Climbing roses make a stunning showstopper for any garden. They can turn walls, arbors, or fences into works of art. If you're looking for some of the best climbers that grow well in zone 5, we've got you covered.
These are some of the best rose cultivars to grow as climbers in zone 5:
- Zephirine Drouhin
- Danse de Feu
- Mortimer Sackler
- Sea Foam
- New Dawn
- Dublin Bay
- Fourth of July
- Cecile Brunner
- Alchymist
- Iceberg
- Highwire Flyer
- Lady of Shalott
- Tangerine Skies
- Peace
- Don Juan
- Westerland
- Gertrude Jekyll
- Eden
- Quicksilver
- Claire Austin
- Compassion
- Shropshire Lad
- Wollerton Old Hall
- Crown Princess Margareta
- The Generous Gardener
In this article, we'll take a closer look at each of the roses. We've included pictures so you can see each rose's style and personality for yourself. We'll also talk a little bit about what makes each cultivar unique and some general tips for growing them. Read on to learn all about it!
1. Zephirine Drouhin
Hardiness Zones: 5 - 9
Zephirine Drouhin is one of the most popular varieties for climbers. This bourbon rose blooms beautiful, pink carmine roses on long thornless stems.
While this variety grows best in full sun with semi-fertile soils, it also tolerates shade and poorer soils well. It is a repeat bloomer that will keep your garden full of its fragrant flowers from late in spring through to frost.
2. Danse de Feu
Hardiness Zones: 5 - 9
"Danse de Feu" is French for "dance of fire," and with their stunning scarlet blossoms, it's easy to see how this rose got its name. You'll also sometimes see it called "Spectacular" in some nurseries. What is in a name?
Rosa "Danse de Feu" is a repeat flowering variety that prefers full sun but can also do well in partial sun. This climber can grow tall, with some sources claiming heights up to eight feet and others up to twelve!
3. Mortimer Sackler
Hardiness Zones: 5 - 9
Rosa "Mortimer Sackler" looks like something from a storybook. This repeat flowering rose blooms with double blossoms in a lovely pale pink.
This variety grows from five to seven feet tall. It can be trained as a pillar rose and is generally thornless.
4. Sea Foam
Hardiness Zones: 5 - 10
Rosa "Sea Foam" has beautiful flowers that range from creamy white to just barely blushing with pink. This rose likes to spread and can be grown either as a climber or as ground cover.
Its flowers are faintly scented and will continue to bloom from spring to frost.
5. New Dawn
Hardiness Zones: 5 - 9
Rosa "New Dawn" is prized for both its stunning pink blossoms from spring to frost as well as for its bountiful rose hip in the fall.
It is also one of the tallest climbers, growing ten to fifteen feet tall! This makes it a great choice for walls or other structures, but remember that it grows and flowers best with full sun.
6. Dublin Bay
Hardiness Zones: 5 - 9
The blossoms on Rosa "Dublin Bay" have a deep red color that matches the archetypal rose. They grow eight to ten feet tall and are strong climbers.
This cultivar is held in high esteem among gardeners. The Royal Horticultural Society in the UK even granted it the Award of Garden Merit.
7. Fourth of July
Hardiness Zones: 5 - 10
Rosa "Fourth of July" has some of the most unique and eye-catching blossoms. The semi-double flours are large and flat and feature a deep scarlet color striped with white.
This is another continually-blooming cultivar that will last you through the summer to the first frost.
8. Cécile Brünner
Hardiness Zones: 5 - 9
Rosa "Cécile Brünner" is another on our list to win the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. Its flowers closely resemble the much-prized hybrid tea roses and have a lovely, soft-pink hue.
These towering climbers can reach up to ten to twenty feet tall and three to six feet wide.
9. Alchymist
Hardiness Zones: 4 - 9
Rosa "Alchymist" is the first of our single-blooming climbers on this list. The single blooming period typically comes in late spring or early summer. While its flowers don't continue to bloom like some of the others we've seen, they are remarkably unique and beautiful.
These blossoms are large and compact, positively brimming with petals. The pale pastel coloration comes in hues of apricot-orange and some fair pinks as well. This rose will definitely get your garden some attention.
10. Iceberg
Hardiness Zones: 5 - 9
Another continually-blooming cultivar, rosa "Iceberg" produces stunning white flowers in a classic rose shape that will keep your garden looking lovely in summer and fall.
This cultivar grows up to twelve feet as a climber. It is another recipient of the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.
11. Highwire Flyer
Hardiness Zones: 4 - 11
Rosa "Highwire Flyer" produces flowers with a vibrant, hot-pink color. It's a continuous-blooming variety and grows in more zones than most of the climbers on our list.
12. Lady of Shalott
Hardiness Zones: 5 - 9
Rosa "Lady of Shalott" has similar coloration to the Alchymist variety we saw earlier. The shade of apricot and pink can conjure sorbet and sunset. Also like the Alchymist roses, each blossom is brimming with petals. However, the Lady of Shalott has a more archetypal rose shape in its blossoms.
