CLIMBING ROSES – GETTING SPECIFIC

THE 10 BEST ROSES TO CLIMB OVER YOUR GARDEN ARCH …

So, you want to clothe a rose arch with beautiful roses to create a romantic pleasure in your garden … just a few small issues before we start to select the right rose for your location – think about your priorities relative to colour, fragrance, type of rose flower, etc. and then, how big is the arch? To enable you to enjoy many years of joy from this flowering spectacle in your garden, it is imperative that you select the right rose to suit the size of your arch and we recommend the walkway be around 2 metres wide so that two people can walk comfortably abreast and not be ‘caught’ by the roses – small, flimsy arches are totally inadequate for most roses … the rose will be there for more than 20 years and deserves a structure that will support it!

Then you come to deciding on the colour – here are a few of my recommendations in each different colour range …
PALE PINK – ‘NAHEMA’ – Highly, highly fragrant large flowers continually with lots of canes and mid-green healthy foliage
MID-PINK ‘PINKIE’ – One of the most floriferous climbing roses with thornless canes and dense, lush green, healthy foliage
DARK PINK ‘GUY SAVOY’ – My ‘happy, smiling rose’ … large blooms with slashes of white through the dark pink – highly recommended rose!
DARK RED ‘GUINEA’ – Darkest red, fragrant and totally free-flowering rose suitable for climbing over an arch
RED-RED ‘SYMPATHIE’ – Very free flowering and very healthy with medium sized blooms in clusters
CRIMSON ‘DORTMUND’ – The healthiest foliage graces the abundant single blooms and great Autumn hip production
LEMON-WHITE ‘LAMARQUE’ – Lemon centred pure white blooms over a long season – fragrant and glorious mid-green healthy foliage
BLUSH-WHITE ‘SEA FOAM’ – Amazingly prolific rose producing clusters of flat blooms with masses of petals – glossy dark green foliage
PURE WHITE ‘ICEBERG’ – Very prolific blooming throughout the season with mid-green, healthy foliage
MAUVE ‘BLUE MOON’ – Free-flowering, highly fragrant perfect blooms continually
DARK MAUVE ‘RHAPSODY-IN-BLUE’ – Stunning fragrant blooms with yellow stamens – exceedingly healthy and free-flowering
YELLOW ‘GOLD BUNNY’ – The first and last with flowers and flowers throughout the season too! Stunning yellow climbing rose!
GOLD ‘GOLDEN CELEBRATION’ – Luscious large blooms with high fragrance bloom freely throughout the season
GOLD-RED ‘JOSEPH’S COAT’ – Masses of blooms throughout the season – eye-catching magnificence!
ORANGE ‘WESTERLAND’ – Fragrant blooms continually with shiny dark green, very healthy foliage
APRICOT ‘CREPUSCULE’ – Massive clusters of blooms continually throughout the season – lush healthy foliage
APRICOT-PINK ‘ABRAHAM DARBY’ – One of the most beautiful, charming and fragrant climbing roses flowering throughout the season

Above are just some of the many magnificent climbers which are suitable for an arch in your garden.

THE THORNLESS OR NEAR-THORNLESS ROSES SUITABLE FOR PLANTING ON A ROSE ARCH:

CREPUSCULE – Apricot clusters continually
RENAE – Pale pink clusters of highly fragrant blooms continually
PINKIE – Mid-pink clusters continually
ICEBERG – Pure white medium blooms continually
MME. ALFRED CARRIERE – Blush white – first and last to bloom, highly fragrant – suited to planting with clematis
VEILCHENBLAU – Dark purple rambler flowering only in Spring

PILLAR ROSES which are suitable for climbing on fences or walls – these roses reach a certain height and have a fan-like growth habit:

DUBLIN BAY – The most free-flowering pillar rose with glowing red, lightly fragrant blooms continually – extremely healthy!
HIGH HOPES – Mid-pink perfectly shaped blooms continually throughout the season – light fragrance – suitable for the vase
PIERRE DE RONSARD – Heavily petalled cream with pink edged blooms throughout the season
TEASING GEORGIA – Clotted-creamy yellow/apricot blooms in flushes of pure magnificence splayed on a wall!
ALTISSIMO – Bright red, single blooms with yellow stamens – a real ‘in-your-face’ spectacle in the rose garden
TWILIGHT GLOW – Huge pale apricot blooms continually with luscious mid-green very healthy foliage
CYMBELINE – Highly, highly fragrant blooms with swirling mass of grey-pink blooms throughout the season

