Big, bold & beautiful roses
Nothing can surpass the romance of an old-fashioned rambling or climbing rose in full bloom growing up a garden wall or over a fence. With their profusion of flowers, heady fragrance and intense colour they announce the arrival of summer like nothing else.
This section is a really two in one :-
Climbing roses
These are often sports of bush roses and make a few big arms that can be trained against a wall, fence or pergola. If trained and pruned correctly the display can be phenomenal, and many of the climbers repeat flower throughout the season. Climbers can be utilised in even very small gardens to give as much display as a big shrub, but with a very small ground space.
Rambling roses
On the other hand these are of wilder nature and more suited to larger or country gardens. They are very hardy and look great alongside road fences or can cover difficult areas quickly. Ramblers make many shoots from the base every year, and will often sucker if they touch the ground as they are quick to make roots. Many of the ramblers are pretty much evergreen and can produce flowers during the winter months when most roses are dormant.
Click on thumbnail images to enlarge
Adeleide dÓrleans
Sempervirens rambler. Lovely clusters of creamy white loose rosettes with a very sweet scent. available now
Alberic Barbier (1900)
Wichuriana Rambler. Yellow buds, fading to cream very double flowers. Very scented. repeats reliably in Auckland and other warmer climates. One of the most vigorous ramblers. Very healthy sold out
Albertine (1921)
Another of the wonderful Wichuriana Ramblers. Vibrant pink/yellow flowers with a huge spring flush and the occasional repeat. Lovely scent. Gets a bit of black spot but very tough and shrugs it off. available now
Alexandre Girault (1909)
Wichuriana x rambler. Hundreds of cerise flowers cover this vigorous rambler in spring, with some repeat throughout the season. Healthy and vigorous. available now
Aloha (1949)
Climbing hybrid Tea. Very bright pink/yellow buds open to antique pink rosettes. Very good fragrance and health, used by David Austin in his breeding programme in the 80’s. available now
Amy (?)
We believe this beautiful rambler was bred at Roseneath in the 90’s. She flowers but once in the early summer, but puts on a magnificent show worth waiting for. Multiflora X, so bristles, not thorns .available now
We also have a seedling from Amy which we call Weiti Van, he has a similar habit in a different colour (apricotish)and repeats a bit in the autumn. sold out
Aviateur Bleriot (1909)
A less well known wichuriana X rambler, this one is another in the very vigorous category. I named it “The Spasticated Rose” early on, due to it’s messy petals heading in all directions! The buds on the other hand are delightful apricot balls, and it makes a lovely picture in full flight. An interesting note is that it’s small hard red hips once won a taste test we held in the garden! available now
Banksias (species)
Banksias are totally thornless roses from China. In general they flower only once, but it can carry on for several months in certain seasons. They have bunches of tiny double flowers in white or yellow. They make very big plants pretty quickly. We also grow a repeat flowering, smaller version of the white, known as Purezza. all available now
Blackboy (1919)
An Australian climber from Alistair Clark. Gorgeous, fragrant, deep red tea flowers. Medium climber, minimal thorns. Repeats all year round sold out
Bloomfield Courage(1925)
Vigorous rambler with small single red flowers in profusion in the Spring, with some repeat later available now
Blanc Pur (1827)
Noisette or Tea, take your pick. A vigorous, mostly thornless climber with very large pure white cupped flowers. Lovely tea perfume. Flowers mostly in Spring, but there is some repeat. sold out
Blush Noisette (1815)
Noisette. Attractive tall shrub or short climber with fresh green leaves and big bunches of highly scented soft pink rosettes. available now
Blushing Lucy (1935)
A very vigorous rambler, new to our “stables”, Blushing Lucy produces big bunches of perfumed fluffy pink flowers with a white centre and yellow stamens. One main flush, but often a sprinkling later in the season. available now
Buff Beauty (1939)
Definitely one of the most well known of the Hybrid Musks, and quite different to most in it’s flower size and colour. The flowers are large and very double, quite formal in an old fashioned sort of way, easy to confuse with more modern offerings from David Austin. The plant is a sprawling bush or short climber, and produces regular flushes of sweet scented golden/buff flowers amidst lovely, healthy dark green foliage. grafted plants available $30 small plants available soon
