Hardiness of Climbing Blossomtime Roses

Characteristics

• Blossomtime comes by its hardiness honestly. One of its parents, the large-flowered climber New Dawn, hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9, is part of the World Federation of Rose Society's Hall of Fame. Parent and offspring share the same pink color, but Blossomtime is darker on the reverse side of the petals. The shrub can grow as tall as 15 feet and blooms at intervals throughout the growing season. It is vigorous and fragrant. Perhaps the best testament to its hardiness is the fact that it is till sold and grown more than 60 years after its introduction.

Culture

• Roses thrive best and show the most hardiness when they receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Though Blossomtime is quite cold-hardy, it can still benefit from a protected site, if one is available. Climbing roses do not have tendrils with which to cling onto support structures, so they must be trained and tied. Canes should be positioned horizontally if possible, as this stimulates the production of flowering shoots. Pruning should be done right after flowering to stimulate further flower production.

Uses

• Hardiness and vigor make Blossomtime a good choice for arches, pergolas or even growing up a wall. The plants can also be pruned and trained on pillars or freestanding columns. If vertical gardening is not a possibility, it can also be grown as a large shrub. If growing the rose as a shrub, make sure to leave enough room for it to spread. Since it does not bloom continuously, plant the rose in the company of climbers like clematis (Clematis ssp.) that will flower during Blossomtimes's resting periods.

Considerations

• Hardy climbing roses require good air circulation, so prune out dead, weak and crossed branches in spring and fall. Blossomtime has a reputation for being relatively disease resistant, but avoiding overhead watering in favor of drip irrigation will help prevent the spread of hard to control fungal diseases like blackspot. Make sure that support structures are sturdy enough to support the mature plants.