There are around 100 different types of wild roses and many more hybrids in nature. Roses have been cultivated by humans for over 2000 years, so today there are thousands of cultivars - from tiny groundcovers to large shrubs and meter-tall climbing roses.

Walls and walls can be beautifully decorated with climbing roses

Roses have been cultivated for over 2000 years

The first garden roses were probably grown in the Middle East and spread to the rest of Europe via ancient Greece and Rome. The first species were the French rose (Rosa gallica), the Damask rose (Rosa damascena) and Rosa alba. These are hardy and intensely fragrant strains, but they only flower once a year. In the seventeenth century, Dutch and French breeders crossed Alba and Damask roses to create the large-flowered varieties with over 100 petals. Chinese roses (Rosa chinensis) arrived in Europe from around 1780 and have been crossed with European species since that time. In this way, numerous new types of roses were created.

There are many thousands of wild and cultivated roses

Different groups of roses can be distinguished. Wild roses and their hybrids are large, arching, overhanging shrubs. These bear only once, usually in spring, simple, strongly fragrant flowers. Decorative rosehips develop from this in autumn. A distinction is also made between old and modern garden roses, with the varieties also known as historical roses all dating from before 1867. The modern species include the so-called tea hybrids (large-flowering shrub roses), floribunda roses (cluster-flowering shrub roses) and various dwarf shrub roses.

The group of climbing roses is also very varied

Climbing roses are not climbing plants in the true sense, but only shrub roses with particularly long shoots. They have long, very strong shoots and large flowers, which - depending on the variety - stand alone or in small clusters. Some only bloom in summer (climbing roses that bloom once), but many are multi-flowering species that flower well into autumn (climbing roses that bloom more often). So-called rambler roses are strong spreading climbers that usually develop small flowers in large clusters at the beginning of summer.

Which climbing rose variety is suitable for my garden?

Like all roses, climbing roses are also quite sensitive and require careful care in addition to a good location. In particular, the historical varieties are quite susceptible to diseases under today's conditions, after all they were cultivated under completely different air and soil conditions. They therefore require particularly intensive care. Instead, you can opt for more robust rose varieties. A good indication of this is the ADR seal, the so-called "Rosen-TÜV", in which newly bred roses are subjected to a strict test.

What is the difference between rambler roses and climbing roses?

The large group of climbing roses can be roughly divided into ramblers and climbers. Rambler roses have particularly long and soft shoots, which is why they absolutely need additional support. The shoots of the climber, on the other hand, are strong and mostly prickly and can grow upright to a certain extent without help. Rambler roses generally form much longer shoots than climbers.

Climbing roses need climbing aids

Ramblers are ideal for greening entire trees, but are also wonderful for planting in pergolas, arbours, etc. Climbers, on the other hand, do not grow as tall as rambler roses and are therefore best grown on trellises or arches. Whichever trellis you prefer, without one your climbing rose will grow more like a shrub - which, in fact, it is. The shoots are always tied to the climbing aid with raffia or another soft material, because they cannot hold on to themselves safely - a strong gust of wind and the unattached climbing rose will be torn off its climbing aid.

Design options with climbing roses

Remember that not all roses bloom at the same time. Therefore, choose climbing rose varieties with different flowering times so that you can enjoy their blooms all summer long. In addition, cultivars reach different heights, which should also be taken into account when planning the garden. For example, you can green a house wall with various climbing and rambler roses, but you can also combine climbing roses with garden roses. Instead, the climbing roses green a wall or hedge, while the smaller shrub roses are arranged in the foreground.

Climbing roses in conjunction with other plants

When roses stand alone or part of the garden is dedicated to just one type of plant, it can quickly become boring. Roses are gregarious and do well alongside smaller plants as long as they don't compete with them for light or nutrients. Many smaller species of geranium make a very pretty addition to roses, but clematis also makes a good companion plant. The climbing plant, also known as clematis, provides more color in summer, when the flowering of the climbing rose is less intense.

Cultivate sensitive climbing roses in tubs - the best varieties

Climbing roses can even be grown against a wall in large tubs or half barrels. 'New Dawn' is one of the finest and most vigorous modern climbing roses with clusters of silvery pink flowers; 'White Cockade' grows rather slowly, which is certainly an advantage in a planter. 'Danse de Feu' has multi-flowering, semi-double bright orange-scarlet flowers and is even suitable for a north-facing wall.

tips

Although roses and lavender are often planted together, they don't really complement each other as planting partners. Both plants have completely different requirements in terms of their location and care requirements: lavender prefers dry and nutrient-poor soil, while roses need a humus-rich and slightly moist subsoil.

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Vegetable garden