Cecile Brunner (1894)
Vigorous china climber. Very pretty blush pink miniature hybrid tea blooms – identical leaves and flowers as the bush form. Available now
Clair Matin (1960)
This rose is often overlooked by people, but it has so many attributes going for it , it should be considered. It is a healthy and vigorous climber, without getting out of control, is extremely healthy and has lovely plum foliage like the teas. The salmon pink semi double flowers are nothing to write home about but have a sweet scent and arrive with great regularity. And very few thorns! sold out
Crepescule (1904)
Noisette. The name says it all…Crepescule means twilight in French. Lovely spreading bush or short climber with glorious apricot shades all season long. small plants available soon
Dee’s Blackboy ()
Old Australian climber with lots of shortish arms with very few thorns but lots of small dark red flowers. A real show in early summer, with some repeat. This rose appears to have ” slipped through the cracks” and no longer seems to be available anywhere (except at Grassrootsroses!) small plants available
Dinah Hall
This is another Ken Nobbs contribution and a very valuable one! It is aa Alberic Barbier look-alike with equal vigourousness, better repeating and much less thorns! The flowers are slightly smaller, but still a good size and have a more intense colour on opening, fading to the same cream. Also very well scented. Available now
Dorothy Perkins (1901)
Classic American roadside rambler, Wichuriana X. Medium pink flower, tough as nails, although can get mildew after flowering. small plants available
Duchesse d’Auerstadt (1887)
Noisette/Tea. Awesome big climber to make a statement in your garden. It is particularly suitable for climbing where people pass as it has few thorns and a delicious scent. It’s colour is typically tea, a clear but soft nankeen yellow, with very plum coloured new leaves that make a lovely combo. not available this season
Easlea’s Golden Rambler (1932)
Another Wichuriana X rambler with beautiful double scented flowers of yellow fading cream, sometimes some orange/apricot tones. Once flowering sold out
Eden Rose (1985)
From one of the “French David Austins”, Meilland, this rose like most of his offerings, fails to pull off the true old fashioned look that Austin mastered from the start. Never the less, many ,(including me) find this rose attractive, despite it’s very modern leaves and “fake” looking petals! I guess it must have that “je ne sais quoi” the French do so well! sold out
English Wedding Day (1950)
A relatively unknown rambler in NZ, this is the true variety of the rose named “Wedding Day”. Whilst sharing characteristics of vigour and bunches of white flowers with the cultivar commonly sold in NZ , it is a very different rose. It has long matt leaves and the flowers open from yellow buds and each flower is a lot bigger. The flowers start lemon and fade to creamy white. This rose repeats thru the season for me. Available now
Felicite et Perpetue (1827)
Sempervirens X An oldie but a goodie, this is one of the indestructible roadside roses. It is a sempervirens X of very vigorous persuasion, but also has a really delicate look to it’s leaves and flowers. Although I’ve never heard of it used as a rootstock, I know from experience it was, as the yellow climber gifted to me many years ago got mowed once to often and morphed into this far superior beauty! It is always listed as a once flowerer, but I find mature plants keep repeating a few flowers all season . In full bloom it is a visual and sensory delight! available now
Ghislaine de Feligonde (1916)
A gorgeous thing in full flight, Ghislaine is a true repeating rambler or massive arching shrub, with glossy healthy leaves and covered in bunches of pastel yellow/apricot flowers available now
Indigo Knights
A recently developed small rambler, but with an old fashioned look and smell to it. Very dark purple small flowers with a wonderful old rose scent and pretty good repeat. Not too vigorous for smaller gardens.sold out
Ken Nobbs “purple rambler” aka The Rawiri Rose
Bred by local rose hero, this is one of the many Multiflora X ramblers he produced, and definitely one of the best. It is extremely vigorous, has very few thorns, and continues to flower a bit right on into winter. Lovely perfumed purple/pink rosettes available now
Lavender Lassie (1960)
Very sweet smelling mauve/pink climber. Modern leaves, but old fashioned flowers small plants available soon
Long John Silver (1934)
Setigera X, very vigorous rambler, good for growing up trees as it makes very long arms and tolerates shade. Absolutely pristine white very full flowers with some repeat. small plants available soon
