The Easy-Care Variety Of Climbing Roses Our Professional Gardener Recommends

Climbing roses are perennial shrubs with many stunning cultivars spanning a glorious array of colors and textures. These roses put out long, vining canes that can be trained to grow on a trellis, arbor, fence, or other structure. Some may grow as high as 30 feet or more, while others top out at 6 feet. My favorite climbing rose also happens to be one that is very easy to care for: the gorgeously fragrant Zephirine Drouhin climbing rose (Rosa 'Zephirine Drouhin').

In addition to being easy to grow, this climbing rose has many features to recommend it. It is nearly thornless, a plus for gardeners who avoid roses due to their thorny nature. The sturdy canes grow between 4 to 12 feet tall and spread from 3 to 6 feet wide, making them fairly compact and suitable for a smaller garden space. The 4-inch-wide flowers have multiple layers of deep rose-pink petals and have a richly floral, fruity fragrance. This climbing rose is also relatively disease-resistant and begins blooming in late May. It is known to be a reliable rebloomer in late summer through frost.

The Zephirine Drouhin is a Bourbon rose; these varieties are named for Ile Bourbon, the island where they originated near Madagascar. These heirloom roses are believed to include parentage from damask roses (known for strong fragrance, cold hardiness, and a single period of bloom) and China roses (rebloomers that are less cold hardy). Introduced by a French rose grower in 1868 and named for the wife of a rose enthusiast, Zephirine Drouhin's exact ancestry is unknown, but it is one of the most beloved of the Bourbon roses.

The Zephirine Drouhin rose thrives in USDA Zones 5a to 11b. While most roses bloom best in full sun, this one has performed well in partial sun in my Zone 6a garden. This rose's ability to bloom in partial sun is another quality that adds to its adaptability. Be aware that the color of the petals may fade more quickly than usual on a hot summer day if exposed to late afternoon sun. If possible, a location with plenty of morning sun is a good fit for this abundant bloomer.

Roses like a well-drained, slightly acidic soil to keep their woody roots healthy. I have found this rose to be not terribly fussy about soil, but hard, clay soils are generally not good for roses as they need good aeration. When planting, add a cup or two of compost and loamy topsoil and mix well with the soil at the location. Your Zephirine Drouhin will benefit from a light top dressing of aged manure in the spring (layer a few inches from the base of the plant so it doesn't touch the stems).

As a climbing rose, a Zephirine Drouhin needs some support for its long canes. A simple trellis or arbor works well for this variety, as its rate of growth is steady but not super fast. The canes of this climbing rose tend to fan out to the sides, so give it some space to spread laterally. Adequate space is also necessary to give your rose proper air circulation, which helps prevent common diseases such as black spot or powdery mildew.

Once you've planted your Zephirine Drouhin in a good spot, it needs proper care and maintenance. There are a few general tips for gardeners to know about growing climbing roses. Climbing roses are often very floriferous during their peak bloom season and will need regular water to keep flowers vibrant in summer weather. The Zephrine Drouhin likes deep, consistent watering through the active growth season; watering in the morning is best.

As with any rose, gardeners should master how and when to deadhead a Zephirine Drouhin during the flowering season. This sturdy rose responds very well to deadheading, which will keep it looking neat and encourage more blooms. Sometimes, climbing roses can get a bit tangled as the canes grow and stretch towards the sun or a support. Keep an eye on it as it matures so it stays trained on its trellis or other structure.

Although this climbing rose is cold hardy, it does benefit from some winter protection around its roots. Clean away any dead leaves from the base of the plant and cut off any damaged branches during fall clean up: this helps prevent any potential disease spread. A light layer of mulch, such as pine straw, can be added after the first frost. The best time to prune your Zephirine Drouhin is in late winter (once it goes dormant) or early spring before new growth emerges. This vigorous grower responds well to hard pruning at this time. You may also add a bit of rose fertilizer in the spring (I like Espoma Rose-tone, which has easy-to-follow guidelines on the package).