A red rambling rose. Photo by Amanda Jarrett
Climbers vs Ramblers - Climbing Modern - Kordesii - Large Flowered Climbers - Hybrid Wichuraiana Climbers - Pruning
CLIMBERS VS RAMBLERS
A vigorous climbing rose in Bathurst Mews, London England.
Not all roses grow as shrubs, some have elongated flexible stems. They are sorted into climbers or ramblers depending on a few factors. Climbing roses bear long pliable stems with 7 leaflet leaves. They flower more than once, unlike ramblers that flower only once, but when they do it they put on quite the show. And they tend to be quite fragrant and bear foliage with 5 leaflets not 7, like climbing roses.
Many, but not all climbing roses, flower more than once per year. Their stems are stiffer than ramblers and they have 5 leaflets, not 7. There are many types of climbing roses: Climbing Modern roses (hybrid tea, floribundas), Kordessi climbers, Large-flowered Climbers, and Hybrid Wichuraiana Climbers.
Climbing roses and ramblers are not vines; they have no tendrils nor suction cups to help them cling. However, they do have extremely long, pliable canes that need to be tied to a support.
Many, but not all climbing roses, flower more than once per year. Their stems are stiffer than ramblers and they have 5 leaflets, not 7. There are many types of climbing roses: Climbing Modern roses (hybrid tea, floribundas), Kordessi climbers, Large-flowered Climbers, and Hybrid Wichuraiana Climbers.
Climbing roses and ramblers are not vines; they have no tendrils nor suction cups to help them cling. However, they do have extremely long, pliable canes that need to be tied to a support.
Climbing Roses
The climbing floribunda rose, Danse des Sylphes.
Climbing Modern Roses
USDA zones 6 to 10. When hybrid tea and other Modern Roses send out mutant, overly long, flexible canes, breeders propagate these 'sports' to create climbing versions. Popular climbing hybrid teas are 'Casino', 'New Dawn', 'Don Juan’ and floribundas include 'Iceberg', 'Allgold', 'Paul's Scarlet' and 'Handel'.
Ex: Rosa 'Don Juan' is a romantic dark red velvet hybrid tea rose with a rich fragrance. Long canes with large thorns reach 10 feet. Susceptible to blackspot.
Kordesii Climbers
USDA Zone 3. These hardy climbers are a cross between Wichuraiana and Rugosa roses. Subsequent hybridization has produced repeat blooming roses in large clusters with canes up to 15 feet. Blossoms may have a slight scent and bear colourful rose hips. They are extremely robust and disease resistant. Ex: Rosa 'Dortmund': USDA zone 4 to 9. Flowers are cherry red 4 inch blossoms with 5 to 8 petals, with a white central eye surrounded by many yellow stamens. They are held in large clusters and often have a repeat bloom with little or no scent. Blossoms are followed by large orange rose hips. Plants grow to 12 feet by 6 feet wide and maybe grown as a shrub. They are shade tolerant and disease resistant.
USDA zones 6 to 10. When hybrid tea and other Modern Roses send out mutant, overly long, flexible canes, breeders propagate these 'sports' to create climbing versions. Popular climbing hybrid teas are 'Casino', 'New Dawn', 'Don Juan’ and floribundas include 'Iceberg', 'Allgold', 'Paul's Scarlet' and 'Handel'.
Ex: Rosa 'Don Juan' is a romantic dark red velvet hybrid tea rose with a rich fragrance. Long canes with large thorns reach 10 feet. Susceptible to blackspot.
Kordesii Climbers
USDA Zone 3. These hardy climbers are a cross between Wichuraiana and Rugosa roses. Subsequent hybridization has produced repeat blooming roses in large clusters with canes up to 15 feet. Blossoms may have a slight scent and bear colourful rose hips. They are extremely robust and disease resistant. Ex: Rosa 'Dortmund': USDA zone 4 to 9. Flowers are cherry red 4 inch blossoms with 5 to 8 petals, with a white central eye surrounded by many yellow stamens. They are held in large clusters and often have a repeat bloom with little or no scent. Blossoms are followed by large orange rose hips. Plants grow to 12 feet by 6 feet wide and maybe grown as a shrub. They are shade tolerant and disease resistant.
Large flowered climber Altissimo rose.
Large Flowered Climbers
Medium to large sized blossoms in small clusters that may or may not have a repeat bloom. This category includes climbing roses that don't belong anywhere else. Some are repeat bloomers, but not all. Ex: Rosa 'Altissimo': USDA zone zones 4 to 9. Flowers are crimson red with 7 petals on 5 inch blossoms with many yellow stamens and yield a slight scent. It is a repeat bloomer and a vigorous climber growing to 14 feet. Shade tolerant and disease resistant.
