I'm thinking Florentina for excellent disease resistance. Don't grow it, but it gets good press. Quick Silver is pretty disease resistant for me, but not an ADR winner like Florentina. Florentina's blooms come in tight clusters with good visibility from below, looking up. Quick Silver, at least mine do, points its flowers mostly upward, strong necks. So looking up from below is not the best vantage point. QS also may struggle to fill in the space being a short climber. I grew it as a climber but now as a bush. It really needs its canes forced horizontally or it will bloom on long, cane tips mostly, not along the cane, mostly just the tips.

Moses.

James Galway is very strong here. Beautiful too.

Isabella Skinner (aka "Victorian Memory"). It might be hard to find, but bone hardy (Z2!), lovely pink, great repeat (slows down in hot weather). Little scent worth mentioning, though someone on HMF says "lovely scented". But it is disease free for me, and THAT is saying something. For some strange reason, HMF lists it primarily as a shrub. NOT! Mine is 10' tall at a minimum, growing up into a volunteer dogwood tree that sprouted in the middle of the rose, and I was too lazy to remove until it was big enough that Isabella was leaning over it, lol. Now the dogwood is 15' tall, and Isabella reaches almost to the top. She's a pain to prune in that situation, but so lovely I make the effort.

Thank you all for responding. Great ideas here!!!

Moses, Florentina IS a great rose! I'm surprised that you don't grow it. It's even healthy in shade, but requires good sun to bloom and excellent sun for great repeat bloom. Gorgeous rose. I hadn't considered another, but will have to observe the arbor's sun exposure a bit more.

I also grow Quicksilver, but moved it from its fence position as it was not tip hardy. In fact, this year it's starting from the ground up. Maybe it will evetually make a short pillar.:( I was sorely disappointed and planted RiseUPLilacDays in its place.

Sheila, thank you for the feedback on James Galway. I've always been interested in this one. How is the rebloon?

Fig... Victorian Memory is sadly another has been that struggled here growing backwards. I was shocked given its reputation for hardiness, but after trying twice I gave up and dug out its dead roots last year. Malvern Hill is growing in its place, fingers crossed. I'm happy that you are able to grow it well and a bit jealous. It's such a beautiful rose. I think Sheila grows it in a natural setting where it flourishes. Oh well.

Vaporvac,

I’m really sorry about such unfortunate circumstances. Here are my adult climbers:

New Dawn — an absolute beast. Huge, easily covers my neighbor’s fence, and didn’t lose a single branch during this harsh winter. Unfortunately, it’s a one-time but breathtaking bloomer.

Rosarium Uetersen — very vigorous and a truly lovely rose. Multiple flushes, very eye-catching, and extremely healthy.

Eden — I have five of them (two white, two regular, one pink). Unfortunately, none are very vigorous—around 6 ft tall. Moderately healthy, with some frost damage on canes.

Golden Opportunity — died back to ground level but bounced back very quickly. Still young, hasn’t had a full flush yet.

Peach Melba — incredibly healthy and vigorous, blooms all season, zero winter damage. Highly recommend if you can find it. Mine is from Palatine.

Colette — very healthy, no winter damage, strong first flush. Compact (around 6 ft), not as vigorous as Peach Melba, but I love it—considering getting another.

Florentina — a very solid choice. Great disease resistance and strong first flush.

Quicksilver — took the most winter damage but is recovering now. Performs well, though more like a shrub than a true climber.

Barock (Tantau, from Palatine) — had some damage but is recovering fast. Unfortunately, likely not widely available.

Here’s a list of climbers expected at AJ Run next week.

You might also want to check Burger Farms—they’re supposed to receive their roses next week as well.

Vapor how about Collette? My baby one did not experience any die back. We did not get as low as you did only low teens, but no snow cover at all which completely killed 60 new boxwood I planted last june.

Vapor,

I got Florentina from Antique Rose Emporium a couple years ago, but gave it to my niece to plant at her farm. When my Lady Ashe succumbed to Rose Rosette Virus, at about the same time as I got the Florentina, I decided to eliminate all the climbers growing on the fence at the back of my bed. The climbers obstructed the view of my roses for passers by as they walked along the outside of the fence which butts a small parking lot used by employees at a hospital administrative buildings on the other side of the parking lot from my home.

I got Florentina from Antique Rose Emporium a couple years ago, but gave it to my niece to plant at her farm. When my Lady Ashe succumbed to Rose Rosette Virus, at about the same time as I got the Florentina, I decided to eliminate all the climbers growing on the fence at the back of my bed. The climbers obstructed the view of my roses for passers by as they walked along the outside of the fence which butts a small parking lot used by employees at otospital administrative buildings on the other side of the parking lot from my home.

