat blooms, not winter hardy

Cl. Pinkie

Cl. Iceberg

Cl. Perle des Jardins Climbing Tea rose, to 15 feet, not winter hardy

Climbing Miniature Roses Just like large climbers, but smaller in all dimensions Can be as tall as small climbers Good repeat bloom Some winter hardy Great for pillars, arches

Candy Cane Grows to 7 feet, an older Miniature Climber

Jeanne Lajoie Grows to 12 feet, a popular Miniature Climber

Hi Ho Grows to 8 feet

Red Cascade Grows to 6 feet, great as a groundcover

The End An Official ARS Program