IMO, most OGR colors would go fine with Complicata. What overwhelms it is large, very double flowers. So I'd stick with another single or semi-double.

I think it would be gorgeous with Hebe's Lip, though that isn't a climber.

Interesting, thanks! I was thinking of trying Baltimore Belle, and wondering whether they'd bloom around the same time or not.

Where in the world are you?

Here, Baltimore Belle blooms at the very end of the main flush - early July. It is also big enough to eat several so-called 'large' arches.

I'm in southern Indiana (zone 6a). For whatever reason I'm drawn to monster plants.

I guess I was trying to think of something that would offer a little contrast without overpowering Complicata's color. So nothing hot pink. Fewer thorns would be preferred but not necessary. Hips too—preferred, but not necessary. This arch is visible from the front of my house but set far enough back that I won't be passing through it much in the colder months. A rebloom would be nice since Complicata only blooms once, but that's not really necessary as I have a lot of colorful stuff happening in the surrounding area. I always prioritize disease resistance and hardiness over reblooming as I am a lazy/organic gardener. I am thinking about trying Fantin-Latour as a climber as it seems like it would offer some visual contrast with the pale double blooms, at eye level, without overpowering the Complicata.

I have seen Complicata in Paris. I would suggest a white rose to contrast. The color was a bit bright and I don't think would blend well with OGR soft pink.

I’ve seen Complicata in person. The flowers looked like a prettier version of Nearly Wild. What I do remember about this rose is that it SUCKERS like crazy so you need to allow space for that but she was stunning!

I'm not sure about the color combination (or texture, or bloom style), but 'William Lobb' occurred to me. A lanky purple moss, makes a good, not too large climber, once blooming. I don't know about disease resistance where you live. No equally rangy mid-pink old rose comes to mind: that would be the best solution. 'Fantin-Latour' I agree might work, though mine are shrubby; would 'New Dawn' or its sport 'Awakening' be a possibility? They might bloom later, though. Another one that comes to mind is the pale-yellow-fading-to-white once-blooming Wichuriana rambler 'Glenn Dale'. It's a Van Fleet rose, so ought to be hardy, and mine don't get too big for an arch, though they live in rough conditions. It is very thorny. Or, better, 'Sombreuil'? Lovely, reblooming, likely to be hardy in your area, substantial but perhaps not enormous. I have a couple of plants of 'Complicata' growing here and there. One is in rough grass in an outer corner, and I've had an idea of planting 'Agatha Rose', a tough suckering pink Gallica, with it to keep it company. In the case of 'Complicata' the white eye brightens the pink considerably.

This is such a perfectly timed post! I was convinced to buy Complicata as a substitute for Arthur Hillier. I love monster sized roses too :) Since I have never seen Complicata in person, the description on HMF scared me a little. My plan was (and still is) to plant it between Frühlingsduft (pale yellow and pink) and Apple Jack. Next to AP is a William Lobb. I have no idea how it is going to look in the end, but I figure I can always move the roses if it looks awful.