Climbing roses are quintessentially English and highly versatile - strong growing varieties are ideal for covering decorative obelisks, arches, walls, trellises and fences whilst shorter varieties can be trained around poles and tripods to form 'pillars'. Their flexible canes make them easy to fan out and they will not overwhelm their support structure as their growth is not excessively vigorous. They will provide superb repeat blooms and a delicious scent, making them great for adding height, colour and perfume to your garden. In this article we've hand picked the best 20 climbing roses for UK gardens. For larger climbing roses (referred to as rambling roses) check out our separate article on the best rambling roses.
Sweetly-scented sprays of flat, fully double, glowing white flowers emerge from shapely, pink-tinged buds between July and October. This is the a climbing form of the most popular white floribunda of our time with a vigorous, branching growth habit and masses of finely-toothed, ovate, glossy mid-green deciduous leaves. The flowers maintain their colour exceptionally well and don't turn brown in the heat like other white roses. Perfect for covering an unsightly wall or fence, it will clothe its support with abundant, glossy foliage studded with large trusses of beautifully-shaped blooms. Planting in plenty of space and pruning lightly in late winter helps encourage a plentiful display of blooms and reduces the chance of disease being a problem.
Beautiful, fully double, high-centred soft apricot to salmon pink blooms with an outstanding, sweet scent emerge from well-shaped buds between June and August. This is a popular, large flowered climber with a vigorous, upright growth habit and shiny, dark green deciduous leaves. It has stiff, thick stems with large, red thorns and looks excellent when combined with contrasting strong-coloured climbers or against a dark wall. The clusters of fragrant, Hybrid Tea-shaped blooms also make it perfect for growing up a pergola or arch so you catch its scent when passing. We recommend pinching out faded flowers immediately to encourage a second flush of colour.
Large, fully double, hanging, deep crimson blooms with a seductive, heady Damask fragrance appear repeatedly throughout the summer. This is a popular, well-foliated climber with a vigorous, branching habit and an abundance of finely-toothed, glossy dark green leaves. Perfect for an open, sunny border and making excellent cut flowers, the blooms are set off brilliantly against the backdrop of dark green leaves. Interestingly, the climbing version of Etoile de Hollande is considered far superior to the shrub form, making it a great choice for clothing the wall of a house or growing around a pillar.
Stunning, large, fully double golden-yellow blooms which appear abundantly in loose clusters from July until the first frost. This is by far the most popular yellow climbing rose with a vigorous, arching habit and long, almost thorn less stems which become clothed with finely-toothed, glossy dark green deciduous leaves. Perfect for covering a sunny wall or growing around a pillar, it is rain-resistant and makes a great choice for the smaller garden. It has a strong disease resistance with beautiful, rain resistant, sweetly-scented flowers that fade from yellow to creamy-white with age.
An abundance of small, semi-double, cupped, shell-pink blooms which are borne repeatedly in large trusses above shiny, mid-green deciduous leaves from June to July. This is an outstanding, vigorous variety with lax, dark green stems which are easily trained over a pergola, arch or unsightly object. It will thrive in sun or shade and makes a great choice for using as an informal, flowering hedge or for clothing an exposed, north-facing wall. Training the stems horizontally will help to ensure that a plentiful display of lively-coloured, sweetly scented blooms are produced. A great, multi-purpose rose which will thrive in any soil type providing it has lots of space.
'Climbing Masquerade' is a vigorous climbing floribunda rose producing show-stopping clusters of semi-double flowers which are yellow when they first open and evolve through shades of pink, orange and then deep red. It is a repeat flowering variety, producing blooms with a delicious light scent throughout the summer. It has a vigorous growth habit and can reach up to 4.5-5 metres tall, or maintained at a smaller height with twice annual pruning.
Beautiful rose with large, bright and richly-fragrant apricot peach blooms, produced in clusters repeatedly throughout summer and autumn. It has glossy deep green leaves held on stems that are red-tinged when young, darkening to green as they mature with few thorns. 'Alfresco' is a healthy, disease-resistant variety that is easy to grow and manage. It can reach up to 3 metres (10 feet) tall if left to its own devices, equally it can be controlled at a smaller preferred height with selective annual pruning.
