CLIMBING AND RAMBLER ROSES David Austin
INTRODUCTION he Climbing and Rambling Roses are arguably the best of all climbing plants. They are enormously variable and versatile and many combine very beautiful individual flowers with a wonderful fragrance. Roses are seldom better displayed than when they look down at us from above and it is surprising that many of the best Climbing and Rambling Roses are rarely seen and difficult to obtain. There seems to be almost unending possibilities for the use of Climbers and Ramblers and there can be few plants more essential for the garden. The most important of these uses is, of course, the clothing of the walls of the house and elsewhere, but they are also excellent for growing on pillars, obelisks, arches and pergolas and over fences. Strong Ramblers may be encouraged to grow into trees, from which their flowers will hang down in festoons; others may be allowed to clamber over shrubs and hedges. Another idea is to train them along a post and rail fence. If you have an unsightly object such as a shed, this may be attractively covered with a strong Rambler. Rambling roses usually have numerous small to medium-sized flowers held in large bunches, and have the ability to send up strong, often lax stems from the base of the plant. They flower with great freedom, giving a mass of blooms, in most cases just once a year although an increasing number do now repeat flower. Those with single or semi double flowers are often strongly and deliciously fragrant – it is a musky fragrance that emanates from the stamens and is very characteristic of the Ramblers. It wafts on the air and is detectable from some distance away. Most Ramblers are extremely tough and reliable and will cope well with competition from the roots of trees and shrubs. Usually they require little pruning except for the removal of older growth when this becomes too dense. They form a very important group that is worthy of more attention in present day gardens even if they are quite small as there are a number of ramblers that are very moderate in vigour. Apart from the situations listed above they can also be grown with no support into a large flower-covered mound. Do not be put off by the fact that most only flower once in the summer; many have beautiful hips which are a valuable source of food for the birds. They can also be used as support for other climbers, such as the many varieties of Clematis viticella or C. alpina. Climbers on the other hand usually have large flowers and most repeat flower. Their growth is also mostly stiffer and more upright but less vigorous and so serve different functions to ramblers in the garden. They are best suited to growing on walls, trellis, arches, obelisks and pillars as they can be kept under control without too much effort. Warm south facing walls will give extra scope for growing choice varieties like that of the Tea and Noisette groups which are generally not very hardy in the UK garden and prefer sun baked positions. On the other hand it is still possible to grow climbers on open north facing walls, the best being the various members of the climbing English Roses. I hope you will enjoy this review of the best of the Climbing and Rambling roses and be inspired to plant more in your garden.
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Facing page, Adelaide d’Orleans one of the best of all Ramblers, with pure white blooms and very elegant hanging growth
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Using Climbing and Rambler Roses
Climbing and Rambler Roses in the Garden The Rose is the most adaptable of flowers, in fact it’s hard to think of a more useful garden plant. There really does seem to be a rose for every part of the garden. This is particularly true of the climbing roses that can adorn anything from walls to obelisks or be directed to weave through trees and clamber over roofs. The following will hopefully help you to find some new places to plant Climbing and Rambling roses in your garden.
Walls The first and most important place for these roses is on the walls of the house or, indeed, any other building. A rose that is grown in this way becomes very intimate to us and probably gives us more pleasure than any other individual rose in the garden. It is possible that we pass it several times a day. And a flower seldom looks better than when it is seen on the branch of a Climbing Rose. The individual flowers look us in the face and, against a suitable background, show themselves off to the very best effect. Most Climbing Roses can be planted to grow against walls but the English Climbers and Modern Climbers are particularly suitable. Both groups have several advantages: they usually grow to heights that can be managed easily without danger to life or limb; they hold their flowers lower down, where they can more easily be appreciated; and, not least, they are reliably repeat flowering, which is something that cannot be said for many other Climbing Roses. I do not wish to dismiss other groups of climbers. The Hybrid Teas are at their most beautiful in their climbing forms. Regular repeat flowering should not be expected from most of these roses. A good display in early summer and a lesser crop in late summer is about as much as they can manage. Most Climbing Roses will benefit from some form of pest and disease control although the Hybrid Tea types even more so. The Noisettes are among the most beautiful of Climbing Roses, although they are limited in their colour range. Most varieties are both vigorous and healthy. They are particularly useful where we need to cover a larger area; indeed, some varieties grow so vigorously that they will smother a small building. They are Old Roses and there are not many varieties still with us. A few are less vigorous but they are usually hybrids of the Tea Roses.
