A vigorous, nearly thornless climbing rose that smothers itself in small yellow or white blooms each spring. It handles Phoenix heat far better than most roses and needs little fuss beyond a strong support and a yearly trim.
Living with it in the Phoenix Valley
Watering
Follow the shrub schedule in our Landscape Care guide. It tolerates dry spells once established but looks fuller and flowers better with steady, regular water.
Pruning
Prune only after the spring bloom, and finish by midsummer. It flowers on the previous year’s growth, so cutting in fall or winter removes next spring’s flowers. Thin and redirect long canes rather than shearing.
Support
This is a heavy, vigorous plant. Give it a sturdy arbor, pergola or wall trellis from the start, and tie canes in as they grow.
Pests
Largely trouble-free in Phoenix, without the disease problems of most garden roses.
How our designers use it
Over a pergola or ramada
Trained across the top of a shade structure, it builds a dense green roof and a spring show overhead.
Softening long walls
On a large wall or fence it covers a lot of ground with one plant, which makes it a good fit for big lots and side yards.
A cottage note in a desert garden
It brings the look of an old-fashioned rose garden without the water and spraying of hybrid roses.
Good to know
Around the pool
The spring bloom drops a lot of small petals for a few weeks. We generally keep it on structures set back from the water rather than directly over it.
Space
It grows larger than most people expect. Plan for its full size, or be ready to cut it back hard each summer.
