Climbing English Roses

Some English shrub roses can be encouraged to climb.

English Roses, those roses created by David Austin, aren't traditionally climbing roses, but shrub roses. However, there are some English roses with vigorous growing habits and they can be encouraged to grow as small climbing roses.

Constance Spry: The First English Rose

Constance Spry was David Austin's first hybrid, created in 1961. This rose offers the beauty of a cup-shaped, light pink flower, as well as good height, reaching 12 feet in the right locations. Constance Spry is a David Austin favorite.

English Roses With Good Height

Gardeners who love English roses, may want to plant a few varieties that will send out long canes to encourage to grow as climbers. The medium pink Gertrude Jeykyll, the yellow Graham Thomas, and the deep red Tess of the d'Urbervilles all send out long canes and will grow to approximately 8 feet tall.

How to Grow English Roses as Climbers

To grow English roses as climbers, the gardener will need to place the rose against a fence or wall. By bending the canes horizontally and attaching them to the wall or fence with garden wire, vertical shoots will appear from those canes. Prune out smaller canes at ground level to allow only the more vigorous canes to grow.

References

• David Austin Roses: Growing English Roses as Climbers
• Temecula Valley Rose Society: English Roses
• University of Illinois Extention: Homeowner's Column; Outstanding New Shrub Roses

Resources

• "David Austin's English Roses"; David Austin; 1993