Facing page, Gertrude Jekyll is one of the most popular roses in our collection, with its large well-filled rosettes The Lady of Shalott is a tough plant which has masses of scented apricot coloured blooms
THE CLIMBING ROSES It is a remarkable fact that a genus that has been responsible for the production of so many garden shrubs — shrubs which, if considered alone, would be sufficient to make it the most important of garden flowers — should also provide us with what is, without doubt, the most important of all climbing plants. It is difficult to overestimate the value of Climbing Roses in the garden. They provide a feeling of abundance, particularly in more formal and architectural areas, which may be in need of softening and a sense of life. They bring height where it might otherwise be lacking and many of them flower intermittently throughout the summer. No plant can fulfil these functions better than the Climbing Rose. All roses delight us, but perhaps a Climbing Rose, well grown and in full flower, does so more than any other, especially in the mass, although the individual flower is often particularly beautiful when seen looking down at us from the branch of a Climbing Rose. Perhaps it is the association of plant and architecture that gives Climbing Roses a certain advantage. Before going further, it is necessary to explain that the Climbing Roses are divided into two main groups: the Climbers and the Ramblers. The division is an artificial one, for both are in reality climbing plants, but this division does help us deal with them more easily. A Climbing Rose usually has larger flowers such as we might find in the Old Roses or the Hybrid Teas. The Rambler Roses usually have smaller flowers in larger clusters, and are often of more lax growth. They are also inclined to send up long, sometimes very long, stems from the base of the plant. In fact, they do just what their name suggests: ramble. The Climbers may be stiffer in growth, and although they, too, produce strong base shoots, they tend to build up gradually on past growth. Most Climbing Roses are repeat flowering while most Ramblers are not, although an increasing number of very good repeat flowering Ramblers are now being introduced. This is a very arbitrary division, one type frequently overlapping with the other, but in spite of this, when we see these roses there is generally little doubt as to which group they belong. Over the following pages we examine the various types of Climbing Roses: the Noisettes with their delicate refinement; the Climbing Tea Roses; the Climbing Hybrid Teas with their flowers of many colours; the Modern Climbers with their continuous abundance; the Climbing English Roses with their delicate charm and fragrance; as well as other sorts of other classifications or none, which are often of great beauty. The best and most frequent use for Climbers is on walls, including house walls 16
where, with the additional warmth that these provide, they are often the earliest garden roses to flower, thus making them particularly precious and giving them plenty of time to make further growth and so flower again. In addition, no climbing plant is more suitable for growing over arches, on pillars, on trellises, pergolas and so on. Annual tying and pruning is, of course, necessary with Climbers, and this can be a little more arduous than is the case with shrubs, but really need not be too great a task. See the chapter on Cultivation and Pruning for specific advice.
Graham Thomas, excellent multi-awardwinning climber with a fresh Tea Rose fragrance. Crown Princess Margareta is on the left of the window
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Noisette Roses
Gloire de Dijon, for many years a great favourite of many gardeners, bears large flowers that are richly coloured and highly fragrant Facing page, Madame Alfred Carrière is a very strong and reliable Climber that gives a magnificent display in summer with good continuity to late in the season
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Gloire de Dijon A famous old Climbing Rose that was once found in many a cottage garden, where it was often known as ‘Old Glory’. There can be few roses that have given more pleasure to more people since its introduction in 1853. It is said to have been a cross between a Tea Rose, the name of which is not known, and the old Bourbon ‘Souvenir de la Malmaison’ and indeed, its general appearance would seem to support this. It has large, globular, buff-yellow flowers that flatten and become quartered later, taking on pink tints, particularly in hot weather. They have a strong, rich fragrance. There is no doubt this is a much hardier rose than the typical Noisette, probably due to the fact that it is in part Bourbon. It is truly recurrent flowering and can reach a height of 3.6m / 12ft. The foliage is thick and heavy, more like that of a Hybrid Tea. A charming Old Rose but one that, today, is outclassed by more recent introductions. Bred by Jacotot (France) 1853. Lamarque Not an easy rose to grow, but well worth a little extra attention. The flowers are in the form of quite large rosettes of palest lemon-yellow (almost white), quartered and flat and of exquisite delicacy. It will grow to about 3m / 10ft, but I would expect much more in warmer climates. ‘Blush Noisette’ x ‘Parks’ Yellow China’. Bred by Maréchal (France) 1830. Ley’s Perpetual This rose was given to me by Mr Wyatt, who for some time edited an excellent magazine called The Rose, which unfortunately ceased publication. A seedling from ‘Gloire de Dijon’, it has a great deal in common with that rose. The flowers are cupped, medium sized, and of a pleasing pale yellow colour, with a Tea Rose fragrance. It will grow to about 4.5m / 15ft in height. A beautiful and worthwhile rose deserving more attention. Bred by Ley (UK) 1936. Madame Alfred Carrière If a very strong, reliable and repeat-flowering white Climber is required, you need look no further than this variety. Even today, there are few white Climbing Roses to rival it in performance. The flowers are large, cupped and creamy-white with just a tint of pink, and have a Tea Rose fragrance. They cannot be said to be particularly shapely, and the growth is rather stiff and upright, though this stiffness can be overcome by careful training. It gives a magnificent display in June and July with good continuity till late in the season. The foliage is large and plentiful. Reliably hardy. Height 6m / 20ft. Bred by Schwartz (France), introduced 1879. RHS Award of Garden Merit.