Another key difference is that Lady of Shalott is a continually blooming cultivar. It is also another entry on our list that has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
13. Tangerine Skies
Hardiness Zones: 5 - 9
Rosa "Tangerine Skies" is another orange-colored rose that makes a great climber. The color is reminiscent of certain poppy varieties but with velvety rose petals.
14. Peace
Hardiness Zones: 4 - 9
Rosa "Peace" is an absolutely stunning cultivar with a fascinating history behind its name. Its blossoms have a soft yellow center that blends beautifully with the white petals with pink accents.
This rose was bred by a French botanist, but his work was interrupted by World War II. The work was completed in the United States and granted honors by the All-American Rose Selection on the same day that Japan signed a peace treaty, ending the war. The Peace rose commemorates the end of World War II and can also bring peace to your garden.
15. Don Juan
Hardiness Zones: 5 - 9
Bring a little libertine romance to your garden with rosa "Don Juan." Like the Spanish romantic, this rose is a classic. The large flowers are deep red to almost burgundy in color.
This cultivar is an excellent climber, especially for a red rose. It does best in full sun with rich soil, but it can tolerate partial shade as well.
16. Westerland
Hardiness Zones: 4 - 9
The hardy rosa "Westerland" has a delicate appearance. This cultivar works well as either a shrub or a climber and produces stunning orange blossoms.
This stunning copper rose is another we've featured that won the prestigious Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.
17. Gertrude Jekyll
Hardiness Zones: 4 - 8
Rosa "Gertrude Jekyll" is highly prized for both its flowers and its sweet perfume. The blossoms are fully-double and have a stunning pink color.
It's no wonder this continually-blossoming cultivar is another to win the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.
18. Eden
Hardiness Zones: 5 - 9
An excellent climber with sweet perfume and stunning blossoms, rosa "Eden" was voted the world's favorite rose in 2006 by the World Federation of Rose Societies.
This repeat bloomer does well in full sun or partial shade. Don't be fooled by its delicate beauty. This cultivar is also heat and disease-resistant.
19. Quicksilver
Hardiness Zones: 5 - 9
Purple roses are a rarity, so the stunning rosa "Quicksilver" can help your roses stand out. While the shades of lavender are the first thing you'll notice about this climber, its petals also feature shades of silver, hence the name.
This cultivar grows up to seven feet, making it a good choice for arbors and arches.
20. Claire Austin
Hardiness Zones: 5 - 9
Rosa "Claire Austin" will fill your garden with yellow cupped buds that blossom into these stunning, creamy blossoms with soft yellow shades.
This repeat bloomer will keep your garden looking and smelling great from spring to fall.
21. Compassion
Hardiness Zones: 5 - 10
Rosa "Compassion" is another climber with blossoms tinged with pink and apricot hues. It's a continually blooming cultivar with a strong fragrance that you can enjoy every time you pass it.
22. Shropshire Lad
Hardiness Zones: 5 - 9
Rosa "Shropshire Lad" is often grown as a shrub, but it can make an excellent short climber with some support. It's a repeat bloomer that grows well in full sun or in partial shade.
The Shropshire Lad's aroma is often described as tea-like and fruity. It is another recipient of the Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society.
23. Wollerton Old Hall
Hardiness Zones: 5 - 9
Rosa "Wollerton Old Hall" is another cultivar with a bushy habit that can be grown as a climber up to eight feet. Its buds feature flashes of red, but its blossoms are pale to translucent white with soft shades of orange and apricot.
It has a strong aroma that is reminiscent of old-fashioned roses. Unlike many old-fashioned varieties, Wollerton Old Hall is a great repeat bloomer with a long season, so you can enjoy its perfume and beauty longer.
24. Crown Princess Margareta
Hardiness Zones: 5 - 10
Rosa "Crown Princess Margareta" makes a great short climber. Repeat blossoms with apricot hues fade to pale yellow as they age. They provide a fruity perfume to your garden from late spring until the feel the bite of frost.
This variety grows well in full sun or partial shade and appreciates rich, fertile soil.
25. The Generous Gardener
Hardiness Zones: 5 - 9
Rosa "The Generous Gardener" can be grown as a climber up to ten feet tall. The pale pink blossoms are perfectly picturesque with an amazing aroma that combines the scents of rose with myrrh and musk.
This variety is thornless and makes great cut flowers. It's also a repeat bloomer that will provide you with flowers from late spring until the first frost.
Final Thoughts
Now you've seen some of the best climbing roses for zone 5. Whether you're an expert gardener with a seasoned green thumb or new to the practice, we hope you've found some information that is helpful on your personal gardening journey.
If you found this article helpful, be sure to check out these great posts:
25 Fabulous Companion Plants for Roses