Climbing roses add incredible beauty and fragrance to any garden. But the thorns on most varieties can make pruning and harvesting difficult. Thankfully, thornless climbing roses provide all the charm without the pain! In this article, we’ll explore the best thornless climbing roses for sale and provide tips for successfully growing these prickle-free plants.
Why Choose Thornless Climbing Roses?
For most gardeners, the sharp thorns on rose stems are the biggest downside to growing these flowers. Pruning and cutting roses becomes a literal thorny issue that requires thick gloves and extreme care. Thornless varieties offer an easy, pain-free alternative.
Other benefits of thornless climbing roses include
- Easier to train on trellises and arbors without injuring your hands
- Safer for children and pets
- Less risk of scratching furniture or siding if planting next to a structure
- More versatility for cutting and arranging bouquets
So if you want gorgeous roses without the hassle and hazard of thorns, be sure to seek out thorn-free options.
Top Thornless Climbing Roses
Many old garden roses and modern hybrids offer thornless or nearly thornless varieties perfect for climbing Here are some of the best options to consider for your garden
Eden Climber
With large fully double blossoms boasting a strong damask fragrance this repeat-blooming Eden rose lives up to its heavenly name. The flexible canes reach 10-12 feet tall but have very few thorns.
New Dawn
One of the most popular climbing roses, New Dawn produces abundant soft pink flowers all season long. Its flexible stems can reach 20 feet but remain thorn-free.
Zephirine Drouhin
Valued for its lovely bourbon-rose scent, Zephirine Drouhin bears semi-double cherry pink blooms from spring until fall. This vigorous climber is nearly thornless.
Cecil Brunner
Also known as the Sweetheart Rose, this polyantha rose has clusters of small, perfectly formed pink buds. It’s adaptable to climbing up columns and has few thorns.
American Beauty
A nostalgic old garden rose, American Beauty has large, cupped blooms in bright crimson. Its thornless stems can climb up to 20 feet.
Lady Banks
Lady Banks roses belong to the Rosa banksiae species from China known for being thornless. Common varieties include white (Alba Plena) and yellow (Lutea). They have a rambling growth habit.
Climbing Iceberg
A mutation of the beloved shrub rose Iceberg, this climbing form offers the same prolific white blooms all season long on nearly thornless flexible canes.
For more varieties, check with reputable rose nurseries to ask about their thornless climbing options. Rogue Valley Roses in Oregon offers many thorn-free and nearly thorn-free roses for mail order in the US.
Growing Tips for Thornless Climbers
Caring for thornless climbing roses is largely the same as growing any rosebush. Here are some key tips:
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Sun and soil: Pick a spot with at least 6 hours of direct sun and fertile, well-draining soil. Roses thrive with lots of sunlight.
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Support: Install a trellis, pillar, arbor, or fence for the roses to climb up. Anchor flexible new canes to guide their growth.
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Planting: Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and plant at the same depth or slightly higher than the rose grew in the nursery pot.
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Water: Water thoroughly after planting and then regularly to maintain moist (but not soggy) soil. About 1-2 inches per week is ideal.
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Fertilizer: Feed climbing roses with a balanced fertilizer once per month during the growing season for abundant blooms.
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Pruning: Cut back each main cane by about 1/3 its length before growth resumes in spring. Remove dead or damaged growth as needed.
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Protection: Wrap canes with burlap or foam insulation for protection in very cold winters. Mulch the root zone to conserve moisture and insulate roots.
Follow these tips and your thornless climbers will flourish, growing vigorously and rewarding you with bountiful blooms. Be sure to choose disease-resistant varieties when available. With their easy-care nature and lack of prickles, thornless climbing roses offer some of the best features of roses without the drawbacks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about growing thornless climbing roses:
Are thornless roses less hardy than regular roses?
Most thornless roses are just as winter hardy and disease resistant as their thorny counterparts. They are not more delicate or weaker despite the lack of thorns. Choose varieties rated for your USDA hardiness zone.
Do I still need to wear gloves when pruning thornless roses?
Thornless roses may still have the occasional prickle, so lightweight gloves are recommended for protection when handling stems. But you won’t need the same heavy-duty rose gloves required for very thorny varieties.
How often do thornless climbers bloom?
Most modern thornless climbers are repeat-bloomers, providing flowers continuously from spring through fall frost. Old garden roses may bloom only once or a few times per season, but have exceptionally large blooms and fragrance.
Should I fertilize and prune thornless roses differently?
You can care for thornless roses just as you would any other rose variety – no changes needed in terms of feeding, pruning, or other care. Follow standard recommendations for rose bushes.
What’s the best way to train thornless climbers?
Secure the flexible stems in place using plant ties or gentle twine to guide their growth. Avoid abrasive materials like wire that could damage the more delicate thornless canes.
Go Prickle-Free with Thornless Roses
If you love the beauty of roses but not the thorny stems, choosing thornless climbing varieties is the perfect solution. With a vast range of flower colors, forms, and fragrances available, you can enjoy these iconic blooms without painful pricks. Be sure to select disease-resistant, repeat-blooming types suited for your growing zone. With proper care, thornless climbers will transform fences, arbors, and walls into flowering focal points in your garden.
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