Rambling and Climbing Roses

Be sure to check out Carol's article on Ramblers and Climbers, written for Coastal Grower magazine.

Whether climbing on trellises, over garden walls, fences, gateways or pillars or rambling over old buildings, the generally vigorous rambling and climbing roses offer the gardener an opportunity to add height to or provide a backdrop for an otherwise flat garden. Ramblers trace their origin to a variety of species roses, such as Rosa wichuraiana and Rosa multiflora, while most climbers originated as 'sports' of hybrid teas or other more modern shrub roses. We specialize in collecting old favourite, easy to grow rambling and climbing roses. Some varieties have become quite difficult to find. Climbers and Ramblers vary in their cold hardiness and in the ability of their canes to survive zones colder than 5 or 6 unless they are buried in winter. There are several newer Canadian Explorer roses, bred for the colder climates, which can be used as climbers, such as John Davis and Henry Kelsey (see Explorer Roses). Perhaps the most cold-tolerant rambler is Polstjarnan (Polestar) which originated in Finland.

The Climbers
Climbing roses generally have larger flowers than do rambling roses and are recurrent flowering, although some bloom only in summer. They usually have stiffer canes and often do not tend to grow as tall as ramblers. While many are fragrant and disease resistant, some climbers have lost the sweet perfume of the older varieties through hybridizing, and are more susceptible to blackspot than the old ramblers. We attempt to select only classic climbing roses which for the most part are fragrant, colourful, vigorous and disease resistant. We tolerate a few vigorous mildew or blackspot magnets because of their heritage value.

Our Favourites: Awakening, Bantry Bay, Dublin Bay, Dortmund, Galway Bay, Mme. Alfred Carriere.

Scroll to bottom of this page for Photos of some varieties

Varieties marked as 'N/A' will not be available for 2008