Climbing Roses
Climbing roses are those that have canes long
enough and flexible enough to be tied some support, be it fence or arbor
or trellis. Unlike ivies and honeysuckle, roses have no means of clinging
to a supporting structure, except, possibly, for roses with hooked prickles
that could catch on a rough surface such as tree bark or stems of a bush.
The canes of roses we wish to make form a wall or pillar of flowers must
be convinced to do that. Climbers are sometimes distinguished from ramblers--the
former usually shorter and blossoming on new wood, while the latter can
have very long canes and blossoms only on 2nd year wood. Ramblers seldom
have more than one flush of flowers per season, while climbers can be recurrent
or everblooming.
One method to train the larger climbers and ramblers
is to tie the main shoots securely to firm supports. Then the side shoots,
which will produce the blooms, are allowed to cascade down. Shorter climbers
can be trained to a pillar or post or along a low fence. Though there is
a school of thought that climbers and ramblers should be left to develop
naturally, in most small gardens pruning is necessary. It is usually done
in winter. Ramblers should have some old wood that has blossomed removed;
side shoots of the climbers should be shortened and some old wood removed
from the base.
Albertine
Coppery pink, loosely double and vary fragrant
flowers are spectacular in early summer. A once-blooming Rambler, 'Albertine'
is one of the hardiest of the group. It is a lax bush or a shrubby climber
and can be used to cover arbors, as a ground cover, or for hanging over
low walls or stumps.Glossy leaves on a 6' x 15' shrub or 10' as a climber.
(1921)
Awakening
This sport of 'New Dawn' has the same lovely ivory-pink color,
good fragrance, and repeat-blooming characteristics, but it has very double,
quartered blooms. 10' (1992)
Dortmund
Ruffled, single bright red blooms with white centers are produced
in clusters against dark green, glossy foliage. They have good repeat blooms if
they are deadheaded, otherwise they will produce hips. 8' (1955)
Dublin Bay
Velvety, crimson-red glooms are double, fragrant, and beautiful. Foliage
is attractive, and the flowers last well when cut. It is the favorite red
climber of those who want a flower with a lovely shape. 8' (1975)
Leverkusen
Hardy yellow climbers are rare. This medium yellow, German variety
is new for us, but is said to be healthy and hardy, loosely double, and
fragrant. It is good tied to a pillar or a trellis and grows to 9'. (1954)
New Dawn
Voted the 'most popular rose int he world' in 1997, New Dawn
is an everblooming sport of 'Dr. Van Fleet' with fragrance, lovely form,
and a soft ivory-pink coloration. It has beautiful foliage and can be used
as a climber, to 10', or a shrub. (1930)
Viking Queen
This Minnesota-bred rose has old fashioned, double blooms of medium
to deep pink in clusters from June through the summer. It is very fragrant
and has dark green, glossy leaves that are disease-resistant. 10' (1963)
The following roses can be used as climbers and are fully described elsewhere.
Mme. Plantier
This rose is considered an Alba crossed with a Noisette.
A graceful rambler, it can be used for arches, ropes, and pillars, or for
climbing into trees.
Mme. Isaac Periere
This rose has lax growth that can be used to train the shrub on
walls, fences or pillars. It is a Bourbon.
Zephirine Drouhin
This rose is a Bourbon, similar to Mme. Isaac, but with
somewhat stronger growth.
Abraham Darby
This rose is an Austin English Rose that can be grown either
as a shrub or a short climber.
Polka,
This rose is one of the Romantica Series, is an apricot-orange color on an "old
fashioned" flower. See Odds 'n Ends.
The following are Explorer Roses that make very satisfactory climbers.
They are described under Canadian Winter Hardy Roses
Alexander MacKenzie
Captain Sam Holland
Henry Kelsey
John Cabot
John Davis
Louis Jolliet
William Baffin
Copyright © 2000 Orion Farm
