If a rose has long, strong, flexible canes that arch or spread, you can bet it’s a member of the climbing rose class. These beauties are divided into three major subclasses: climbers, ramblers and pillar roses – and all look wonderful in the garden if given the right space and structure to grow on.
Climbing roses are adaptable and quickly become the feature of vertical space in a rose garden. Train them onto pillars, columns, arbors or trellises, or plant them near rustic fences and fieldstone walls, where they’ll mound, spill over and cascade around a structure.
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Arbors draped with climbing roses draw the eye up from planting beds and surround garden visitors with flowers.
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Climbing roses are as heavy as they are beautiful, so make sure their supporting structures are made of sturdy materials and attached to firm foundations.
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
The climbers are long-caned sports (natural genetic mutations) of bush roses and some naturally lanky hybrids with no bush counterparts. Most are repeat bloomers. The ramblers are vigorous, hardy, non-remontant (annual) bloomers, producing showy displays on their second-year wood. Pillar roses are upright, shrub-like, recurring varieties with supple canes that need careful training to climb, but they’ll mound on pillars and posts with colorful blossoms and attractive foliage.
Unlike most vines (like grapevine, honeysuckle or wisteria), climbing roses lack the holdfasts and tendrils to climb on their own. To reach great heights, these roses need to be tied securely to sturdy upright supports. Training should begin early. In fact, soon after planting, the young roses will send out tender, flexible canes distinguished by their girth. Note these, and wind them onto a trellis or guide them up columns. As they lengthen and become more woody, they’ll support their own weight. Keep ties in place to avoid displacement from winds or sagging from excess weight. As they reach the top of the support, arch them to encourage laterals to sprout.
Consider filling a fan trellis with rose blooms by allowing climber canes to develop at a variety of lengths. Bend the longest canes across the center of the trellis, securing them at the opposite outside top. Weave successively shorter canes to alternate sides of the trellis, working downward toward the plant until the entire trellis is filled.
Or train climbing roses along fences by growing their canes to the desired length – typically about 10 feet tall. Fan them out in an arch along the fence, starting with the lowest canes and the bottom rails of the fence, then spacing each successive cane 18-24 inches above it. Spread alternating canes to the left and right. When all the canes are positioned correctly, secure them in place with plant tape or ties. After the canes adjust to their new position in a few weeks, bring the center of each cane down until it runs parallel to the fence.
Training pillar roses onto columns is also easy. Pillar roses naturally grow in a upright habit. Just secure them with tape or ties to the column or lattice frame.
Climbing roses create outstanding floral displays at heights above the usual waist-level garden or home landscape, creating ceilings and walls for your outdoor garden rooms. Using vertical rather than horizontal space, they bring their blooms to eye level and maintain a small garden footprint. When combined with structural features like gates, arbors, pergolas and gazebos, they become a focal point and destination that attracts attention and draws viewers to explore garden pathways. Climbers are also natural partners for trellis supports attached to structures or as freestanding screens.
For a little more guidance on training climbing roses to structures, grab some protective gloves, plant tape (or twist ties) and a pair of garden scissors – then take the easy steps shown in the following pictures and described in their captions.
Given the right spot and some good training, these wonderful eye-level roses will add all kinds of beauty and blooms to your yard for years to come!
Training Climbing Roses
Training Climbing Roses - Step 1
Since roses lack the holdfasts and tendrils of other vines, they’ve got to be supported in order to cling to vertical surfaces. Start by arching the cane, putting it under tension and bringing its end lower than its middle. Dormant buds along the cane will sprout, bearing blooms.
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Training Climbing Roses - Step 2
Securely tie the cane’s end and center to sturdy vertical supports using plant tape.
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Training Climbing Roses - Step 3
Ladder additional canes along the vertical support, tying them into place once they’re tensioned.
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Training Climbing Roses - Step 4
In just 1-2 weeks, the canes will adjust to their new position. Add ties along the length of each cane to secure them to the support.
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
