Climbing roses and rambling roses are two types of roses that have long, vining growth habits. While they share some similarities, there are important differences between climbers and ramblers. In this article, we’ll compare and contrast climbing roses vs rambling roses so you can choose the best type for your garden.
A Quick Overview
Climbing roses tend to be more compact and tidy, with larger flowers than ramblers. They bloom on new wood and most are repeat flowering. Climbers need some support to climb but are less aggressive than ramblers.
Rambling roses are extremely vigorous, potentially growing 20-30 feet. They produce smaller flowers in big clusters. Most ramblers bloom just once on old wood. They require very sturdy structures to support their heavy, wandering canes.
Keep reading for more details on climbing roses vs rambling roses!
Growth Habits
One of the biggest differences between climbers and ramblers is their vigor and growth habits:
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Climbing roses tend to be less vigorous in their growth than ramblers. Climbers generally grow 8 to 15 feet tall.
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Rambling roses are extremely fast growing and vigorous. They can potentially grow 20 to 30 feet or more in ideal conditions.
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Climbers have a more compact, bushy growth form compared to the long, wandering canes of rambling roses.
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Climbers don’t wander as far and generally stay neater and more contained than ramblers
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Ramblers produce very long canes that can quickly get out of control. They need very sturdy structures to support their heavy growth.
Flower Size and Bloom Time
In addition to different growth habits, climbing roses and rambling roses differ in their flowers:
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Climbing roses bloom repeatedly through the season on new wood with larger flowers, usually 3 to 4 inches across.
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Rambling roses produce smaller flowers in big clusters. The flower size is usually 1 to 2 inches across.
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Most ramblers only bloom once in late spring or early summer, on old wood from the previous year’s growth.
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Repeat blooming ramblers do exist, but are less common than repeat flowering climbers.
So climbers offer the benefit of larger, repeat blooms compared to the smaller one-time flowers of most ramblers.
Support Needed
These vining roses require some kind of support or structure to climb on. Here’s how their support needs differ:
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Climbing roses aren’t quite as aggressive leaners as ramblers. But they still need support like a trellis, pillar, or wall.
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Rambling roses require very sturdy structures such as a strong trellis, post and wire support, or an entire pergola.
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The canes of rambling roses are thick, heavy, and loaded with sharp thorns, so extra precaution is needed.
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Take into account the mature size of the rose when choosing a support structure. Opt for metal, concrete, or sturdy wooden structures.
Ideal Uses in the Garden
Here are some ideal ways to use climbing roses vs rambling roses:
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Grow climbing roses on fences, arbors, obelisks, small pergolas, or pillars. They work well in smaller spaces.
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Rambling roses are excellent for growing on very large structures like pergolas, on the side of tall buildings, or along a high fence line.
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Use climbers to adorn and enhance structures in the garden. Let ramblers become a dominant architectural element themselves.
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For covering a wall or front porch, a climbing rose is often a better choice than a more unruly rambler.
Tips for Growing Vining Roses
Follow these tips to successfully grow climbing roses or rambling roses:
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Plant in spring in well-draining soil enriched with compost or manure.
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Water first year roses regularly until established. Mature plants are quite drought tolerant.
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Apply a balanced rose fertilizer in early spring and again after first bloom.
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Prune climbing roses in late winter. For ramblers, just trim errant or damaged canes.
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Tie in long flexible canes to supports. Ramblers will likely need extra stabilization.
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Remove old, unproductive wood on climbers to encourage new blooms.
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Watch for diseases like black spot and powdery mildew, treating promptly. Ensure good air circulation.
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Add winter protection such as mounding dirt or wrapping canes if temperatures drop below -5°F.
Great Examples of Climbing Roses vs Rambling Roses
Here are some top examples that showcase the differences between these two types of vining roses:
Climbing Roses
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Don Juan – Fire engine red, repeat bloomer
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New Dawn – Delicate pink, reblooms continuously
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Zéphirine Drouhin – Fragrant light pink blooms on a thornless rose
Rambling Roses
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American Pillar – Bright pink flowers in big clusters, once blooming
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Alchymist – Pale yellow, small clusters, vigorous grower
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Snow Goose – Pure white flowers, short bloom season
Which is Better – Climbers or Ramblers?
So should you choose climbing roses or rambling roses for your garden? The best type for you depends on your specific needs and preferences.
Climbing roses are typically better choices for smaller spaces, adding tasteful vertical interest. Their repeat, romantic blooms are a bonus.
If you need incredibly vigorous roses to cover a huge area or structure, rambling roses can’t be beat. Just be prepared to provide very sturdy support for them.
Growing a mix of both climbing roses and rambling roses lets you enjoy the best qualities of each! Plant a climber by your porch and let a rambler wand across the back fence for a gorgeous combo.
Now that you know the key differences between climbing roses vs rambling roses, you can decide which style fits your space best. Both types of vining roses will beautifully adorn trellises, pergolas, and other garden structures with abundant flowers and captivating rose scent.
More Info on Climbers and Ramblers
Rambling Roses are chiefly derived from 4 groups of wild rose: Rosa multiflora, R. setigera, R. sempervirens, and R. wichurana.