RAMBLING ROSES – many of which mostly only flower in the Spring with light flowering in the Autumn but deserve a place where space permits because for six weeks you will experience the pure bliss and romance of magnificence which only the rambling roses can deliver:
ALBERTINE – Swirled mass of pinky-apricot blooms in proliferation on a thorny, healthy and rampant rose
MME. GREGOIRE STAECHLIN – Highly fragrant, mid-pink waved petalled blooms of extraordinary beauty – great hips in the Autumn
VEILCHENBLAU – Dark mauve clusters with yellow stamens adorn the rambler so that you can barely see the foliage
WEDDING DAY – Masses of pure-white single blooms in clusters – lush, glossy healthy foliage – thorny
MERMAID – Large, single cream blooms adorn this massive rambling rose spasmodically throughout the season – reverse hooked thorns
NEW DAWN – Pale-pin clusters of medium sized blooms continually throughout the flowering season – thorny beast
NANCY HAYWOOD – Single-petalled, dark-pink blooms reliably continual in good conditions – amazing sight in full bloom
LORRAINE LEE, CLG. – Muddy-pink roses flowering when every other rose is not flowering – tendency to mildew if cloistered!

And, of course, there are more climbing roses for you to consider which might be perfect for the location in your garden where you wish to plant a rose to protect your yard from intruders – use the most thorny! You want to screen the neighbours – use a rose which produces the most lush, healthy foliage! A shade screen for the dog-run … masses of flowers and healthy foliage all season!

To be successful in having the climbing rose do what you require it to do in your rose garden, I recommend you speak with us, Consulting Rosarians who we have the knowledge to ensure that you get exactly the right rose to suit your individual situation!

78 Replies to “CLIMBING ROSES – GETTING SPECIFIC”

  1. Looking for a thornless climbing rose that gets morning sun and then shade for most of the afternoon.
    Against a brick garage wall. Fragrant rose would be good; it’s near the front door.
    What do you recommend please.
    Thanks.

    1. Hi … did you have a particular colour in mind? For fragrance and beauty against a wall with the conditions you’ve mentioned, I would suggest one of the David Austin climbers – GOLDEN CELEBRATION (gold) ABRAHAM DARBY (apricot) CLAIR AUSTIN (white) TESS OF THE d’URBERVILLES (red) or THE WEDGEWOOD ROSE (pink) so take a look at rosesalesonline.com.au and let me send you some roses … of course, if you live close, please call in at the Rose Farm … cheers

  2. I’m looking for a thornless and hopefully fragrant rose that will grow up the side of a deck and verandah. It will facing west and north so will get the full blast of the afternoon heat and wind. Does such a tough rose exist and if so can it be grown in a container.

    1. There are a couple I would definitely recommend for this location – totally thornless: CREPUSCULE (doesn’t have the fragrance) and for fragrance, I would highly recommend NAHEMA (has a few thorns but the most AMAZING FRAGRANCE) – BOTH WILL TOLERATE THE LOCATION. Hope this is helpful … cheers Diana

  3. Dear Diane what a great website full of useful information .. I have a small garden and unfortunately there is little room for roses so I thought something to climb up the 6 foot high fences that surround me would be an ideal way of getting roses into the garden… Unfortunately the fences sit mainly in the shade …some parts good morning sun only (would take 1 rose). Other parts late afternoon sun . ( 1 ROSE). And I would quite like to plant one mostly in the partial shade… Prefer thornless,good perfume, not too much pruning and fuss,rambler ,climber ,pillar whatever suits best. Regards Eliza

    1. Hello Eliza … as long as there is at least 5 hours of sun, the roses will flourish – climbing roses generally FIND the sun and the varieties I recommend you take a look at are: MME. ALFRED CARRIERE, CLB. PINKIE, CREPUSCULE, SEA FOAM, MEG, RED PIERRE, GOLDEN CELEBRATION … to name just a few. Once I get an idea of the type of rose you like, I will be able to open a winter order and post the roses to you then … cheers – Diana

  4. Hi Diana
    I’m looks for a rose that will grow along an old barb wire fence, preferably in a pink or apricot. It doesn’t need to have a perfume and thorns are ok but I want something that will make a big impact visually. Any ideas?
    Kind regards
    Michelle