Various Old Climbers
Climbing Souvenir de la Malmaison is an old Bourbon Rose with delicate flesh-pink flowers Facing page, Climbing Pompon de Paris can start flowering extremely early in the year
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Pompon de Paris, Climbing (‘Climbing Rouletii’) A sport of the Miniature Rose, it makes dense, twiggy growth up to 2m / 7ft in height, providing a good display of small, rose-pink, pompon flowers in June, (although the first flowers can appear as early as April) but rather surprisingly has very little bloom later. The foliage is small, to match the flowers, and of a greyish-green. It enjoys considerable popularity, perhaps more than it deserves, although no doubt it is useful for very small gardens and certain positions in larger gardens. Souvenir de la Malmaison, Climbing The climbing form of this famous old Bourbon Rose has strong growth and will achieve a spread of 3.5m / 12ft. It is possible that its beautiful, delicate, flesh-pink flowers will not be quite so fine as the bush variety and they are easily spoilt or, indeed, never open in the rain. Nonetheless, they take on an added charm when seen on a Climber rather than on the somewhat squat growth of the bush. Unfortunately the Climber does not repeat quite so well. Climbing sport discovered by Bennett (UK) 1893.
The Climbing Tea & Hybrid Tea Roses
Guinée (Hybrid Tea) The result of a cross between ‘Souvenir de Claudius Denoyel’ x ‘Ami Quinard’, the first of which has ‘Château de Clos-Vougeot’ as one of its parents — the exceptionally deep colouring of that rose having been passed down with equal intensity. ‘Guinée’ has pointed buds opening to attractive, flat, neatly formed blooms. They are so dark that in the shade they can appear almost black; indeed, they become barely visible against its dark green foliage. For this reason it is best grown against a light background. A few contrasting stamens are visible, and there is a very rich fragrance. Although perhaps just a little lacking in strength, with generous treatment it will grow well to about 4.5m / 15ft. The problem may be that it is not altogether hardy and would be better grown on a warm wall. Bred by Mallerin (France), introduced 1938. Josephine Bruce, Climbing As a bush, this variety produces shapely flowers of a particularly rich and pure crimson. They are very fragrant. It is perhaps even better as a Climber, growing to 4.5m /15ft and flowering well, with another crop of flowers in late summer. Discovered by Bees (UK) 1954, on the bush form bred by the same firm. Lady Hillingdon, Climbing (Tea) One of the best Tea Roses still in existence. Indeed, I would place it high in any list of Climbing Roses. It is remarkably hardy for this class, so much so that it is hard to believe it is the result of a cross between the Tea Roses ‘Papa Gontier’ and ‘Madame Hoste’. It would be easy to believe a Hybrid Tea comes into its breeding somewhere, but the records say otherwise. Nonetheless, I would still give it the protection of a wall. The flowers are made up of large petals which result in long, elegant buds of deep apricot-yellow. These hang gracefully from the branch and emit a strong and delicious tea fragrance. Although not shapely when they open, this does not matter so much with a Climbing Rose whose flowers are usually seen from a distance. ‘Climbing Lady Hillingdon’ has lush growth, with large dark green leaves tinted with red when young, and it continues to flower with admirable regularity. It may be expected to grow to 4.5m / 15ft. The bush variety was bred by the English firm of Lowe & Shawyer in 1910, making it one of the latest of
Guinée has blooms so dark that in the shade they can appear almost black and are barely visible against its dark green foliage — hence it is best grown against a light background Facing page, Climbing Lady Hillingdon is a hardy favourite with a delicious tea fragrance
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English Roses as Climbers
Graham Thomas is an excellent Climber with flowers of an unusually rich and pure yellow
