There are very few repeat-blooming climbing roses for zone 4. One that might work is John Davis, a short climber with pretty pink flowers and unusually attractive foliage and stems. It is cane-hardy in Minneapolis (maybe not every winter).

you could try victorian memory aka isabella skinner - i've heard it can get fairly tall and is hardy through zone 2

Here is a link that might be useful: help me find

William Baffin is rated to zone 2 but like Michaelg said, in zone 4 you're going to suffer a lot of winter cane loss so any climber you get won't ever be a huge giant or anything. Another one rated to zone 3 is Improved Blaze (or called New Blaze sometimes). There are a couple of beauties rated to zone 5 that with a lot of winter protection might work, New Dawn and Zephirin Drouhin, which happens to also be thornless! But those would be starting from the ground up every season so they'll never be true climbers.

There's always clematis!

Thank you Michael and Kandi. I have never seen John Davis or Isabella, so I gather they are not good for my area.

Seil, Yes indeed, there's always clematis. In fact, I plan to grow one WITH the climber. I made a vow years ago to never plant a climbing or tall rose without a clematis growing through it.

Is Zepherin Drouhin a repeat bloomer? It grows well here (at least in the nurseries), but I've avoided it because I thought it blooms only once.

I grew New Dawn here for years (at my last house), but its blossoms are really pale and it tends to ramble.

You need a rose that is cane-hardy in your climate. ZD is not, nor does it repeat much.

I am in zone 4; I have John Davis on a trellis and John Cabot.They grow very well here. I have posted these pics previously-hope they do not bore everyone. My choice would be JC as his leaves are darker,prettier than JD. JD also leans to mildew prone for me, even tho he has plenty of sun and circ.

JOHN DAVIS
{{gwi:293453}}

JOHN CABOT
{{gwi:263243}}

Goodluck with your choice!

Oh my, how gorgeous! I love that JC too. I'll look for it and hope it will be as lovely as yours. Thanks for the pics - I doubt anyone is bored by them.

Daisy, your climbers look wonderful!

My John Davis had mildew problems too, but I would say repeated more than the plant of Cabot I've observed. What is your experience with repeat bloom?

JD might be better for the rebloom here too-yes, when I think about it. Both get trimmed back frequently, JC moreso because he is visible from the street. I sacrifice some potential buds when I give them haircuts. Its worth it to me to keep them from growing wild. We do walk thru these openings everyday. Its a good tradeoff for me. I do not winter protect. They are both leading to a cement drive or porch which hasn't seemed to bother them.I had at least 3 different roses planted at these trellises beforehand that died over our winters.

Sayhellonow-perhaps you don't want a climber(?) Your fence backdrop sounds lovely-you may wish for something that blooms more consistantly about 4ft. tall (what-ever color)with your choosen climatis bounding about the fence--up and behind the rose for drama. Do keep in mind a climatis will compete with the rose for sunlight and nutrients. I chopped out a climatis shading out John Cabot on one side. I would not have believed it would happen to a tough guy like him.