    1. Hi Michelle … I think either PINKIE or CREPUSCULE would be ideal because they flower continually throughout the season and require very little maintenance – if you want other ideas, please let me know and I can suggest way, way more! Talk soon … Diana

    1. The only form of DOUBLE flower like SPARRIESHOOP is called ROSENDORF SPARRIESHOOP and it is NOT a climbing rose but a magnificent shrub rose – it might climb if pushed up over a small arch. If you want a rose like SPARRIESHOOP the climbing rose but with a few more petals, take a look at BANTRY BAY … awesomely grand climbing rose which I highly recommend! Diana

  5. Hello,
    I live at Curra, 25klms north of Gympie Qld. We seem to be having quite dry and humid seasons this year but, my other roses are doing just fine.
    I’m needing some help in selecting a climbing rose for an arbour. I’m after a full cupped pink and a soft white to intertwine. We’re making a memorial garden for both our parents and are going to put the arbour as the entry into the memorial garden. I guess a rose with quite long canes and perfumed. I love Pierre De Ronsard, would it be ok in this situation? Would it grow tall enough. I so love look of the David Austins and, am hoping to grow something along those lines.
    I appreciate any assistance you can give me.
    Thank you,
    Kerri

    1. Hi Kerri … could you please email me: info@rosesalesonline.com.au the height/width of the arbour before I suggest varieties you might like to select .. meantime, take a look at the following varieties:

      LAMARQUE, CLAIRE AUSTIN (whites)
      ABRAHAM DARBY, A SHROPSHIRE LAD, NAHEMA, THE WEDGEWOOD ROSE, DUCHESSE DE BRABANT, CLB. (pinks)

      and we’ll find the most suitable varieties for you … talk soon – Diana

    1. Suggest this rose is probably not available by that name in Australia … if you tell me why you particularly want that rose, I might be able to suggest an alternative substitute. Cheers – Diana

  6. Hi Diana,would Golden Celebration do well in Brisbane?I am mainly concerned with black spot.I can be a bit haphazard with my spraying program.The rose that seems to tolerate a lot here is Molineaux,but I was lusting after GC as well.How would it tolerate a 500mm pot?Kind Regards Jane

    1. Hi Jane … sent lots up there and never had a complaint – guessing the flowers won’t last as long as they do in our cooler weather but being so prolific, you would hardly notice – stunning rose, awesome fragrance and very healthy foliage … hope this is helpful … Diana

  7. Hi Diana. We would like to cover a wire fence – quite a large area – with a climbing rose. We have purple and orange colours in our garden in other flowers. We lie in northern Victoria and get frosts. The area to be planted in totally open to sun and wind. What rose and colour would you suggest please?
    Regards, Jenny

  8. Hi, I live in North East Victoria, we have cold winters and hot summers. I’m looking for a climbing rose to grow up and along a fence that forms part of a cat enclosure. The plant needs to be non toxic to cats, thick dense summer foliage for shade and sparse vines/branches during winter. I would prefer something with thorns to keep predators away and stop the cats climbing it. Can you offer any suggestions? Many thanks.

    1. gosh … what a magnificent situation to plant climbing roses !!! I don’t think ANY ROSE IS TOXIC … not to cats or any other animal! Or human!! Quite the opposite in fact as both humans and animals love roses!

      If you give me a selection of colours you would like to work with, I can suggest varieties … let’s talk soon … Diana

  9. Hi Dianne,

    Love reading all your advice. I have a small backyard & would like to plant 3 David Austin variety roses next to my Hardenbergia Happy Wanderer. This plant produces purple flowers. I would like to include the ‘Additive Lure’ as one of the 3 colours.
    Looking forward to hearing from you.

    1. Hello Anne … if you want climbers for wandering through the existing climbing Happy Wanderer, take a look at BLOSSOMTIME, NAHEMA, ABRAHAM DARBY … if you want bushes at the base of the existing climber, yes, ADDICTIVE LURE, HERITAGE and perhaps a beauty like LINKED HEARTS might be lovely … hope this makes sense and gives you an idea of what to plant … cheers – DIANA

  10. Hello, I live in Brisbane and am looking for several roses to climb the bamboo lattice covering my garden shed in full sun I really would like highly fragrant roses as it is next to my patio area. Any colour but orange is okay. What would you recommend?

