Rambling Rose Varieties

Ramblers and Climbers

• Rambling roses were the precursors to modern climbing roses. Both types are fast-growing vigorous plants, sending long canes that cover arbors and trellises, scramble up trees, and climb over buildings. Ramblers have a profusion of blooms only once a year -- in late spring or early summer -- while climbers are usually repeat bloomers. Ohio State University Extension lists three groups of ramblers, categorized by growth patterns and common ancestors. Different flower colors and forms appear in each group.

Group One

• Rosa wichuraiana is the common ancestor for roses in this group. They were commonly called “memorial roses” because they were often planted in cemeteries where many are still found today. New cane growth arises from the base of the plant. In 1901, Jackson & Perkins nursery introduced “Dorothy Perkins,” a light-pink rambling rose, which remains one of the favorite roses in the world. “American Pillar” has bright-pink flowers with white eyes, and “Excelsa” has medium-red flowers.

Group Two

• New growth on Group 2 ramblers is produced halfway up old canes instead of at ground level like Group 1. Varieties in this group include “Veilchenblau,” which has purple flowers with white eyes, “Paul’s Scarlet Climber,” a red rambler, and pink “New Dawn,” holder of the first plant patent. “Albertine” has lacy double-pink flowers that are tinged in apricot. Another rambler with double flowers is “Alberic Barbier.” This rose goes through a progression of color, with apricot or yellow buds opening to creamy white and fading to pure white.

Group Three

• Roses in this group are extremely vigorous and often grow 20 feet in a single season. They can be grown as groundcovers or trained up trees. “Wedding Day” ramblers have fragrant creamy-white flowers with yellow stamens that open from apricot-colored buds. “Francis E. Lester” is a fragrant two-toned rambler with white flowers that are edged in pink. White-flowering “Kiftsgate” and pale-pink flowering “Paul’s Himalayan Musk” are very common in English rose gardens since England is their country of origin.