Rosa 'Altissimo'® - Red large flowered climber (1966)
This climbing Floribunda was introduced by the French firm Delbard-Chabert in 1966 after receiving the Certificate of Merit from England's National Rose Society in 1965. 'Altisimo' is one of the most stunning roses that we grow; a real traffic stopper when the large flat single (sometimes semi-double) blood red and well spaced clusters of flowers burst into bloom against the dark-green shiny foliage. Although not particularly fragrant, the abundance of flowers and its repeat blooming easily makes up for its lack of scent. Useful as an espaliered climber, a pillar plant or free standing as a broad spreading shrub. Disease resistant, 'Altissimo' grows rapidly with angular growth to 8 to 10 feet tall by 5-6 feet wide and is hardy from USDA zones 5 through 9. In Santa Barbara this rose typically begins blooming in late March and keeps on going through fall. Parentage: 'Tenor' (Large-flowered Climber - 1963) x unknown seedling. Our showy specimen of 'Altisimo' can be seen espaliered on the fence behind our main office. It received the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit in 1993. Hardy to zones 4-9.

Rosa 'Anemone' - Pink Rosa laevigata hybrid (1895)
Rosa 'Anemone' or Rosa anemonoides and R. sinica 'Anemone' as it has also been previously known, is a pink flowering evergreen hybrid climber that can grow to 12 feet tall. It was bred by J. Schmidt of Erfurt, Germany in 1895 and is presumed to be a cross between the white, single flowered Cherokee Rose, R. laevigata and a Tea Rose. For this reason it is often called 'Pink Cherokee', and although it has the vigor of R. laevigata, it is much more open and its foliage more dainty. In early spring a profusion of lightly fragrant large clear pink single flowers erupts from the glossy foliage. The flower petals are lightly veined with a deeper pink, are paler on the reverse side and surround a crown of golden stamens. The bloom period extends through mid-spring and is often followed by a rebloom in the early summer. A large specimen of Rosa 'Anenome' can be seen at our nursery on our back fence behind the main greenhouse. Zones 5-9. This listing for information only - we no longer grow this plant.

Rosa banksiae var. banksiae [R. b. 'Alba Plena'] White Banksia (1807)
The first form of R. banksiae to be described was this double, white flowered form that blooms in early to mid spring and is strongly scented of violets. It is thornless and can grow to enormous proportion, easily covering a small building or home. It was introduced to Kew Botanic Garden from Canton in 1807 by William Kerr and was named after the wife of the Sir Joseph Banks, then director of Kew. That this plant can grow to large proportions is evidenced by what is thought to be the largest plant of Rosa banksiae var. banksiae in the world. This plant can be found in the old mining town of Tombstone, Arizona where it covers 8,000 square feet of a courtyard. Hardy to zones 4-10.

Rosa banksiae 'Lutea' - Lady Bank's Yellow Rose (1824)
This thornless climbing wild rose reliably produces copious amounts of lightly scented small double butter-yellow blooms that will drape like blankets and garlands over all shrubs or buildings in its path. It was officially introduced in 1824 from China by John Parks but apparently had been observed growing in a Botanic Garden in Calcutta prior to this. Thought to be the hardiest of the R. banksiae although some think it may be an ancient hybrid with a Tea Rose. This large plant can be grown as a large mounding plant, as a climber or contained as hedge if pruned just after spring bloom. A large specimen of this rose can be seen in our nursery clambering up a blue gum along our back fence. Zones 4-10.

Rosa 'Belle Portugaise' - Bell of Portugal Climbing Hybrid Tea (1903)
A large (15-30 ft) vigorous climbing hybrid tea rose with glossy dropping foliage and large pink flowers. Produced by Henri Cayeux at the Lisbon Botanic Garden in Portugal in 1903 it is a cross of R. gigantea with 'Reine Marie Henriette', a hybrid climbing tea rose. In late spring going into early summer the long pointed buds open into large (4-6") loose flesh pink flowers. The R. gigantea parentage makes this rose to tender for colder locations but this is a great rose for mild climates. Although it is prone to mildew the plants seem not to suffer adversely and this detriment can be somewhat overlooked in light of its virtues. Large plants can climb into trees and then cascade down elegantly - a stunning site.