A magestic climbing rose producing large, semi-double, lavender-blue blooms with a subtle silvery hue and delightful rich fragrance. Reaching around 3 metres tall by 2 metres wide, it is deciduous with glossy dark green leaves that provide the perfect foil to the showy blooms. Well suited to growing over an arch or along supprt wires on a wall or fence.
'Cleopatra' is a sweetly fragranced climbing rose producing bright crimson-red blooms repeatedly throughout the summer. A strong grower reaching 2 metres tall by 1.5 metres wide, it is well suited to growing along a fence or up a sunny wall with wire supports. It grows best in a sunny spot in a moist yet free draining soil and will succeed on clay providing the ground does not lie wet. Incorporate plenty of organic matter and a generous handful of bonemeal into the planting hole to encourage strong root development.
'Crème de la Crème' is a delightful climbing rose which produces mass of stunning cream blooms, which clothe the entire plant throughout the summer. The large, saucer-shaped flowers are fully double with a richer golden-yellow tinge at the centre and attractive golden-yellow stamens that become visible when the flowers are fully open. It's elegant, pointed buds and rich fragrance make it an ideal choice for the cutting garden. You will not find a better variety if you're looking for cut flowers that can fill a room with a strong, heady scent to bring the outdoors indoors. It is a healthy grower with strong disease resistance and glossy, slightly toothed foliage. Eventual height of ~4-5 metres, making it a suitable choice for covering an arch or pergola or trained on wires attached to the wall around the front door to your home.
'Crimson Cascade' is a showstopping red climbing rose, a real classic climber. It produces vibrant ruby-red fully double blooms throughout summer into mid-autumn which last well on its tough stems. Winner of the RHS Award of Garden Merit, it has shapely, elongated buds that open out into subtle perfumed flowers that are adored by bees and butterflies. It has strong disease resistance and slightly glossy, mid-green, deciduous foliage. One of the most popular red climbing roses available and for good reason.
'Rose Gloire De Dijon' is a splendid climbing rose producing large, luxurious, fully double buff-orange blooms with attractive gold and pink highlights. It is a powerhouse of the cottage garden, flowering from late spring right through the summer, living up to its common name of the 'Old Glory Rose'. The flowers open cupped and flatten as they mature. An excellent choice for the front of a house, 3+ metre high wall or large arch. Eventual height 5.5 metres under ideal conditions.
'Gloriana' is a beautiful climbing rose producing crisp red blooms over a long flowering period from July through to October, delivering masses of ornamental interest to the summer and autumn garden. It has a compact, tidy growth habit, perfect for growing up a pillar or using as a patio climber. It was bred from Laura Ford and Big Purple in 1997. Grow in a moist yet well drained soil in full sun for best results. Incorporate plenty of well rotted organic matter and a generous handful of bonemeal to help with root development when planting.
'Laura Ford' is a large, double rose with bright lemon-yellow blooms, tinged with subtle variable pink at the margins. It has a fabulous fruity scent and the tips of the flowers fade to sorbet yellow with age, always set off beautifully against the glossy, dark green foliage. It is a robust variety demonstrating strong disease resistance, as well as being a tidy grower, reaching 2-3 metres tall with a compact, upright growth habit. 'Laura Ford' grows best in a sunny spot in a moist yet well, drained soil. Incorporate plenty of well rotted organic matter and a generous handfull of bonemeal when planting to encourage strong root development.
'Leaping Salmon' is an award winning, repeat flowering climbing rose producing masses of attractive, almost fully double, rich salmon-pink blooms continuously from June to September. The large, shapely flowers have a devine sweet fragrance and are set off against a backdrop of slightly toothed, glossy deep green deciduous leaves. It has a strong, stiff growth habit, making it perfect as a pillar rose and also works well grown up a wall or fence or over a large arch or arbour. Reaching around 3 metres tall, it grows best in a sunny spot in a moist yet free draining soil and will succeed on clay providing the ground does not lie wet.