    1. perhaps you could email me directly with a pic of the area and dimensions – very, very important! Great to know the roses will be in full sun so I’m thinking perhaps a mix of varieties might work ??? Would be entirely up to you and if they’re to be the same variety, should they be dark colours or blending pale pinks ??? A bit more information from you would make it easy for me to select the absolutely BEST varieties of roses which will give you years of pleasure on that wall .. a few varieties which spring to mind just to give you something to check out … NAHEMA, CLAIRE AUSTIN, RENAE, GERTRUDE JEKKYL … oh, so many to choose from … talk soon – Diana

  11. I live in Melbourne Australia. I would appreciate advice on the right climbing rose to plant from a pot on a concrete onto a west facing wall that gets very hot on summer. The reasons are:
    1. To keep the west wall cooler in summer, hence the thicker n the longer the foliage the better;
    2. For security to protect the kitchen window on the west wall, which was broken in b4, hence the thornier the better; and
    3. As I will away for weeks on end, I need a wicking self watering kind of pot.

    Please advice on the right rose n pot and and where to get them and any relevant advice would be appreciated.

    1. Hi James … I’m just up the Hume Freeway at CLONBINANE 60ks north of the CBD … why can’t you plant the rose directly into soil? Can you break away a bit of concrete? If you’re away a lot, I won’t sell you a rose for this location because it won’t survive in a pot without daily maintenance!!! No matter what ‘wicking system’ you employ, I can tell you for 100%, the rose won’t be happy!

      If you were able to get just a small piece of the concrete up, we could settle a pot there which has the bottom cut out – it would still need regular maintenance in establishment but over the long term, it would be very happy.

      The rose I recommend for this location: DUBLIN BAY or WESTERLAND or NEW DAWN or ABRAHAM DARBY … there are lots of others too … cheers – Diana

  12. Hi Diana,

    I’m looking at planting some rose tree at the back of my house, however I cannot decide which one is more suitable to what I want, weeping or standard. I want one that is very bushy on top and can be easily shaped into a round ball. Could you give me some advice?

    I already have a standard rose tree at the front of my house, however it has grown very wide with a lot of branches, but its leaves are not luscious enough to shape it round.

    Should I get weeping or standard? If I get the weeping rose tree and keep trimming/pruning it, would it stay round and short like a standard rose tree but bushier? And since I’m not after the weeping effect anyway, would I still need ring support or just stakes will do?

    Thanks in advance!

    1. Prune the ROSE TREE at the front of your house so that it grows as wide as you want it to. Some of the weeping rose varieties which are available at nurseries will only require a stake … most will need a ring and pole support kit so that you enjoy the majestic beauty of a true weeping rose … up to you what height you decide on … standards are available at 60cm 90cm 120cm and upwards into weeping varieties … cheers … Diana

  13. Hi Diane,
    Iam from north Brisbane..
    Iam looking for two different types of roses..
    1) to cover a 6 m long white picket fence in front of the house..( is only 1 metre high but will need to spread over the 6 m)
    Something in pink.. lots of flowering, thornless, with fragrance preferred.. will get morning sun.
    2) to climb really high onto a retaining wall at the back of the house..
    The main issue is it is quite shady there.. I can send you pics on email..
    Thorns should be fine.. as long as there are large repeat blooms and is strong enough to climb high.. would you be able to suggest something in apricot/pale pink please?

    1. For the picket fence, I would highly recommend at least two plants of RENAE … it’s superb and will definitely cover the fence with masses of flowers and huge fragrance.

      The shade is a serious factor in the back garden! Any sun at all??? If so, how long and will the plant get sun once it is high up the wall? Yes, you can send email to me: info@rosesalesonline.com.au … Diana

  14. Hi Diana,
    I have a north facing wall with a patterned concrete floor ( 5 m wide x 8 m). There is an embankment on one side that unfortunately does not get a lot of sun. I am nevertheless attempting to grow wisterias. However, the other side of this passage is the house and is north facing and gets 6+ hours per day. II love climbing roses, especially light pink, or whitish pink and very fragrant. I know you shouldn’t grow roses in pots and I could potentially hire a concrete cutter BUT, the soil underneath is revolting thick orange then rock hard white clay. Is there any climbing rose of that will grow in a pot. What size pot? Wide or high. I promise I’d water it everyday. It would look so pretty. Am I flogging a dead horse? I would be really appreciative of your advice.

    Thank you
    Diana

    I really want to do something pretty with this space.