Rosa 'Buff Beauty'- Apricot hybrid musk (1939)
This rose was raised and introduced in 1939 by Anne and John Bentall and is thought to possibly be one of the original Pemberton Roses. Its parentage is listed as 'William Allen Richardson' a Noisette bred in 1878 crossed with a seedling. 'Buff Beauty' is categorized as Hybrid Musk, with the Noisette heritage of this beautiful apricot-buff colored rose showing up in both the perfumed fragrance and the larger many petaled flowers. The dark red new shoots, bronze new foliage and thick dark green leaves are additional features that typify the versatility of this plant; it can be grown as a low wide growing shrub or as the an elegant pillar rose. Rosa 'Buff Beauty' repeat blooms well, even in indirect light, fading rapidly to ivory-cream in bright, full sun. Its floral display improves with each year that the plant is established. We so like 'Buff Beauty' that we have planted it in several location within our nursery, our oldest plant is in the main nursery garden and others adorn fence lines behind our accounting office and main shadehouse. Winner of the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit in 1993. Hardy to zones 4-9.

David Austin in his book Shrub Roses and Climbing Roses says of this rose: "One of the finest of the Hybrid Musks, bearing flowers of a rich lovely apricot-yellow and having a strong Tea Rose fragrance."

Rosa Cl. 'Cécile Brünner' - Pink climbing polyantha (1894)
Discovered in the US by Hosp in 1894, this is an aggressive climbing sport of 'Cécile Brünner' (Veuve-Ducher-1881), the polyantha rose with perfect little pink buds that earned the nickname "The Sweetheart Rose". This climbing form with slightly larger foliage and flowers can grow as tall as 25 feet with support. It has become one of the most popular roses in cultivation and although it reblooms less than the shrub form, still puts on a strong display in spring of lightly fragrant flowers that look like tiny, high centered hybrid tea roses. It is long-lived, disease resistant and tolerates everything from poor soil, reclaimed water and full sun to partial shade. A beautiful specimen of this rose can be viewed at our nursery growing along a fence near the water tank. Winner of the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit in 1994. Hardy to zones 4-9.

Rosa 'Cocktail' - Red blend shrub rose (1957)
This Meilland rose was created in 1957 by crossing the hybrid of Rosa 'Independence' (Orange-red & orange-red blend floribunda - 1951) and 'Orange Triumph' (Medium red floribunda- 1937) with Rosa 'Phyllis Bide' (A yellow/pink blend climbing polyantha/ rambler - 1923). Flowering continuously through summer, this bright rose has clusters of single golden-eyed cherry-red flowers that age so the red intensifies and the yellow fades to cream. The character of the plant is that of an upright shrub, 6 feet tall by 4 ft. wide, with thorny stems and numerous green, deeply serrated leaves. It can used as a hedging rose or can also be used as a stiff climber growing to 8 ft. or more supported by a fence or other plants. This tough disease resistant rose was once more common in gardens and is ready to make a comeback. A specimen of this rose can be seen at our nursery growing near the back entrance to the accounting office. Hardy to zones 4-9. This listing for information only - we no longer grow this plant.

