Romantic Rambling Roses

presentation created by Jolene Adams This Program Services Committee

What is a Rambling Rose? a rose with long, rambling canes?a rose with long, rambling canes? a member of a specific class of roses?a member of a specific class of roses? a member of a historic group of roses?a member of a historic group of roses? a member of a group of roses with specific characteristics?a member of a group of roses with specific characteristics? a member of a group of roses with similar growth habits?a member of a group of roses with similar growth habits?

Rambler Characteristics Ramblers bloom once a year for approximately weeksRamblers bloom once a year for approximately weeks Pliable, long canesPliable, long canes Abundant new canes yearlyAbundant new canes yearly Hardy, vigorous growthHardy, vigorous growth Clusters of blooms all along the canesClusters of blooms all along the canes

Bloom characteristics Clusters of blooms along the length of the caneClusters of blooms along the length of the cane Bloom on previous year’s growthBloom on previous year’s growth Most have a nodding or drooping effectMost have a nodding or drooping effect Visual appeal when hanging from trees, arches, pergolasVisual appeal when hanging from trees, arches, pergolas

Differences between climbers and ramblers Climbers Often sports of modern rosesOften sports of modern roses Many have H. gigantea ancestryMany have H. gigantea ancestry Large, thick, inflexible canesLarge, thick, inflexible canes Climbing habitClimbing habit Mostly remontantMostly remontant Ramblers Most are multiflora or wichurana hybrids Long, thin, flexible canes Many new canes every year Mounding habit Mostly once blooming

There are three groups of Rambling Roses Multiflora ramblersMultiflora ramblers Wichurana ramblersWichurana ramblers “Other” ramblers“Other” ramblers

The origins of the multiflora ramblers Multiflora Ramblers get their name from their dominant breeding parent Rosa multiflora, a species rose from the orient. Known for its rampant vigor, long arching, pliable canes and fragrance. R. multiflora can be identified as one of the main parents in the lineage of almost all ramblers in some way or another.

R. multiflora ‘carnea’

Multiflora Ramblers Charles Turner, an English rose breeder, hybridized the first of this group, Crimson Rambler, a rose with large, double red blooms. Crimson Rambler was bred in It set off a fervor of breeding that continued for the next thirty years only to be replaced with the modern, repeat blooming, large flowered climbers we know today.

Turner’s Crimson Rambler

Rambling Rector

Veilchenblau

Hiawatha

Phyllis Bide

Ghislaine de Feligonde

The origins of the wichurana ramblers In the early 20th century, an American hybridizer, Michael Walsh, crossed some old garden roses with Rosa multiflora and another species rose, Rosa wichurana, leading to the creation of another rambler group.

R. wichurana

Albertine

Excelsa

Dorothy Perkins

Alberic Barbier

Origins of the “other” ramblers: hybrids of: ROSA FILIPESROSA FILIPES ROSA SEMPERVIRENSROSA SEMPERVIRENS ROSA BRUNONIIROSA BRUNONII ROSA SOULIEANAROSA SOULIEANA ROSA BRACTEATAROSA BRACTEATA ROSA LAEVIGATAROSA LAEVIGATA ROSA MULTIBRACTEATAROSA MULTIBRACTEATA

Anemone (laevigata hybrid)

Kew Rambler (soulieana hybrid)

Paul’s Himalayan Musk (brunonii hybrid)

Kiftsgate (filipes hybrid)

Mermaid (bracteata hybrid)

Pruning in general Immediately after flowering, cut out most of the older wood that has flowered in previous years close to ground level. If there is not much older wood, remove about one in three of the older stems.Immediately after flowering, cut out most of the older wood that has flowered in previous years close to ground level. If there is not much older wood, remove about one in three of the older stems. Remove the three 'Ds': dead, dying or diseased wood.Remove the three 'Ds': dead, dying or diseased wood. Tie in the new growth to enable it to flower next year. Prune back the tips of new shoots to encourage flowering the following year.Tie in the new growth to enable it to flower next year. Prune back the tips of new shoots to encourage flowering the following year. Shorten the side shoots by about a third and tie them in.Shorten the side shoots by about a third and tie them in.

Pruning multiflora ramblers Multiflora ramblers can grow new canes from anywhere on the old canes, as well as from the base of the plant. After flowering, remove any dead, diseased, or spindly growth. Tie new canes if practical, otherwise allow the bush to mound.

Pruning wichurana ramblers Wichurana ramblers flower on one year old shoots produced from the base of the plant. When planting new bare root plants, prune the canes to 9 to 15 inches. Train the vigorous new growth horizontally on a support. There will be no flowers the first season, but profuse flowering the next.

Pruning wichurana ramblers Strong young basal shoots will develop during the spring and fall. These ramblers can be renewed each year by removing the older flowering canes at the base of the bush after they complete their blooming cycle, leaving only the new basal canes.

Pruning “other” ramblers The ‘other’ ramblers are roses that are extremely vigorous, capable of growing 20 feet in one season. Examples are 'Kiftsgate,' 'Francis E. Lester,' 'Wedding Day' and 'Paul's Himalayan Musk.' These roses are best used as a ground cover or to grow up into trees. Very little pruning is necessary, except when a plant begins to overwhelm a tree. Pruning can be done to reduce the length of the canes or whole branches can be removed at the base.

Current ARS classifications Hybrid multifloraHybrid multiflora Hybrid wichuranaHybrid wichurana Large-flowered ClimbersLarge-flowered Climbers “Other” hybrids“Other” hybrids Be sure to check the Handbook or Modern Roses before exhibiting

Where to find them Ashdown Roses, Roses, Heirloom Roses, Roses, The Uncommon Rose, Uncommon Rose, Roses Unlimited, Unlimited, High Country Roses, Country Roses, Sequoia Nursery, Nursery, Vintage Gardens, Gardens, Rogue Valley Roses, Valley Roses, Pickering, Mendocino Heirloom Roses, Heirloom Roses, Hortico,

Power Point programs on roses are available for download from the ARS website, ‘members only section.’ They are offered to our members for use by a local or district rose society or an ARS Judging or Consulting Rosarian school. These programs are copyright © ARS Commercial use is strictly forbidden.