Mme Alfred Carriere (1875)
Noisette. Very vigorous grower, suitable for trees or large structures. Beautiful pale blush buds to white softly scented blooms. grafted plants available (new seasons)pick up only
Mrs Herbert Stevens (1922)
Hybrid Tea climber, a sport of the bush, like so many modern climbers. Mrs Herbert is a vigorous girl with lovely scented creamy white blooms year round, most appreciated in winter! sold out
May Queen (1898)
Rambler. May be mislabelled… Wichuriana x . Vigorous, healthy shiny leaves, huge spring flush of unusually double flowers for a rambler. Soft to dark pink. Because of the many petals, it can ball in wet weather, but there is plenty of repeat to make up for it! available now
Mme Berard (1870)
A new Tea/Noisette climber for us and another undervalued beauty! Typical colour for it’s class ie all colours! but basically apricot-ish…
Vigorous, very few thorns and lovely scent small plants available soon
Mme Gregoire Stachelin (1927)
This lovely old climbing hybrid tea makes a fantastic early show with masses of wavy strong pink petals. Unusual and delicious fragrance. available now
Mme Sancy de Parabere (1873)
Boursault pink climber. 100% thornless. Fragrant , repeats. An old forgotten beautiful variety. Available now
Milkmaid ( 1925 )
Another of Alister Clark’s wonderful roses, this one a Noisette which flowers beautifully in late Spring-Summer. Clusters of lemon buds open to loose creamy blooms with a lovely scent. Very vigorous and tough. available now
Nancy Hayward (1937)
Climbing Tea. Famous, Australian bred climber with huge, single dark pink flowers on strong growing bush. Good in hot climates. sold out
Narrow Water (1901)
Noisette. More of a tall shrub with big clusters of pinky lilac semi-double flowers. Repeats reliably all season. It has a lovely fresh fragrance typical of a noisette. It is a very well behaved shrub in the garden with a big impact for most of the year. Very under-rated. sold out
New Dawn (1930)
Wichuriana Climber. Soft pink double blooms on this hardy, healthy climber. Blooms start later in the season, but carry on right into winter in regular flushes. Is nearly evergreen and has a pleasant fragrance. It was always the last rose to flower when I lived in Waotu (you’ll have to look that up) available now
Paul Transon (1900)
Wichuriana Rambler. Very double apricot/pink flowers, large size for a rambler. The plant is very vigorous and produces hordes of sweetly scented flowers in spring, with more following intermittently through the season small plants available soon
Parade (1955)
David Austin used this rose in the breeding of some of his more strongly coloured bushes which were published in the 90’s, so it goes without saying it is healthy and fragrant. Blooms good to pick too, it’s carmine flowers mix surprisingly well with the softer pinks and purple reds. small plants available
Paul’s Himalayan Musk (1916)
Very vigorous rambler, recommended for growing up trees. Trusses of pink buds open to fragrant double flowers. A real show! available now
Paul’s Lemon Pillar (1915)
This beauty is a climbing Hybrid Tea, with huge perfectly formed cream flowers with a great scent. Only flowers once, bur worth the wait .sold out
Paul’s Scarlet (1916)
This rose is very common in Europe, but less widely grown here, as anyone wanting to plant a red climber plants the inevitable Dublin Bay. It is true, Paul’s Scarlet is rather a cherry red (as the name implies) but the plant has many virtues, like very few thorns, uncontrollable floriferousness and for sure in the depths of winter, his scarlet face is a very cheering spot in the garden. small plants available
Phyllis Bide (1923)
Technically a climbing Polyantha, this rose can be grown as a short rambler or large (thorny) bush. It makes bunches of small flowers thru the season, mainly apricot/yellow fading to pink. It’s main claim is how tough it is! available now
Pinkie Climbing (1952)
A super little climber with a really bad name! Very healthy and pretty much thornless, these virtues make up for her slightly garish colour, average form and general lack of fragrance! The fact is she is such a very cheerful rose and one of those literal non stop flowerers if planted in the right place small plants available soon
Purity (1917)
Gorgeous pure white wichuriana climber/rambler of moderate vigour.It has lovely scrolled buds that open out to loosely formed tissuey blooms with a sweet scent available now
Raubritter (1936)
Macrantha x. Once flowering with hundreds of delicate pink cupped flowers. Climber or cascade. Stunning in full flower. sold out
Rosa Platyphylla “The 7 Sisters Rose” (very old!)