    1. Of course you can grow magnificent climbers in tubs … be sure to get lovely BIG pots … concrete is good and not as porous as terracotta! We use and recommend the ‘self watering’ Artesian pots and the rose I would recommend which I think suits all your requirements is NAHEMA … magnificent rose perfectly suited to the situation. If you need more cultural advice, email me … cheers … Diana

      1. Thank you Diana. We will try to make the drive up next weekend to your shop – or we will buy online. Kind regards, Di

  15. Hello! Thank you for your site! I would love to know which rose would be best for:
    *rendered shed wall 2.7m high
    *full sun from 11am
    * mauve/purple
    *pillar style
    *Newcastle NSW
    Thank you!!

    1. Thank you for your enquiry. I suggest that RHAPSODY IN BLUE would be perfect for that location … yes, darker than CL. BLUE MOON but I fear the colour might be right, flower shape lovely but it could get too many canes and require a bit more work. They’ll both do the job beautifully! If you decide on CLB. BLUE MOON may I suggest you position wires so that you can espalier the canes – easy and really lovely!

      Hope this is helpful … best wishes … Diana

    1. YES, as long as you have checked there is more than 5 hours of DIRECT SUNLIGHT … I don’t like to see roses struggle for lack of sun and go reaching tall and leggy with very few flowers – know that the sun isn’t high right now so try and estimate how much sun will be on that south fence during spring/summer and autumn when the roses are flowering … best wishes … Diana

  16. Hi, what a fantastic opportunity you are giving to all of us. Just wanting to ask if climbing rose be OK left in a pot? I have been trying to upkeep a specialists little garden at a hospital. I have used a few broms n succulents to fill in areas n know that they will survive. I know my specialist’s favourite flower is the rose n has her own fragent rose garden. So thought it I was able to leave it in a pot that she may be able to take it when she retires.

    1. As long as there is good sunlight and somebody will take care to water the pot consistently, yes, of course you can grow any rose you wish – if you want recommendation of a climbing rose with incredible fragrance, take a look at NAHEMA in the online store http://www.rosesalesonline.com.au

      Hope you proceed with the project as it will give lots of people pleasure I’m sure. Cheers … Diana

  17. hi,

    i have a large pergola structure – about 3 x 8m – and looking for climbing rose thats thornless or nearly thornless that will be relatively low maintenance. the site is in brisbane and will have full sun.

    can you please advise which cultivar you would recommend?

    cheer,

    john

    1. Hello John … I guess your limitation is THORNLESS climbing rose – do you have a colour preference? Should there be fragrance perhaps? With a little more information from you, I’ll suggest some varieties which will work – meantime, take a look at NAHEMA or GOLDEN CELEBRATION (some thorns but not ‘ugly’) or PINKIE or RENAE or you might like CLB. ICEBERG … I do not recommend ZEPHERINE DROUHIN in your climate – you will very disappointed as she is a mildew magnet.

      Hope this is helpful … cheers – Diana

  18. Hi, will a rose grow at the South side of a 2 m high paling fence? The paling has 2cm spaces between them.
    I am living in the Yarra Valley.
    Thanks.

  19. Hello,
    I am so excited about the prospect of having roses in my garden, but as it will be a very visual feature I’m worried about choosing the wrong one, so your advice is completely welcome! We need a climber for a 2.6 meter high x 3.4 meter long steel structure that we will build over our French doors to the patio. I have young children so want a thornless variety, but I love double petal varieties, like Pierre ronsard I think? If they are what I think they are, then those colours are good – pale pink, or even white. Look forward to hearing from you.
    K

    1. Don’t be too concerned about thorns and kids … they get used to them and respect roses – most kids will tell you they love roses!!! Anyway, you might consider NAHEMA because it has fewer thorns that other varieties … cheers

  20. Hello,

    I am building a garden arbour around 2.2 m high and 2.8m wide. It will have full sun and wind and I am looking at climbing thornless roses to cover the arbour. I was thinking of using Crepuscule and Renae or Nahema – wanting lots of perfume, soft pink/apricot colours and long flowering seasons.

    The arbour is being built on top of a pre-existing area with the base being concrete so I plan to put planter boxes either side to house the roses – will the roses tolerate the planter boxes and thrive to train over the arbour? Any advice or guidance here?