Rosa 'Cornelia' - Apricot to pink hybrid musk (1925)
This hybrid musk rose was raised by Pemberton in 1925 but the parentage was undocumented although some guess that it is possibly a seedling of 'Aglaia' or closely related to 'Trier', the parent roses of the Hybrid Musk class. It is a vigorous and floriferous rose, growing up to 8 feet tall with long graceful arching canes covered by dark shiny foliage. The dainty coral buds are first evident in early summer and open as small formal rosette shaped flowers of a creamy pink with a rich musky aroma. In fall the bloom is generally stronger than the spring bloom, bringing longer trusses and larger flowers with a deepening of the apricot hue that is only hinted at in the earlier flush. 'Cornelia' is a very fine climber, but can also be grown as a specimen plant in the open where its showy growth and flowers can be fully appreciated. A beautiful specimen of 'Cornelia' can be seen at our nursery gracing a free standing fence near the water garden. Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit in 1993. Hardy to zone 4-10. This listing for information only - we no longer grow this plant.

Rosa 'Francis E. Lester' - Pink & white hybrid musk (1946)
This rambling hybrid Musk or multiflora rambler as it is categorized by Peter Beales, was introduced by Francis Lester in 1946. It is a cross between an unnamed seedling the very popular hybrid musk Rosa 'Kathleen' (1922). It grows up to about 15 feet tall with bushy growth with glossy elegant foliage. In late spring into early summer there is a profusion of flowers, which are pink in bud, fading to white when opened, and are very pleasantly fragrant. Small red hips are produced in fall. A great rose trained up a post or wall. This was one of the first of the more unusual climbing roses that we now grow. Bruce Van Dyke, a local Santa Barbara horticulturist has had a plant in his garden since the late 1950's. The plant performed admirably every year and he lamented to us of its absence in the trade so in 1983 we took cuttings and by 1984 were offering this beautiful rose for sale. A large specimen graces the front fence across from our main entrance. Hardy to zones 4-9. This listing for information only - we no longer grow this plant.

David Austin in his book Shrub Roses and Climbing Roses says of this rose: "One of the surest and most reliable of the rambler roses."

Rosa Cl. 'Iceberg' - White climber (1968)
This climber or climbing floribunda was discovered in England by Cant in 1968 as a sport of the very popular R. 'Iceberg'. It has the shrub form's many good qualities with the additional elegant longer growth of a climber, reaching up to 10 feet tall with climbing shoots that are nearly thornless. Its ever present double white flowers, often with a flush of pink in spring and fall, are lightly fragrant. The flowers are medium sized in large clusters and open wide then fall cleanly from the plant. Although uncommon, it has been reported that this form can revert back to shrub form. With the vigorous growth also comes the task of an occasional hard pruning to control size and mass of branching growth. Noted by many to be one of the best Climbing Floribunda roses. Hardy to zones 4-9.

Rosa 'Joseph's Coat'Ò - Red-orange Climber (1964)
This repeat-flowering rose is considered a small climber or a tall floribunda. It has large multicolored yellow and red blend double flowers that open nearly flat to expose the stamens in the middle. . Joseph. s Coat. was introduced by Armstrong and Swim in 1964 and is a cross between Rosa 'Buccaneer (Yellow grandiflora -1952) and R. 'Circus' (Yellow blend floribunda -1956). It received the National Rose Society Trial Ground Certificate in 1963 and the Bagatelle Gold Medal in 1964. This is a fantastic rose, greeting spring with a riot of color and repeating well throughout the summer. One of our all time favorites! Hardy to zones 4-10.

Rosa laevigata - Cherokee Rose - White climber (1759)
Anyone visiting our nursery in late March and early April marvels at the profuse flowering of the huge Rosa laevigata that drapes over one of our nursery buildings. This big evergreen climber, native to Southern China and Taiwan, can reach 30 feet or more, climbing and clambering using hooked thorns on the stems and bristles on the smaller branches. It can also grow as a free standing 5 ft. tall shrub with no support. The leaves are shiny bright green and leathery in texture. The 4 inch wide single pure white flowers are borne in profusion in early spring. The petals drop cleanly leaving the star like sepal which are followed later in the year by orange-red bristly hips. Although Chinese in origin it has naturalized elsewhere, especially in the southeastern United States and it was first botanically described from Georgia, where it is now the state flower. In cultivation in England the species is too tender to thrive, being cut to the ground by hard frosts, and flowering poorly. In the south of France it grows well, flowering in April. Zones 4-10. The pale pink form of this rose is Rosa 'Anenome' and the darker pink form is Rosa 'Ramona'.

