About
This semi-evergreen, rambling rose, up to 6m tall, with vigorous stems that are reddish-brown when young. Single, white flowers, to 5cm across, are borne in small sprays in summer and followed by red fruits (hips). Its large leaves, up to 20cm long, are made up of five or seven corrugated leaflets coloured a dark, glossy green with purple tints on the undersides.
About the genus
Rosa can be deciduous or semi-evergreen shrubs or scrambling climbers, with usually thorny stems bearing compound pinnate leaves and solitary or clustered flowers. Flowers may be followed by showy red or purple fruits in some varieties.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeClay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeClimber Wall Shrub, Roses
HabitClimbing
FoliageSemi evergreen
Height4-8 metres
Spread2.5-4 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens
Native toChina
FragranceFlower
ToxicityFruit are ornamental - not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Fruit are ornamental - not to be eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Care notes
CultivationGrows best in fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in a sunny, sheltered position. Mulch in late winter and, to improve flowering, apply a balanced fertiliser in late winter or early spring. See rose cultivation
PruningPruning group 18 (rambler roses) - see our video How to prune rambling roses. Don't prune after flowering if fruits (hips) are required
PropagationPropagate by semi-ripe cuttings in late summer or hardwood cuttings in autumn, or by T-budding in summer
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids, including rose aphid, the most common rose pest. May also be susceptible to rose leafhopper, glasshouse red spider mite, scale insects, caterpillars, large rose sawfly, rose leaf-rolling sawfly and leaf-cutting bees
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to rose black spot, rose rust and rose powdery mildew, the most common rose diseases. Can also be affected by rose dieback, replant disease, canker, honey fungus and a virus