'Love Knot' is a tidy, compact climbing rose ideal for the patio, training up a pillar or small archway. It has bright red flowers with a beautiful swirl appearance, produced all summer long. Reaching about 2.5 metres tall and 1.5 metres wide, it flowers reliably and freely with a more subtle scent than other varieties. Its flexible stems are easy to train and it combines well with garlic, thyme, mint or chives which also benefit all roses to help deter aphids and blackfly. Grow in a sunny spot in a moist yet well drained soil, or in a pot. Incorporate plenty of well rotted organic matter and a generous handful of bonemeal when planting.
'Niceday' is a repeat flowering climbing rose with sweetly-scented, fully double, peach and coral pink blooms, set off beautifully against a backdrop of dense, glossy deep green foliage. The flowers completely clothe the plant from top to bottom, making it ideal for covering, arbour, arches, trellises, pergolas and walls, or growing as a container plant on the patio. It is a healthy grower with strong disease resistance, growing best in a moist yet well drained soil in a sunny spot of the garden. Its compact growth habit means it will put more energy into producing lots of blooms.
'Scent from Heaven' is a highly fragrant climbing rose and winner of the coveted Rose of the Year Award 2017. It produces masses of attractive, pointed buds from June to September which erupt into elegant, fully double, apricot-orange blooms. The petals have a wavy appearance and the scent is out of this world - fruity, rich and powerful enough to be carried on the breeze, especially on warm summer days. Reaching a very manageable 2 metres tall by 1.5 metres wide, it is perfect for covering an arch, trellis, wall or fence, or growing in a container on the patio with vertical support. It is a robust, healthy grower with strong resistance to common problems affecting roses such as blackspot, mildew and rust. The flowers are set off against a foil of lush, slightly serrated, glossy deep green leaves. It combines well with herbaceous perennials and responds well to pruning. 'Scent from Heaven' is also a winner of the fragrance prize at International Rose Trials in Paris.
'School Girl' is a beautiful climbing rose producing pink-flushed, buttery apricot blooms with a rich fragrance against a backdrop of slightly toothed, glossy deep green leaves. It flowers generously with the big frilly blooms displaying high centred on stiff stems from July to September. Reaching 3-4 metres tall and 1.5-2.5 metres wide depending on growing conditions, it grows best with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day in a moist yet free-draining soil. Incorporate plenty of well rotted organic matter and a generous handful of bonemeal into the planting hole to encourage strong root development.
'Starlight Express' is a devine climbing rose producing vivid, deep pink, richly fragrant blooms in continuous flushes from the start of summer through to mid autumn. The flowers are semi-double, borne in abundant clusters and nectar-rich, perfect for attracting bees and butterflies to your garden with the added benefit of being good for cutting too. It produces a strong framework of robust branches and slightly toothed, glossy green leaves with good disease resistance. 'Starlight Express' was first launched in 1997 to support the Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital. Reaching an eventual height and spread of 2.5 metres by 2.5 metres, it is well suited to growing up a wall, arch, pergola or fence.
Reasons to Buy Climbing Roses from Jackson's Nurseries
Buy with confidence from the only online rose grower rated ‘Excellent’ 4.9* on Trustpilot. We have been a trusted supplier of roses for 3 generations. We take pride in growing our own roses in the field before potting them up, allowing for meticulous quality control to sale.
Save £££s by buying direct from a grower you can trust. We’ve already price checked all of our roses against competitors so you don’t have to. We are so confident we offer the best value, if you find a rose of the same type and grade elsewhere, we’ll beat it by 10%.
We offer a 12 month guarantee on every plant that you buy from us that we have classified as Fully Hardy. If a plant you've bought from us fails in the first year, we will either replace it or refund you. See our satisfaction guarantee page for more details and conditions.
Jackson’s Nurseries is a 3rd generation family owned business which has been growing roses for over 60 years. Roses have always been our specialty, as you can see from the colourful array of blooms in the background to the old family photo below. Today, we offer over 200 different varieties of floribundas, hybrid teas, patio, shrub and David Austin roses. Our roses are initially grown in the field before being potted up for website dispatch.
Our North Staffordshire nursery is situated at 250 metres above sea level, producing strong, hardy plants that will thrive in your garden. Our nursery sits on clay, so you can be sure our roses can handle heavy soil too.
We are here to help you with any help and advice you need in choosing, planting and growing your roses before, during and after your purchase from us. The help and advice section of our website has extensive information, see below some examples of articles you may find useful:
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