A vigorous climber/rambler with beautiful scented quite large blooms in big bunches. It has many, many synonyms…The Seven Sisters one refers to the fact that whilst at first it just appears to be another pink rambler, as the flowers age they change to all shades of pink from almost white through to almost red. A real show stopper ! small plants available
Rosemarie Viaud (1924)
A seedling of Vielchenblau, this lovely rambler is in the same vein colour wise, a gorgeous slaty violet, but with the added bonus of fuller flowers and a sweet fragrance. It does have bristles, but not thorns. available now
Sanders White
Rambler. Apparently mislabelled in NZ, not the rose known by this name in Europe. Very vigorous rambler with big show of white rosettes in early summer. Healthy and sweetly scented. available now
Silver Moon (1910)
Rambler. very ( possibly scary) vigorous grower with shiny green leaves and very large, semi double pure white flowers. Repeats small plants available
Sombreuil (1850)
This is the climbing form of the lovely old Tea rose. It has creamy white large flat rosette shaped blooms repeatedly thru Summer and Autumn. It is a lot more thorny than most of the Teas and is deciduous in Winter, so rather atypical of the class and obviously an out cross .available soon
Souvenir De Mme Leonie Viennot (1898)
Climbing Tea. Lovely creamy pink blooms with a heavenly scent. Very hardy and a vigorous climber but well behaved. A classic that fully deserves its reputation. small plants available soon
Sylvan Beauty aka Marie Nabonnand
An old rose found growing in my centenarian auntie’s garden in Mt Eden. A well behaved climber with china characteristics but nearly thornless. China red, semi double flowers that repeat all year round when established. Actually now been recognised as Marie Nabonnand. sold out
The Alchymist (1956)
This lovely climber has many petalled flowers in shades from gold to apricot. It is a once flowerer but sometimes delights with several more flushes through the season. available now
The Belmaine
This is unusual being as vigorous as any a rambler and a true repeater. Smothers itself in large ethereal pink blooms regularly. Very healthy shiny leaves. available now
The Garland (1835)
A magnificent show with a magnificent scent, this very vigorous rambler makes a real statement for a few weeks in early summer. The show of clusters of round orange hips which follow perservere thru the Winter and is almost as impressive as the flowers! Gertrude Jekyll’s favourite says something! available now
Veilchenblau (1909)
Multiflora Rambler. Very hardy small rambler that has clusters of small, mauve/grey flowers smothering it in spring. It is almost thornless and is an attractive plant even when not in flower. available now
Violette (1912)
Multiflora Rambler. This rose is similar to Veilchenblau but the flowers are a deeper richer violet that shows off its gold stamens. available now
Wedding Day (1950)
This one is a bit ubiquitous in NZ. The rambler everyone that ever got married seems to have! As I never did get married I don’t own it! My daughter bought it on sale and planted it in full shade under a mature deciduous tree. Its thriving!!! That says it all…grafted plants available $25