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Gertrude Jekyll (Ausbord ) (Old Rose Hybrid) To those who know this beautiful rose it may seem an unlikely candidate for inclusion with the Climbing English Roses, as it seems to be so very much a shrub. Nonetheless it will, with proper encouragement, achieve a good height — which is particularly welcome in English Old Rose Hybrids, not many of which develop as Climbers. Its flowers are in the form of large, flat rosettes of true Old Rose character and rich pink colouring. They have a particularly strong and delicious Old Rose fragrance. 2.5m / 8ft. 1986. For image, see p8. RHS/AGM. Graham Thomas (Ausmas) (English Musk Rose) As a shrub, this rose — although vigorous — tends to be rather too slender in growth to be ideal and this obviously points to its possibilities as a Climbing Rose. It is, in fact, an excellent Climber that will cover a considerable area and I think it is true to say that it is better as a Climber than as a shrub. The flowers are in the form of a shallowly cupped rosette in an unusually rich and pure yellow. They have a fresh Tea Rose fragrance with a cool violet character. James Mason Award 2000. 3m / 10ft. 1983. RHS Award of Garden Merit. James Galway (Auscrystal ) (Leander Group) This is a vigorous Climber with strong, almost thornless growth that will reach a fair height. The flowers are large and full, with many petals arranged in the form of a neat rosette. The colour is a lovely warm pink at the centre, shading to pale pink at the edges.
English Roses as Climbers
There is a delicious Old Rose fragrance. 3–3.5m / 10–12 ft. 2000. Lady of Shalott (Ausnyson) One of the most reliable and hardy roses in our collection. It is highly resistant to disease and will bloom with unusual continuity throughout the season. The young, rich orange-red buds open to form chalice-shaped blooms, filled with loosely arranged petals. Each petal has a salmon-pink upper side which contrasts beautifully with the golden-yellow reverse. A pleasant, warm, tea fragrance, with hints of spiced apple and cloves. Excellent as both a shrub and a Climber. The mid-green leaves have attractive, slightly bronzed tones when young. 2.5m / 8ft. For image, see p9. 2009. RHS/AGM. The Lady of the Lake (Ausherbert) When a rose breeder introduces a new Climbing or Rambling Rose, it is always difficult to say just what height it is going to achieve as it takes some time for it to reach its full potential. However, ‘The Lady of the Lake’ promises to grow to a considerable height, perhaps 3–3.5m / 10–12ft or more, with long and slender flexible stems, bearing sprays of pretty, semi double flowers each about two inches across. These are of a lovely, delicate blush pink colour and are of open formation, exposing a nice boss of golden stamens. They are held in attractive sprays and have a fresh citrus fragrance. This rose repeat flowers regularly throughout the summer. The ‘Lady of the Lake’ is the name of the ruler of Avalon in the Arthurian legend. She also plays a pivotal role in Sir Walter Scott’s famous poem of the same name. 2014.
Left, James Galway, a vigorous Climber with large Old Rose scented flowers Right, The Lady of the Lake, a very lovely repeat flowering Rambler with strongly fragrant, medium sized flowers
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Blush Rambler Once one of the most popular Ramblers, this rose was bred by B. R. Cant in 1903, from a cross between ‘Crimson Rambler’ and ‘The Garland’. It is, therefore, one quarter Musk Rose, although in fact it is of very typical Multiflora appearance. The flowers are blush pink, small and cupped, 112
opening to show golden stamens. They are held in quite large, closely-packed, rather conical clusters. It flowers very freely and the growth is vigorous, with ample light green foliage. Deliciously fragrant. Height 4.5m / 15ft. A good Rambler worthy of more attention.
Blush Rambler a very striking variety, it owers very freely and is worthy of more attention
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Wichurana Hybrids
Alexandre Girault With some repeat flowering, this is a useful Rambler, providing strength of colour in a class rather lacking in strong shades. The flowers are tinted red in the bud, turning to a deep coppery-carmine on opening, and have numerous slightly quilled petals. There is a green eye and yellow stamens. Growth is vigorous, to 6m / 20ft, with dark, glossy foliage and few thorns. It makes a magnificent and unusual massed colour effect. Parentage Rosa wichurana x the Tea Rose ‘Papa Gontier’. Barbier (France), introduced 1909. RHS/AGM. Alida Lovett Large, double blooms of soft shell-pink, shaded yellow at the base and opening to flat flowers with a good fragrance. The growth is quite vigorous and the foliage is dark, glossy green. Height 3.5m / 12ft. Breeding ‘Souvenir du Président Carnot’ x Rosa wichurana. Van Fleet (USA) 1905.