Rosa 'Mme Alfred Carrière' - White Noisette (1879)
Resembling a Bourbon Rose, with large cupped flowers with wavy petals loosely arranged, 'Mme Alfred Carrière' is considered to be a Noisette Rose, although its parentage was not recorded. This beautiful rose was raised by J. Schwartz (France) and introduced in 1879. It has nearly thornless canes which are clad with large leaves and can grown up a wall to 18 feet tall or as a large shrub without support. The clusters of well scented large flowers (likened to a Tea Rose or Bourbon Rose fragrance) are creamy-white with a tint of pink and are produced intermittently with a strong initial bloom in mid spring and a magnificent display carried on over a long period. It is a very hardy rose for its class, occasionally plagued by powdery mildew but not other rose diseases and is reportedly tolerant of shaded locations. Those visiting our nursery can see this rose on the fence next to the gate to our greenhouse area. In 1908 was proclaimed the best white climber by the National Rose Society in England. Winner of the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit in 1993. Hardy to zones 4-10 This listing for information only - we no longer grow this plant.

David Austin in his book Shrub Roses and Climbing Roses says of this rose: "If a very strong, reliable, repeat-flowering, white climber is required, you need look no further than this variety. Even today, there is no white Climbing Rose to rival it in performance."

Peter Beale says in his book Classic Roses that 'Mme Alfred Carrière' is "A superior rose. The lovely, rather loosely formed flowers are white with occasional hints of soft pink, highly scented. Growth is vigorous with sparse thorns. Leaves large, plentiful and light green. This rose flowers almost continuously throughout the season and is quite tolerant of a north wall situation".

Rosa 'Mermaid' - Pale-yellow hybrid bracteata climber (1918)
This Rosa bracteata hybrid was raised by William Paul, note Rose author and nurseryman. Rosa 'Mermaid' was the result of a cross between Rosa bracteata and a a double yellow Tea Rose and was introduced in 1918 . This very vigorous rose grows upwards to 30 ft. or more. It has attractive glossy foliage, maroon stems and wicked thorns. The very large single canary yellow flowers, slightly scented, with showy red stamens are borne in clusters continuously produced after midsummer. Although not a cold hardy rose it excels in mild climates where it thrives and blooms continuously even when faced with drought, salty sea breezes and shade. Its vigorous nature and rampant growth can be overwhelming in the smaller garden if not kept in check. See Rosa 'Mermaid' clambering along the fence along the north side of our nursery. Hardy to zones 4-11.

David Austin says this of Mermaid in Shrub Roses and Climbing Roses.

"A true classic- one of the most beautiful of all Climbing Roses"

Peter Beales says this of Mermaid in Classic Roses. "Undoubtedly, a most useful and beautiful climber"

Rosa 'New Dawn' - Light Pink Large Climber (1930)
A repeat flowering sport of the large flowering wichuraiana rambler 'Dr. W.Van Fleet' which was the result of a cross between the hybrid of R. wichuraiana and 'Safrano'(Apricot Tea - 1839) with 'Souvenir du President Carnot' (Pink Hybrid Tea - 1894) and was named for the breeder and introduced by Peter Henderson & Co. in 1910. Rosa 'New Dawn', also known under the name 'Everblooming Dr. W. Van Fleet' was introduced by Dreer Somerset in the U.S. (Somerset Rose Nursery) in 1930. It grows 12-18 feet tall and to 8 ft. wide and has shiny foliage. The fragrant plump pale pink flowers repeat well throughout the summer months. 'New Dawn' is a healthy disease resistance rose that can be used in formal situations as well as more free form. It can tolerate considerable shade but care should be exercised when pruning as it has been observed that 'New Dawn' flowers best on old wood. That 'New Dawn' is one of the best of the climbing roses is undisputed and it has become an important rose to breeders of more modern climbers as well. 'New Dawn' was one of the first roses to receive a patent. Winner of the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit in 1993. World Federation of Rose Societies World's Favorite Rose in 1997. This listing for information only - we no longer grow this plant.