    Many thanks,

    Sara

    1. You can most definitely plant the climbing roses into troughs as planned but remember that it will limit the height/size dimensions of the roses you plant simply because they won’t be able to spread out their roots and grow to max potential … you might have to OVER PLANT in order to cover the arbour … are you sure there is no way you can break concrete to expose soil ??? That way, you would only need a couple of climbing roses and they would gallop over the space beautifully … put CREPUSCULE to cover the arch and NAHEMA to adorn the sides and be able to pick bunches of blooms from it too! Cheers

  21. Hi Diana
    I live in Brisbane. Could you help me choose for 3 climbing roses for my backyard. I love the Nahema Rose if it suits and I would like 2 others to compliment it. It would be great but not essential if all the roses could be suitable for flower arrangements.
    1) Climbing around a post and onto our back stairs. This area faces west and is very hot and sunny.
    2) Climbing rose for the eastern side of underneath the deck. It will have morning sun only.
    3) Climbing rose for up a brick wall also on the western side of the house. This spot is protected by a fence and the house so is shaded most of the time. It would receive the 5 hours of sun during the middle of the day.
    Thanks heaps

    1. Hello … I think NAHEMA would be lovely and possibly best in location ‘2’ … for the hot spot, location ‘1’ I would highly recommend DUBLIN BAY if red is ok and it would tie to the post well and always be in flower with gorgeous blooms for a vase! In location ‘3’ I think BANTRY BAY would do well with the reduced hours of sun … is it really densely shaded or perhaps filtered light? I try and stay away from planting roses in dense shade but because of the extremely healthy foliage and prolific nature of BANTRY BAY, it would be one that just might give you pleasure … trusses of blooms for vases rather than single stems. Hope this information is helpful. Cheers … Diana

  22. Hi Diana,
    We live in the mid blue mountains and have an east facing wall with an exposed wooden framework (previously roofed, but now all weather). I am considering a climbing rose with no thorns in any colour – other than white. However, my big dilemma is the winter foliage. I would dearly like a rose that loses most of its leaves during the winter so that our rooms would get the winter sun. Is there such a rose? Your advice is greatly appreciated in advance.
    Thanks,
    Rita

  23. Hi Diana

    I live in Maleny Queensland.

    Would the Crepuscule Climbing rose be suitable to grow in our subtropical climate?

    I have problems with black spot and powdery mildew on some of my roses which is why I am asking about this particular rose.

    Many thanks

  24. Hi Diana

    I’m in Brisbane and I’m Looking for roses that do exceptionally well in pots. I’m new to gardening and have very little experience with roses however they’re one of my favourite flowers 🙂 I’m mindful that extra attention and care will be needed if planting in pots. I will transfer to a garden once it is prepared. Many thanks for your help, Shenaaz.

    1. I responded to Shenaaz through email – suggested she wait until she had a garden to plant roses in or she would be transferring very LARGE roses and need HUGE planting holes – fresh is best applies to roses too! Buy them when they’re ready to go straight in the ground! Diana

  25. Hello Dianne

    I have three Fragrant Cloud Climbing Roses on the north. Situated against my house which I will be training them to climb up the wall and around the windows. I am very concerned they may not survive, as I have just transplanted them from the south of my property, with sandy loam soil and they are very very thorny and stick out. I have caught myself a few times as the area is quite narrow.

    I’m thinking about replacing them with my Pierre De Ronsard Climbing Roses which are on the east side do you think it would be a better option and grow the fragrant cloud over my garden shed.

    Regards

    Victoria

    1. I don’t know of there being CLIMBING FRAGRANT CLOUD ??? I wonder whether in fact you really do have CLIMBING FC ??? If you don’t like a particular rose then I suggest that you get rid of it rather than replant in another location … it doesn’t sound like your favourite rose with lots of thorns and very rampant wild growth. I think this might be understock of some description perhaps! Bin it!!!

      PIERRE DE RONSARD will do well on the north facing wall … enjoy the shifting! Cheers … Diana

  26. Hello Diana, I would like to grow a climbing rose up and across a wall that is brick on the ground floor and panelling on first. The ground floor is the garage entrance (single vehicle) so the roses would need to climb up for a couple of meters (no wider than 1 m) before bring trained to traverse the wall. Ideally it would continue up around a large window on the first floor. The wall is north facing and exposed to scorching heat in summer and to frequently strong windy conditions (Dandenong). The rose will be beautifying a concrete alley way landscape so a strong colour would be good. I do love those tangerine/peach coloured roses. Definitely fragant flowers as I’d like the fragrance to waft in the window on a calm day. Sounds like a lot for one rose!

