Cold Hardy & Drought Tolerant Climbing Roses

Climbing roses add interest to the garden.

Climbing roses bring beauty to the garden with their long canes that reach up to 15 feet high. Numerous climbing, cold-hardy roses have been cultivated to withstand temperatures to about minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit and many also exist on minimal amounts of water.

Climbing Roses

You'll need a trellis, fence or structure to support the roses as they climb off the ground. The majority of roses are not natural climbers. The plants can be trained or tied onto the structure.

Drought Tolerant Roses

All plants need some water, but climbing roses can adapt to less with deep watering. This method of watering establishes a deep root system that helps the roses survive dry spells. The Sunset website recommends the native Alaskan Nootka rose as well as the fragrant rugosas (R. rugosa) as climbing, cold-hardy and drought-tolerant roses.

Cold Hardy Rose

The Colorado State University website recommends selecting the Canadian Explorer series developed in Canada for climbing, cold-hardy roses. The Canadian roses require minimum care. These roses bloom profusely in summer in shades of pink, red, salmon, mauve and deep yellow.

References

• Colorado State University Cooperative Extension: Climbing Roses
• Washington State University: Hardy Canadian Roses