Hybrid Wichuraiana Climbers
USDA zone 5 to 9. Long, slender pliable stems up to 20 feet allow this vigorous rose to sprawl, ramble and climb. Canes bear numerous blossoms up to 4 inches. Some of the hybrids are repeat bloomers. Flowers are pale pink, white or yellow. Some bear colourful rosehips. Most are very disease resistant and hardy. Ex: Rosa 'May Queen' has pretty pink, 3 to 4 inch double blossoms with a fresh scent of green apples. Flowers midseason with no repeat. Grows to 15 feet, is hardy and disease free.
Medium to large sized blossoms in small clusters that may or may not have a repeat bloom. This category includes climbing roses that don't belong anywhere else. Some are repeat bloomers, but not all. Ex: Rosa 'Altissimo': USDA zone zones 4 to 9. Flowers are crimson red with 7 petals on 5 inch blossoms with many yellow stamens and yield a slight scent. It is a repeat bloomer and a vigorous climber growing to 14 feet. Shade tolerant and disease resistant.
Hybrid Wichuraiana Climbers
USDA zone 5 to 9. Long, slender pliable stems up to 20 feet allow this vigorous rose to sprawl, ramble and climb. Canes bear numerous blossoms up to 4 inches. Some of the hybrids are repeat bloomers. Flowers are pale pink, white or yellow. Some bear colourful rosehips. Most are very disease resistant and hardy. Ex: Rosa 'May Queen' has pretty pink, 3 to 4 inch double blossoms with a fresh scent of green apples. Flowers midseason with no repeat. Grows to 15 feet, is hardy and disease free.
Pruning Climbing & Rambling Roses
Don Juan, a hybrid tea climber.
The Difference between Climbing Roses and Ramblers
Although both climbing roses and ramblers both climb with their overly long canes, their flowering differs. Rambler roses only flower once per year while climbing roses generally have repeat flowerings.
Training Climbing and Rambling Roses
Although both of these rose types have long flowering canes, they do remarkably well when trained horizontally. Tie canes along a fence or onto another support as this stimulates flowers to form. Wait a couple of years before pruning newly planted climbers and ramblers. Allow them to form a framework first.
When trained upright, tie the stems to their support as they grow. Space the major canes to promote air circulation, optimize the sun and to show off the flowers.
Although both climbing roses and ramblers both climb with their overly long canes, their flowering differs. Rambler roses only flower once per year while climbing roses generally have repeat flowerings.
Training Climbing and Rambling Roses
Although both of these rose types have long flowering canes, they do remarkably well when trained horizontally. Tie canes along a fence or onto another support as this stimulates flowers to form. Wait a couple of years before pruning newly planted climbers and ramblers. Allow them to form a framework first.
When trained upright, tie the stems to their support as they grow. Space the major canes to promote air circulation, optimize the sun and to show off the flowers.
Pruning climbing and rambling roses
Pruning Climbing Roses
Pruning Ramblers
- For climbers that flower only once per year, prune just after flowering.
- For repeat bloomers prune in early spring, after flowering and a wee bit in fall.
- Remove dead, diseased, crossing, spindly, rubbing and non-productive canes.
- Cut back all side shoots by 1/3rd just above an outward facing node but keep the main branches.
- For all types of climbers, cut back each lateral stem, whether it has flowered or not, to 3 to 6 inches just above an outward facing bud or leaf.
- In autumn, remove dead, diseased, old non-flowering canes and spindly ones to ground level
- Secure remaining canes to their support to prevent winter winds dislodging the plant from the soil.
- Remove suckers on grafted varieties asap.
Pruning Ramblers
- Ramblers blossom once a year so prune right after flowering.
- Keep the main branches but cut back all the side shoots to 6 inches, just above an outward facing bud. Or remove entire stems to 8 inches off the ground once they have finished flowering.
- Remove suckers from grafted varieties as soon as they form. In autumn, prune off old, dead, diseased canes and ones that grow towards the centre of the plant at their base and secure remaining canes to the support.
- Since ramblers flower on second year’s wood, don’t cut back all the stems every year as this removes any future blossoms.
- To rejuvenate old plants, cut all the canes to the ground in late summer.
- As new stems emerge, keep only the strong ones and cut them back by 1/3rd and secure them to a support.
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