A fantastic way to bring colour and charm to a bare wall, arch, pergola or to cover the Australian ‘back fence’ is to plant climbing roses in the garden. Different varieties have different growth habits so we list some of the best with brief descriptions.
Climbing roses produce main canes and side shoots, the main canes are the backbone of a climbing rose, the side shoots produce the flowers. The secret to successful climbers is to train and prune to encourage side shoots.
Pruning and Training Climbing Roses
The secret to successful climbing roses is to train and prune to encourage side shoots.
Train the main canes of climbing roses to grow horizontally, across rather than straight up. This may mean a ladder effect, ‘across and back’. It is best to tie or clip the canes to the support, rather than weave, this makes it easier to prune back dead canes
Top Ten Climbing Roses for Australia
Any Top Ten Guide is a matter of taste, these are our top ten climbing roses. Available from the rose nurseries listed on our Australian rose nursery directory page
Pierre de Ronsard Climbing Rose
Named after the French Poet Pierre de Ronsard, this climbing rose is bred by Meilland a relatively small climber, but lots of flowers over a long period. Flowers are creamy white to pink, large and full (lots of petals). Pierre de Ronsard should be pruned back hard in the winter. Deadhead this rose and in the right climate you will have flowers for 8 – 9 months of the year. Pierre de Ronsard can stand a little shade, but thrives in full sun, mulch to keep the root run cool.
Graham Thomas Climbing Rose
Golden yellow flowers, this is a David Austin Rose. Graham Thomas is a repeat blooming, disease resistant rose. Lightly scented and a great climbing rose that copes well in the heat.
Abraham Darby
Another David Austin climbing rose that will grow to 3m as a climber. Large flowers, fragrant, grows 2-3m. Apricot Pink flowers. Disease resistant like most of the David Austin Roses and nice glossy foliage.
Sombreuil
An old fashioned climbing rose that will grow to 2m. Very large pure white flowers, fragrant, repeat blooming, vigorous grower.
Gold Bunny (Gold Badge)
(pictured right)
A Meilland Rose. This is a repeat bloomer, clear yellow flowers, dark green foliage.The substantial flowers seem to last well, its one of our favourite climbing roses and we think the best yellow climbing rose we have seen.
Red Pierre climbing Rose
Yes its from the breeders of Pierre de Ronsard. Lots of deep red double cup flowers, repeat flowering and a great rose.
Iceberg Climbing Rose
The great white flowers of the Iceberg in a climbing rose, if you after a white climber that repeat blooms and has lots of flowers, you are after a Climbing Iceberg Rose. (pictured top right)
Westerland Climber
A Kordes rose. Repeat blooming, fragrant apricot/gold flowers, dark green foliage grows to 3m
Celine Forestier
Cream to pale yellow, fragrant vigorous climber
Sutter’sGold
Long yellow buds and large blooms with a light fragrance.
Resources
- Rose for Sale
- A Dozen Roses
- Miniature Rose information
- Climbing Rose Information
- Standard Rose information
- Hybrid Tea Roses
- How to Winter Prune Roses
- Top Ten Roses
- Heritage or Old Fashioned Roses
- Floribunda Roses
- Rose Finder
- Thornless Roses
- Growing Roses
For our UK and US readers go to Roses for the UK orRoses for the USA for suppliers.