Zepherine Drouhin is my favorite climber. She meets most of your requirements, being thornless, large hot pink blooms, continuous bloom as well as my earliest and latest bloomer. She can get some BS during the wet part of spring but shrugs it off, grows some new leaves, and goes on blooming. None of my other climbers bloom continuously- Dublin Bay, Sombreuil, Crepuscule, Reve d'Or, or New Dawn. You might check the antique rose forum- forums/rosesant. I haven't grown Old Blush. It's hard to find thornless roses, too.

Both the bush and the climber grow in Seattle area with little attention.

Thanks hemnancy & bboy, I appreciate the info.

Hemnancy, how big does your Zepherine Drouhin get? I was hoping for more of a medium pink, but hot pink might do, and it sounds like a good rose.

Bboy, you're the only person I've found who has grown or seen Old Blush in the Seattle area! Does the climber bloom long/well here?

Thanks again.
Laura

Here is a link to the thread in the rosesant forum that has photos. My hot pink may be your medium pink. It's just the typical Neyron rose color, common in many roses. My plant is growing up on a deck that is 8' off the ground at the top rail, and it grows higher than the deck and very wide. The photos may give you a better idea what ZD will do. My ZD has not been without at least a few flowers ever since spring, when she has the biggest flush. Some people don't have as continuous bloom as I do.

You could also do a search for Old Blush on that forum and find some info. Here's one thread, Cl Old Blush Rebloom-
http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/rosesant/msg0606473210341.html

Posted by trospero (My Page) on
Sat, Jun 17, 06 at 11:44
As with most climbing sports of bush forms, this is not generous with repeat. Expect a moderate late Summer flush but not much more than that. Otherwise an excellent rose.

Trospero is located in Oregon, I believe. Here's a thread with a photo-
http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/rosesant/msg051017571251.html
It seems even more hot pink than ZD. I guess I thought it was a lighter pink.

Here is a link that might be useful: Zepherine Drouhin photos

Old Blush is one of those you see around in old Seattle yards, where nobody is doing anything with them but they live and bloom. 'Madame Alfred Carriere' is another.

I've been to a park on Mercer Island where remnants of a garden included a 'Climbing Old Blush' that was all over some other shrubs, flowers looked pretty good. Otherwise I've seen it in an old Seattle garden or two, growing without special attention.