    1. Sorry for late reply – since you love tangerine/peach, take a look at ALI BABA which will definitely do EVERYTHING except strong fragrance! For extreme fragrance to do what you wish, I would highly recommend MME ALFRED CARRIERE .. but it’s creamy white. NAHEMA might work but I’m not sure … that’s quite a distance over a double storey wall! If red was ok, I would recommend SYMPATHIE and know it will do the job really well … over to you – Diana

  27. I’m undecided concerning the attachment and training of climbing roses on a rendered wall. My thought is to use long screws in plugs then sealed etc and attach as the rose grows. I’m planting two Red Pierre de Ronsard either side of a garage door and two Mr Lincoln either side of a decked area. I’ve seen some climbing roses with the leader growing vertically and side shoots trained horizontally. the horizontal shoots are pruned heavily each year. The rose cover seems contained this way. I have also seen climbing roses on a trellis (don’t want mine seen, particularly in winter) and the leader trained sideways winding back and forth across the trellis. This probably creates wider coverage. I would appreciate any experience you can pass on. Thank you.

    1. Hi Pamela … this is such a topical query … I don’t mean to be glib by saying that with climbing roses, you can pretty much make them do WHAT YOU WANT THEM TO DO … grow in a fashion which suits YOUR landscape or structures! You could have some espalier and the others quite randomly attached to support mechanism – trellis, poles, arches, obelisks, etc. and I nominate to NOT supply certain climbers because my experience with them is they were just plain difficult in an ordinary situation and they WOULD NOT LET ME BE THE BOSS! I hope you find this reply useful … best wishes and happy gardening – Diana

  28. Hello there,

    I would like to grow a climbing rose with verdant foliage in megan outside dorrigo. We are in a warm temperate climate with frosts. 

    We have a brick studio with which is our location. It will receive morning sun but is then largely in shade.

    Could you recommend a suitable/suitable varieties please?

    Thank you,

    Clare

  29. Hi Diana,
    What a wealth of information on here! I have learnt so much just by reading these comments!

    I have 6 x 6ft weeping claire Austin’s that I planted into the ground in July from bare rooted. They are flourishing and have lots of buds on them now – do I need a rose ring for them, and how do I put them on now there is a full head of foliage ans buds? Also, do I need to train them to ‘weep’?

    1. Hello Greg .. most definitely – you’ll see gardens all around you now with standard roses in their front gardens facing west so they get more than six hours of direct sun every day … cheers – Diana

  30. Hi Dianne I have lattice attached to corrugated iron wall in north facing position. would like to grow a thornless fragrant rose on it. any suggestions please. I am in Lake Macquarie.
    Thank you

  31. Hi loved reading all the questions & think I’ve probably got my answer from your responses – Renae. I have a pergola frame approx 3x3m above concrete, north facing, no protection and would like to grow a perfumed climbing rose (or would rambling be better), preferably coloured – loved red but open to other colours. Only have access to garden on one corner, but could put planter boxes on two other corners, so could possibly grow different roses. I lived in Werribee. Looking forward to your suggestions. Regards Fiona

  32. Hi Diana,

    You are amazing and I have gone through most of your posts and comments. I am new to gardening and learning a lot from you. I would like to know 2 thingsn from you:

    1) I want to plant NAHEMA in my backyard along a wall to help it cover the fence wall. Do I need a lattice to help train her climb the fence wall?

    2) I want to grow a rose hedge/ rose bush at the front. Which varieties will be most suitable for that?

    I am in Melbourne and do you think this is the best time to start the rose bush?

    Thank!
    Tanya

    1. Hi Tanya … NAHEMA is a grand climbing rose – a little bit of effort attaching it to trellis would be lovely – I grow it as a hedge because I use the cut flowers for vases … it’s a rose which you can ‘do what you like with’ … great rose! Hedge of roses … oh, KNOCKOUT are magnificent, LA SEVILLANA … lots and lots of others if you give more specific dimensions of how you want to see the finished hedge … cheers

  33. Hi there, here’s a challenge!!

    I have an east-facing apartment balcony in Sydney. It can get very windy, it’s near major arterial roads (so quite a lot of soot) and only gets morning sun up to about 12pm. I know – not ideal for your average rose!!

    Any rose recommendations? I prefer the “traditional” rose shape (i.e. Dark Desire) rather than the David Austin style which always look a bit like a cabbage to me!! 🙂 Visual appeal is the most important thing – scent would be nice but not essential. Happy to consider a climber as well.

    If this isn’t an impossible request – very happy to hear your thoughts! thanks, David

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