Climbing roses are versatile plants with long, arching canes that can be trained on walls, trellises, and pergolas. Unlike Rambling Roses, most Climbing Roses usually repeat flower throughout summer and fall. Most bloom two or more times every season: first on old canes, and then on the current season’s growth. However, few cultivars bloom continuously throughout the growing season.
Nothing sets off a house like a Climbing Rose in full bloom trained against the walls or draping the porch. Climbing Roses are a versatile and visually stunning group of roses known for their ability to cover walls, trellises, arches, pergolas, and fences.
With their long, arching canes and vibrant blooms, they add vertical interest and romantic charm to any garden. Available in a wide range of colors, forms, and fragrances, climbing roses are a popular choice for gardeners seeking to create lush, floral backdrops or highlight architectural features.
Unlike true climbers like ivy, climbing roses do not have tendrils or suction cups to attach themselves to surfaces. Instead, they rely on their long canes to be trained and secured to a support structure. This makes them ideal for creative garden designs emphasizing height and layered beauty.
Climbing roses are characterized by their long, flexible canes and spectacular blooms. These roses produce flowers that range from small, single blossoms to large, double blooms. Depending on the variety, flowers may appear singly or in clusters, with some roses being heavily scented, adding to their allure.
The blooming season for climbing roses typically spans from late spring to fall, with some varieties flowering in flushes throughout the season while others bloom once in a dramatic display.
The foliage of climbing roses is usually dark green and glossy, providing a striking contrast to their vibrant blooms. While they are not true climbers, their flexible growth habit allows gardeners to train and secure them to structures, creating breathtaking vertical gardens. Whether used as a standalone feature or combined with other plants, climbing roses offer timeless beauty and versatility.
Climbing roses can be divided into two main types: Climbing Roses and Rambling Roses. Each type has unique growth habits and blooming characteristics that suit different garden designs and purposes.
Climbing roses are characterized by their repeat blooming nature and large, showy flowers. They typically grow 6–12 ft. (180–360 cm) long and will spread about 3–4 ft. (90–120 cm), making them well-adapted to small gardens. These roses are perfect for structures like walls, trellises, and fences.
Most climbing Roses produce an abundance of large, single, or clustered, often fragrant flowers. They usually repeat flower throughout summer and fall, blooming two or more times every season: first on old canes and then on the current season’s growth.
As a result of interbreeding efforts, several ever-blooming Climbing Roses now produce flowers all summer, providing a show-stopping floral display. From early summer to fall, these beauties bloom repeatedly until the first frost.
If your heart is set on a Climbing Rose that does not flower continuously, you may want to extend its season of interest by combining it with Clematis or Honeysuckle to fill the gaps. Learn how to combine roses and clematis and create a dramatic effect.
Climbing Roses require more care and attention than Rambling Roses. They need annual pruning and training to maintain their shape and encourage blooms.
Examples:
Ramblers are more vigorous than climbing roses, producing long, arching canes growing up to 20–30 ft. (6–9 meters). They typically bloom once a year in early summer, creating a spectacular display of small flowers in large clusters. Their abundant blooms are worth the wait, and they are well-suited for informal, natural-style gardens. Ramblers are ideal for covering large areas, such as pergolas, arches, or unsightly walls, where their sprawling growth can be fully appreciated.
Unlike Climbing Roses, Ramblers require less maintenance but need ample space to grow naturally. Their dramatic, once-a-year blooms make them a favorite for gardeners seeking a stunning floral display with minimal upkeep.
Examples:
| Hardiness |
5 - 10 |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Climbers, Roses |
| Plant Family | Rosaceae |
| Genus | Rosa, Rosa - Climbing Rose |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall |
| Maintenance | Average |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy |
| Attracts | Butterflies |
| Landscaping Ideas | Wall-Side Borders, Arbors, Pergolas, Trellises, Walls And Fences |
| Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden |
Climbing roses offer endless design possibilities, transforming gardens with their height, color, and fragrance. Here are some creative ideas:
Climbing roses are perfect for softening the appearance of bare walls and fences. Training roses like Rosa ‘New Dawn’ or Rosa ‘Don Juan’ along a wall adds a romantic, timeless charm to your outdoor space. They also provide privacy and act as living insulation.
Create a dramatic garden entrance or a shaded walkway by training climbing roses over an arch or pergola. Varieties like Rosa ‘Zephirine Drouhin’, with its thornless stems and pink blooms, are ideal for areas where people may brush against the plant.
Add height and structure to garden beds by growing climbing roses on trellises or obelisks. This technique works particularly well in small gardens, where vertical planting maximizes space.
Combine climbing roses with other climbers, like clematis, for a layered effect. The intertwined blooms of roses and clematis create a striking visual impact.
Enhance the charm of a cottage garden by planting climbing roses alongside perennials like lavender, delphiniums, and foxgloves. This creates a lush, colorful, and informal look.
Companion planting with climbing roses not only enhances their visual appeal but also promotes a healthier garden by deterring pests, improving soil health, and attracting beneficial insects. Here are some ideal companions for climbing roses:
Clematis is a classic companion for climbing roses. Its twining habit and complementary blooms intertwine beautifully with rose canes. Choose varieties with contrasting or harmonious colors, such as purple clematis with yellow roses or white clematis with pink roses. If both roses and clematis bloom during the same period, you get twice the flower power and enrich the color palette of one single garden spot. If you select roses and clematis with different flowering periods, you will be extending their spectacular color show over a longer period of time. In both cases, you win!
