Climbing America Rose
I was first introduced to climbing “America” rose in garden guru, Pat Welsh’s garden years ago. I was drawn to its vibrant salmon-coral blooms, but it really is an ideal climbing rose for the home garden for many reasons. I now have a climbing “America” rose on the entrance gate to my kitchen garden.
First introduced in 1976, back in the year of our country’s bicentennial, hence its name “America.” It won the 1976 All-American Rose Selections award that year. Its parentage is Fragrant Cloud x Tradition.
“America” rose is considered a modern climber reaching 12-15′ tall, and a repeat bloomer with a double bloom shape. It is well-adapted for climbing arbors, fences, and pillars. It has layers of petals to each bloom, and its bloom longevity is one of the things I love best about it. Climbing “America” rose has blooms that can range from deep coral to pink. It blooms on new wood, so prune early to promote new growth. Climbing “America” rose has a nice spicy fragrance. It is fairly disease-resistant to powdery mildew, black spot, and rust. It does best in zones 4-9. Be aware that climbing “America” rose does have thorny stems.
Please share if you have climbing “America” rose in your garden. Please comment on your favorite climbing rose.
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
Love the dark green foliage as well. Do you know anything about iceberg roses? I’m trying to educate myself on a rose that would be good for a hedge.
Maybelline, yes, climbing American rose has a beautiful dark green foliage, too, which is another plus. I have a long hedge of white iceberg roses leading into our vineyard. You can’t go wrong with iceberg roses either. They are very hardy, disease resistant, slight fragrance, repeat bloomers. I have them in white which is my favorite, so elegant.
I highly recommend them too. Thanks for your great comment…VintageGardenGal
Going to Pat Welsh’s garden must be like going on a pilgrimage!
Yes, her garden really opened my eyes to many new things. It was as lovely, as Pat herself. Thanks for your great comment…VintageGardenGal
I believe white iceberg hedges are in my future. Do you prune them like other shrubs?
Maybelline, I’ll write about them. Their first bloom this year was so gorgeous. I prune them like all my roses. Cut them back in winter to 4-5 canes. Clip your spent rose blooms, and it encourages further blooms. Thanks for your great comment…VintageGardenGal
I planted what I belived to be an old root base as it was 2″ in diameter for about 6″ above the ground before it branced off to a couple smaller branches two years ago in a protected located adjacent to the front entrance to the house. I live in Round Rock, Texas. The foilage on the plant has never died back in the winter, even last winter with tempertaures in the teens for over 12 hours and below freezing several days, this winter seriously defoiliated my rosemary planted in the same general location. It took off this spring in growth and so far is producing abundent blooms with a very light fragrance typical for the begining growth of a climbing rose. The plant looks just like the most beautiful photos I have seen of this variety of plant. The plant was a discard that I paid $1.99 for. I bought two & the other died.
I am looking forward to how it does thru the remaining year I suspect I will need to spray for fungus and flower thrips as both of these pests are common in Round Rock and have intermittently infested past rose gardens I have had.
I planted what I belived to be an old root base as it was 2″ in diameter for about 6″ above the ground before it branced off to a couple smaller branches two years ago in a protected area located adjacent to the front entrance to the house. I live in Round Rock, Texas. The foilage on the plant has never died back in the winter, even last winter with tempertaures in the teens for over 12 hours and below freezing several days, this winter seriously defoiliated my rosemary planted in the same general location. It took off this spring in growth and so far is producing abundent blooms with a very light fragrance typical for the begining growth of a climbing rose. The plant looks just like the most beautiful photos I have seen of this variety of plant. The plant was a discard that I paid $1.99 for. I bought two & the other died.
I am looking forward to how it does thru the remaining year I suspect I will need to spray for fungus and flower thrips as both of these pests are common in Round Rock and have intermittently infested past rose gardens I have had.
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I have had this rose, up against the south side of my house (zone 5) for several years. The blooms are gorgeous, but Japanese beetles do get to the leaves on occasion. I have never trained it, but might try this season. I cut off the largest main cane in the back on accident, and I am VERY mad at myself for making this mistake. I hope I can save the rose-it is gorgeous. Do you think a cane will grow back?
thanks!
Kelly, yes, I think you will get new canes. America is a vigorous rose. Thanks for sharing…VintageGardenGal
I have a thorneless climbing pink rose that said it was a repeat bloomer. It gets 3 to 4 buds in a cluster. Zone 5. It grows like crazy(covered my 9 ft trellis in 3 years. The first bloom is spectacular! To my surprise, cars pull over to look at it. The problem is it does not bloom again until next June. Is there anyway I can get it to repeat? I have trimmed off the spent blooms, but it just grows more. Is there anything else I can do? Found it looking for info on Climbing America, I think I want one.
Mary, you can make sure you are taking the best care of your rose, feeding, watering, etc. A rose is a rose, and if it is not a repeat bloomer, it will not repeat for you. Best to purchase roses or plants with identifying labels to ensure it’s best care….Thanks for sharing…VintageGardenGal
opps, forgot to mention, love you website!
do you deadhead an “america” at the first set of three leaves as with most rose bushes or just nip them off?I have one that was doing great.I deadheaded at the first set of five leaves and now it has all but stopped blooming.It is well fertilized and watered with a ph of 6 give or take a little.Its only a little over a year old but still kept 6 o7 nice flowers up until a 2 or 3 weeks ago.As of today it only has one on it and no sign of new blooms.Any help would be greatly appreciated.THANKS p.s. it is trained on a trellis.So far its only about 3 1/2 feet tall but very full buy not so much as of late.It has some black spot but very little,I do treat it for insects and fungus regularly,once again THANKS
Mike, it sounds like you are doing everything correctly. I prune my roses just above the first set of five leaves generally. Does it get plenty of sun? The climbing america rose is a little slow in starting to grow upward on a trellis. It does bloom on new wood, so make sure your prune early to promote growth. Thanks for your comment….VintageGardenGal
thanks so much .I was more than likely worried for no reason as its only been on the trellis for a short time.It really didnt slow down until I put it on the trellis.It is now starting to show new growth and even has a pair of new canes,still no blooms but if my limited experience is right the new blooms will come with the new growth.I have about 30 or so teas and grandifloras but only 4 climbers and just got them a little over a year ago and they were bare root plants so im new to climbers and growing from bare root. You have a great site and i read the post often but have never posted myself until now but with such great advise ill post more.just dont tell anyone becuase i am an unussual rose gardener as i ride a harley and drive a street stock race car,LOL, IT TAKES ALL KINDS ,I do take alot of jokes from my biker buddys,but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.THANKS FOR YOUR GREAT SITE
Mike, I think you should check out Carolyn’s blog, http://www.rosenotes.com/, too, as she specializes in roses. It’s a lovely blog. Thanks for your comment…VintageGardenGal
Where can I buy this Climbing America rose by mail?
I had two of them totally covering my arbor, but lost them both last winter.
I live in Bend, Oregon
Marilyn, I got mine at a local nursery. Try Edmond’s Roses, Heirloom Roses, and if they don’t have it, ask them who might. Google Climbing America Rose, and you’ll probably find an online source. Thanks for your comment…VintageGardenGal