Facing page, Alexandre Girault produces strong, lax stems and great quantities of strongly coloured flowers. Photographed here at Kew Gardens Alida Lovett is a charming rose worthy of being planted more widely
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Other Rambling Roses
Francis E. Lester is one of the very best Ramblers, very free flowering, with beautiful single flowers that are fragrant and followed by a large crop of hips in the autumn. Photographed here at Wollerton Old Hall
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Francis E. Lester One of the surest and most reliable of Rambler Roses. A seedling from the Hybrid Musk ‘Kathleen’, this rose is thus of rather mixed origin. The flowers are single, delicate blush-pink at the edges, soon becoming almost white and giving something of the impression of apple blossom. They are held nicely spaced in large trusses and have a particularly strong and pleasing fragrance. This rose blooms with exceptional abundance and in autumn there are plentiful small, oval, orange-red hips. The growth is strong and bushy, to about 4.5m / 15ft, and it will, if desired, make a first-class large shrub. The foliage is elegant, a glossy dark green with pointed, widely spaced leaflets, and extremely healthy. Bred by Francis E. Lester, founder of the Californian nursery now known as ‘Roses of Yesterday and Today’, introduced 1946. RHS/AGM.
Other Rambling Roses Kew Rambler A cross between Rosa soulieana and ‘Hiawatha’, this rose might have been included with the Multiflora Hybrids, but R. soulieana has placed a very definite stamp upon it, providing us with quite a different rose. The foliage is an attractive grey-green colour, similar to that of R. soulieana, the growth vigorous, bushy, very thorny and rather stiff. The flowers have a wild rose charm, being single, of soft pink colouring, with a white centre and yellow stamens. They are held in close but not over-packed trusses. The fragrance is strong and typically Multiflora, and there are small, orange-red hips in autumn. It will achieve about 5.5m / 18ft. Raised at Kew, introduced 1912. RHS/AGM.
Kew Rambler has wild rose charm; it flowers very freely, has a delicious fragrance and bears orange hips
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Climbing Species Roses Rosa soulieana A very strong, loose-growing Climber or shrub with long, arching stems, distinctly greyish leaves and hooked yellow thorns. The flowers are pale yellow in the bud, opening white, about 3cm / 1½in across, and freely produced in clusters. There is a very strong clove-like fragrance. Bunches of small, ovoid, orange hips make a good show in autumn. As a Climber it will grow to 3.5–4.5m / 12–15ft. As a shrub it will create a mound of growth 3m / 10ft high and the same across. It is excellent for wild areas, where it can be grown as a shrub or into trees and over bushes. In the British Isles it may be cut back by cold frosts. Collected in West China by Père Soulié, and sent to France, arriving at Kew in 1899. Rosa wichurana A vigorous trailing rose, native to Japan, East China, Korea and Taiwan. Best known as the parent of the Wichurana Ramblers, it is a useful garden plant in its own right. It will make excellent ground cover where space permits, sending out trailing growth of great length which will keep close to the ground or climb into bushes and trees with the help of its hooked thorns. It does not flower until August, when it has attractive pyramid-shaped clusters of small white flowers shading to yellow at the centre. These have a strong fruit-like fragrance. The foliage is a bright, glossy green and almost evergreen. Later we have small, ovoid, dark red hips. It is also a most attractive Climber, growing to 6m / 20ft, its long shoots hanging gracefully from their support.
Rosa wichurana, a useful vigorous plant that makes excellent ground cover Facing page, Rosa soulieana is excellent for wild areas, where it can be grown as a very large shrub or into trees
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Climbing and Rambler Roses are arguably the best of all climbing plants and few plants are more essential for the garden or more versatile. They add colour and interest when scaling the walls of the house, but are also excellent for growing on pillars, obelisks, arches and pergolas. Some of the more robust ramblers can be encouraged to climb up into trees and clamber over hedges, shrubs and garden buildings. Accompanied by beautiful photographs, discover classic and new varieties of Climbing and Rambler Roses and where best to plant them to have real impact in your garden.
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