Roses that spread out are called rambling roses. They are stronger and can cover more ground. You can weave them through trees, hide ugly oil tanks, and cover up wooden fencing, but make sure the fencing is strong enough!
Their vigour can make them hard to contain. Ramblers usually flower once a year on the shoots that grew last year. Some produce a blizzard of small to medium flowers. There is one rose that doesn’t follow most rules: The Lady of the Lake. It’s a beautiful rambling rose that blooms again and again from late spring to fall.
It’s easy to prune because all you have to do is cut back the shoots that are getting in your gutters and other places. A bit of trimming side shoots after flowering will help, but is not essential. If a plant that is more than six years old gets too crowded, cut off some of the old stems after they bloom and look for the best new stems to place or tie in their place. Again, you should do this once a year for the best flower shows, but once every few years is fine too. It depends on what you want to do with the plant. To fix a rambler that has gotten too big, cut all the old stems off at the base and leave most of the one- and two-year-old growth. Only cut out the weakest stems.
There isn’t really a group of climbing roses that are their own; they are different types of almost every other modern rose group. A famous example of this is the floribunda shrub ‘Iceberg’, and its Climbing Iceberg’ version.
Because of this, climbers’ flowers are often more showy and look better when seen from below because they droop a bit. They also often flower again and again, especially if you remove the spent flowers. Climbing roses do need a yearly trim; each side shoot that flowered should be cut back by two-thirds.
If a climber gets too big, cut the oldest stems down to the ground and leave five or six of the “youngest mature” stems to support the new growth. Apart from the five or six younger stems that you keep, remove all other young shoots.
Because they have to use so much energy to flower twice, climbers usually don’t get as tall as ramblers. They also produce fewer shoots each year, which need to be trained in a balanced fan shape. Climbing roses also need more precise pruning to get the most flowers; read more about rose pruning
If you can, train climbing rose shoots to grow horizontally so that flowering laterals grow all along their length. This will make a beautiful display.
How to Identify: Climber or Rambler?
Rambling roses are much more wild in their DNA than Climbing roses, and this shows in their appearance.
The best way to tell the difference between a Climber and a Rambler is by how they bloom. Most climbing roses flower over a long season, from summer to fall, usually in two main waves. On the other hand, most rambling roses flower only once, in large numbers, in the summer, like a wild rose.
If you look at the rose in late summer or early fall and see rose hips all over it, it’s probably a Rambler. If it still has flowers or the recent remnants of faded flowers, its probably a Climber.
Climbing rose flowers are usually more refined, bigger, and come in all the modern rose colors and bi-colors. Rambling rose flowers, on the other hand, are usually simpler, smaller (but grouped together), and only come in the natural rose colors of pink, yellow, and white.
Climbers are tidier and less vigorous than a rambler, reaching smaller mature sizes, with stiffer new stems.
Ramblers are bushier and more vigorous than a climber, reaching larger mature sizes, with more flexible new stems.
Growing Conditions:
Rambling roses are less demanding than Climbers, and are the best choice for poorer soils and dappled shade.
Difference Between Climbing and Rambling Roses
FAQ
Which is better climbing rose or rambling rose?
How do I know if my rose is a climber or a rambler?
Is a climbing or rambling rose better for an arch?
Do I need a trellis for climbing roses?
Are climbing roses the same as Ramblers?
When it comes to garden roses, two popular choices are Ramblers and Climbing Roses. While they may seem similar at first glance, there are key differences that set them apart. Ramblers are known for their vigorous growth, with long, flexible canes that can reach impressive lengths of up to 20 feet.
How do you know if a Rose is a rambler or a climbing rose?
Starting with a quick way of identifying each one first… Rambler roses have more flexible canes and a large number of smaller flowers in larger clusters. They grow to around 20 feet (6m) high and have sharper thorns. Climbing roses produce thicker straighter growing stems, a good amount of single or clustered roses, and reach around 12 feet (3.6m).
What is the difference between a climbing rose and a Ramper rose?
Rambler Roses typically bloom once a season in a spectacular display, while Climbing Roses often have repeat blooming cycles. Ramblers are more vigorous and can cover large areas quickly, making them ideal for expansive spaces, whereas Climbers are more controlled and suitable for trellises and smaller structures.
Are rambler roses hard to grow?
Many Rambler varieties produce crops of decorative hips in the fall, which persist in winter and glitter in the sun. Tough and reliable, Rambling Roses are generally healthy and disease resistant, tolerant of partial shade and poor soils. Rambler Roses require less care than Climbing Roses.
What is a rambling rose?
Rambling roses are vigorous shrubs with long, flexible stems which emerge from the base of the plants and are easy to train on trellises, over archways, and pergolas. They are useful for scrambling through bushes and into trees, covering unsightly objects or large expanses of walls.
Do rambler roses need more care than climbing roses?
Rambler Roses require less care than Climbing Roses. They can thrive on neglect, although they may look unkempt and become unmanageable after a few years. Climbing Roses require more attention and an annual routine of pruning and training.