Lavender pairs well with climbing roses, adding a touch of elegance and fragrance to the garden. This Mediterranean shrub is known for its insect-repelling properties, effectively deterring aphids and other pests that can harm roses. Additionally, its nectar-rich blooms attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, making it an excellent companion plant.
Delphinium is a perennial known for its tall, majestic spikes of blue, purple, pink, or white flowers, blooming from early summer to fall. These towering blooms provide dramatic vertical interest and contrast beautifully with the rounded forms of rose blossoms. The cool hues of delphiniums complement warm-toned roses, creating a balanced and visually striking garden display. Ideal for mixed borders, delphiniums enhance the elegance of rose beds and contribute to a romantic, cottage-style garden aesthetic.
Foxgloves are biennials or short-lived perennials that produce tall spires of bell-shaped flowers in pastel shades, blooming from late spring to midsummer. Their soft, ethereal appearance pairs wonderfully with roses, offering a layered and textured look. The vertical growth of foxgloves adds height and structure to rose gardens, while their delicate flowers contrast with the boldness of rose blooms. Perfect for cottage or wildlife-friendly gardens, foxgloves bring charm and sophistication to any rose planting scheme.
Catmint’s low-growing habit and lavender-blue flowers create a beautiful underplanting for climbing roses. Its drought-tolerant nature and ability to attract pollinators make it a practical and attractive choice. Catmint is a powerful ally for roses, both for its pest-repelling and pollinator-attracting properties. It draws lacewings and hoverflies, beneficial insects that feed on aphids and help protect roses from infestations. Additionally, its distinctive scent deters rabbits that might nibble on your plants.
Alliums, with their spherical blooms, add architectural interest to rose beds. They are also known for their insect-repelling properties and are often planted in gardens to keep insects at bay. Their strong scent repels aphids, Japanese beetles, mosquitoes, and other pests, making it a natural and effective alternative to chemical insecticides. Alliums are excellent companion plants for roses and among the best spring flowers to spruce up your garden.
Salvias (Salvia spp.) bring vibrant blue, purple, or red blooms, providing a striking contrast to pink roses. They thrive in similar growing conditions, offering pest control, beneficial insect attraction, and visual harmony in the garden. The aromatic foliage deters aphids and Japanese beetles, while its nectar-rich flowers invite pollinators and predatory insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps. Salvia’s upright growth improves airflow around roses, reducing fungal diseases such as black spot. Discover the top benefits of growing Salvia in your garden.
Roses, Salvia, Catmint, and Lady’s Mantle
Proper care is essential to keep climbing roses healthy and productive. Here are the basics:
Prune climbing roses in late winter or early spring to remove dead, damaged, or weak canes. Train the strongest canes horizontally to encourage lateral growth and more blooms. Deadhead spent flowers during the growing season to promote repeat blooming.
Provide consistent moisture, especially during dry spells. Water deeply at the base once or twice a week, avoiding overhead watering to reduce the risk of fungal diseases.
Fertilize climbing roses regularly with a balanced rose fertilizer (e.g., 10-10-10) during the growing season. Supplement with compost or organic matter to enrich the soil.
Inspect plants regularly for signs of pests like aphids, spider mites, and thrips. Use insecticidal soap or neem oil to manage infestations. Prevent diseases like black spot and powdery mildew by ensuring good air circulation and watering at the base.
In colder regions, protect climbing roses during winter by mulching around the base and wrapping the canes in burlap to prevent frost damage.
Rosa ‘Teasing Georgia’, Achillea ‘Paprika’
Climbing roses grow at different rates depending on the variety and growing conditions. On average, they can grow 3–6 feet (1–2 meters) per year once established. Vigorous varieties may grow even faster, especially when planted in ideal conditions with full sun, rich soil, and proper care.
Growth Habit:
Blooming Habit:
Care Needs:
The best place to plant a climbing rose is in full sun (at least 6–8 hours daily) with good air circulation to prevent disease. Choose a location with well-draining, fertile soil enriched with organic matter. Plant near a structure such as a trellis, pergola, or wall for support, and ensure the base is shaded to keep the roots cool.
Yes, climbing roses should be pruned annually to maintain their shape, encourage blooming, and prevent overgrowth. Prune in late winter or early spring, removing dead, damaged, or crossing branches. Retain the strongest canes and train them horizontally to promote lateral flowering shoots.
With proper care, climbing roses can live 30 years or more. Regular pruning, feeding, and disease prevention are key to maintaining their health and vigor over the decades.
Climbing roses require moderate maintenance. They need:
While they require attention, their beauty and versatility make them worth the effort.
fotoksa / 123RF Stock Photo
| Hardiness |
5 - 10 |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Climbers, Roses |
| Plant Family | Rosaceae |
| Genus | Rosa, Rosa - Climbing Rose |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall |
| Maintenance | Average |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy |
| Attracts | Butterflies |
| Landscaping Ideas | Wall-Side Borders, Arbors, Pergolas, Trellises, Walls And Fences |
| Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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