David Austin in his book Shrub Roses and Climbing Roses says of this rose: "'New Dawn' is one of the most disease -free of roses."

Peter Beales in Twentieth Century Roses says "['New Dawn'] is an outstanding rose, probably the most useful sport ever discovered, and is an important parent to many modern climbers"

Rosa 'Pink Mermaid' - Large Pink Climber (1940's ?)
A rose whose origins are clouded but it is thought to date back to around 1940. Despite its name, this plant is not much like Rosa 'Mermaid'. 'Pink Mermaid' is much looser and lighter growing than its vigorous namesake and with smaller fragrant pale pink flowers. The first flush of flowers can smother the plant and although less abundant on rebloom are still profuse, repeating through the rest of the season. A large growing plant that has been noted as growing more then 30 feet up into a tree in a California Although some rose experts agree that 'Mermaid' could be a parent others suggest that 'Tausendschön', a Hybrid Multiflora from 1906 could be involved or even that this plant has hybrid musk parentage going back to Francis Lester's seedlings of 'Kathleen'. This listing for information only - we no longer grow this plant.

Rosa 'Sally Holmes'®- White to pale-pink hybrid musk (1976)
This rose is categorized as a Hybrid Musk or a Modern Shrub Rose. It was created by Robert Holmes in the UK in 1976 by crossing 'Ivory Fashion' (Cluster-flowered, Floribunda 1958) with x 'Ballerina' (Hybrid Musk/Shrub 1937) 'Sally Holmes' is is a large hay stack of plant to 6 to 12 feet tall by 3 to 5 feet wide and is clothed heavily in dull green foliage with salmon buds opening to reveal 3 inch wide creamy white 5 petaled flowers. The tightly packed flowers are borne in clusters typically of 15 or more flowers (some report as many as 100). This plant is a magnificent climber as it is always in bloom. It is thought that this plant belongs better with the modern shrub roses than with the more graceful Hybrid Musks, yet it shares the Hybrid Musk's tolerance of shade. Needs careful pruning if planted as freestanding plant but can more easily be left to clamber and climb at will. Encourage side branching as these flowers tend to be less congested and much more attractive. Winner of the Royal National Rose Society Trial Ground Certificate in 1975, the Belfast Certificate of Merit in 1979, the Baden-Baden Gold Medal in 1980, the Glasgow Fragrance Award in 1993 and the Portland Gold Medal in 1993. Hardy to zones 4-9. This listing for information only - we no longer grow this plant.

Rosa 'Sombreuil' - White Climbing Tea (1850)
Whatever you are, you are beautiful. Much confusion surrounds this rose including its identification its name and its status as a Tea Rose. This came about because of possible misidentification of this rose as 'Mlle De Sombreuil', a rose that has been in cultivation in Europe for many years and from descriptions seems to have more flowers in each cluster then the beautiful impostor that has been in cultivation for many years in the U.S. Another name that has been thrown into this pot is 'Colonial White'. If in fact they are of the same lot they were the result of a selection of a seedling from 'Gigantesque' (Hardy Tea 1835) in France by Robert. The 'Sombreuil' that we grow is a disease resistant healthy thorny climber with creamy white large, flat and quartered flowers that have a wonderful Tea fragrance. It is quite manageable as a formal climber and is well suited for use as a pillar rose, or to be trained on a low wall, fence or trellis. The long stems on this plant also make it good for cut flower use. Hardy to zones 7-9. This listing for information only - we no longer grow this plant.