Five of the best climbing roses

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 as their growth is not too vigorous, they will not overwhelm their support structure. They will provide superb repeat blooms and a delicious scent, making them great for adding height, colour and perfume to your garden.

For larger climbing roses (referred to as rambling roses) check out our separate article on the best rambling roses.

Our Top 5 Climbing Roses

1. Rose 'Iceberg'

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. 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. The flowers maintain their colour exceptionally well and don't turn brown in the heat unlike other white roses. 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.

2. Rose 'Compassion'

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 makes it perfect for growing up a pergola or arch so its scent wafts about as you pass through. We recommend pinching out faded flowers immediately to encourage a second flush of colour.

3. Rose 'Etoile De Hollande'

Large, fully double, hanging, deep crimson blooms with a seductive, heady Damask fragrance that 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.

4. Rose 'Golden Showers'

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.

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.

5. Rose 'New Dawn'

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.