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The rambling roses are the forerunners of our modern day climbing roses. The two most common types are the Multiflora Ramblers and the Wichuraiana Ramblers of which we are to elaborate on here. |
conditions tend to make the blooming period somewhat shorter, but don't let that deter you from growing one! There's no modern climbing rose that can come near to the magnificent show the multitudes of rambler booms give to the mid summer gardens. Nor is there any other rose that can span such a large space with greenery. They indeed are true to their name for sure "Ramblers". While both types of ramblers have similar attributes that endear them to us, the Wichuraiana ramblers tend to have stiffer, stronger canes making them wonderful climbing roses. |
Along with the old garden shrub roses like the Gallicas, Damasks, Albas; the ramblers were also
pushed into the sidelines as the modern, repeat climbers became available. Less and less ramblers
were seen in gardens across the northern hemisphere. I guess we can attribute this to gardeners
desire for flowers throughout the summer and our assumption that new is always better. Even today
a nursery is hard pressed to find and carry the "new" varieties of any plant at the cost of having
unsatisfied customers.
In defense of the ramblers, I dare say that anyone who has seen these wonderful roses in full flush,
are hard pressed not to be astonished at their massive beauty and structure. Several of our modern
climbers together could not hope to have a fraction of the show one of these old beauties gives so
freely.
Most ramblers are much too vigorous to be put onto a trellis. They lend themselves beautifully to
covering the side of a building, barn or outhouse. Over a fence, arbour or flowing down a bank is
probably the best application if you live in Zone 4. This zone is too cold for them as climbers unless
their canes are taken down for winter but they will grow happily on the ground, rooting where ever
they touch dirt. They bloom on old wood, (that's wood that has grown the previous year) so it is
imperative that they not die-back completely!
In zone 5 if canes are grown upwards they should be grown where they will be protected from
prevailing winds and are best grown on a low fence espaliered horizontally. They are at their best as a
magnificent ground covering for banks as most root readily where they touch ground.
If you have a small garden with limited space then ramblers probably are not for you. That doesn't
mean you can't try one it simply means that you'll be very busy pruning back the voracious canes to
about one third every season immediately after blooming keep the rose constrained. Now thats a lot
of work!
| Multiflora Ramblers |
Multiflora Ramblers get their name from their dominant breeding parent the Rosa multiflora, a
species rose from the orient. known for its rampant vigor, long arching, pliable canes and fragrance.
Rosa multiflora can be identified as one of the main parents down the lineage of all ramblers in some
way or another. Rosa multiflora other claim to fame is that is is commonly used as an under stock rose
is budding and grafting procedures even today.
Several multiflora ramblers were bred in the mid 19th century, when rosa multiflora was introduced
to europe around 1862 but the main height of the ramblers popularity didn't begin until Turners Crimson
Rambler was bred in 1893 . It set off a fervor of breeding than continued for the next thirty years only
to be replace with the modern, repeat blooming, large flowered climbers we know today.
To mention some noteworthy multiflora ramblers that first spring to mind are Seagull, Rambling Rector,
The Garland, Veilchenblau, Tauschendon, and Seven Sisters.,
| Wichuraiana Ramblers |
Rosa Wichuraiana is a dense, very vigorous, wide spreading rose with very pliable canes and beautiful glossy foliage. Flowers are five petalled with a prominent yellow stamen born in large clusters. It blossoms are very fragrant. Unfortunately, this is a trait not passed on to its offspring. It originates from Asia and Japan and was introduced to europe around 1891 and was brought to the U.S.A. in the early 1900's. Americans quickly acknowledged it and widely used it for grave coverings, thus the nick-name"Memorial Rose". Breeders quickly used it to create the ramblers most commonly known today. 1901 brought us Dorthy Perkins. This is probably the most popular rambler ever bred. Shortly after Excelsa (nick-named Red Dorthy Perkins), Minnehaha(an almost identical rose to Dorthy Perkins) Hiawatha and Evangeline were bred by Walsh. In France more complex hybrids with R.whichuraiana in them appeared such as Alberic Barbier, Francois Juranville, Leontine Gervais, Paul Transon and Albertine. All of these are still available by speciality rose nurseries and are hardy to zone 5. Ramblers are much too vigorous to be put onto a trellis. They lend themselves beautifully to covering the side of a building, fence, arbour or a bank. If grown upwards the canes should be protected form prevailing winds and are best grown on a low fence as a grape would be or as a magnificent ground covering for banks as most root readily where they touch ground. |
| Rosa Setigera Hybrid Ramblers |
Rambler Dorothy Perkins ( Longobardy's Gardens ) |
Rambling Roses |
This family provides us with a small but important group of ramblers that were bred with the Rosa Setigera also called the "Prairie Rose". This species that grows freely accross the mid western part of North America. Known for its long arching canes, late blooming season and hardiness; it was a top candidate for hardy climbing rose breeding. It started as early as the 1800 with many a nurseryman in the United states crossing the Prairie Rose with hybrid teas, trying to acquire its hardiness with the teas repeat blooming characteristics. They had little success. In 1902 , Dr Van Fleet was very successful when he released his "American Pillar", shown here in Annapolis Royal N.S. . This is still today a very popular, hardy rambler. Unlike the ramblers Dorthy Perkins with her tiny masses of pom pom like blooms, this rambler has masses of very showy large pink with white single blossoms. A very striking show especially from a distance. Among other noteworthy ramblers still around today are Baltimore Belle, |