I put a Quietness in (what else?😁), where Lady Ashe grew. Quick Silver was reduced in size, in situ, to be a shrub, marginally successfully so far....wants to send out octopus arms with flowers only at the tips. I may let it return to climbing status because it obediently sent out many flowers from short laterals emerging from horizontally trained canes.

Lady Ashe did black spot, and her blooms came on long, very vertical laterals that emerged from her horizontally trained canes, in true climbing hybrid tea fashion. I can't recommend her for your purpose, Vapor, all the blooms will extend above the arbor. You need a climber having short laterals, IMHO.

Moses.

Elena, THANK YOU!!!Not surprisingly, we share a similar experience with those we both grow such as New Dawn, Quicksilver and Florentina. ND is too huge for this spot and I already grow many multiples of her!!! She was my first rose and my avatar! :) I'm not surprised that Golden Opportunity died back as her parent, Autumn Sunset, experienced some serious die-back this winter (for the first time, I might add). Sad to hear PinPE isn't vigourous, but at least I can strike her off the list.Have never considered RU due to her strong colour that would fight with other roses in this space, but I think she might work here since she'll be separate from everything else. Thanks for the suggestion. Peach Melba sounds like a dream if I could find her!

Dianela, I adore Collette, but as Elena is practically in my back yard and our roses seem to grow so similarly, I guess I'll have to accept she won't work here. However, I have other areas for the future!!! 😅 Thank you for enabling!!! Sorry about your baby boxwood with though.

@elenazone6, have your bought from either of those places? Do you know what they cost? Are they grafted? I'm game for that since we've been trying for a few years to get something up this arbour.

I'm also considering just planting another Cl.The Fairy (a perfect climber), but I wanted something different.

You're funny Moses! I'm happy to obstruct the view of neighbors! LOL!

Dianela,

There are winter hardy boxwood in all heights: dwarf, standard, and tall, that should take your zone 7a pretty good.

Moses.

Moses I planted Babylon Beauty Boxwood which is supposed to be hardy to zone 5 and resistant to boxwood blight. They were planted all around the house surrounding my earth angels and were growing happily. In october we had a day that was 88 and by that Evening it was 22 degrees. The next day remained at 27 and then back to 80s. With a few exceptions they are all completely dead, turned white and bark split open to the bottom. I do not know what happened but it was obviously cold damage. The roses in that bed didn’t suffer any damage. I do not think I will be using that brand again.

I am seriously considering just edging it with a drift rose and forgetting the boxwood completly.

Vapor, are you sure you actually had Isabella? I just can't believe it wasn't hardy for you. Maybe it was another problem than winter dieback? It grows like a weed here, in yucky red clay, with partial shade. It supposedly loves cooler temps than I have, and I actually was afraid it wouldn't thrive in my summer heat. But I've also never had so much as a tip to die back from the cold, even with brutal swings like Diane mentioned that we had this Spring...and it had 4-6" of new growth all over when temps hit 22F for hours, after weeks of 70's and 80's. Many of my other roses were badly burned. I guess it's another lesson that every rose has its place, and every place has its rose(s). Here's hoping you can find the perfect rose for your place.

My Isabella, VM, attracts stem girdler here and gets BS. I love the blooms. I think it was healthier in Alaska.

James Galway reblooms but I am not sure at what frequency here. I don't really keep track. It seems very strong.

Vaporvac, I have stopped by Burger Farm—they’re just unpacking their roses. Lots of DA varieties, but noticeably smaller compared to AJ Rahn’s. Very traditional selection overall; nothing really caught my eye, thankfully. Prices are $42 for regular roses and $60 for DAs.

I’m guessing neither nursery really knows the rootstock—especially Burger Farm; they could be coming from different suppliers. Next time I stop by AJ Rahn’s, I’ll ask—maybe they’ll have a better idea.

Have you thought about the climber sold as 'Sombreuil'??? Heckuva generous bloomer, and disease-resistant, too.

Tangerine Skies:

Not a large climber. I grow it as a tall shrub. I don’t know if it’s even a medium climber.

Kordes says zone 5, but who really knows. It’s not that cold here.

hmf says ”sparse continuous bloom …” - Productive here. Not like cream veranda though; 1 step below. It’s in the back of the yard; sun from 11 to 3:30 - 4 at best.

It’s no-spray “health” is not an exaggeration.

Just found this: Chris said topping out at 8 to 9 feet

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/4713687/tangerine-skies#n=130

You guys are the best! I'll comment in a bit but I wanted to ask before I forget , if anyone has grown Harlequin ?

I have grown Harlequin - lots of climbers, yep! It's hardy but for me wasn't a great repeater or very tall. It has some nice spring blooms but it's stiff and upright rather than a rose that bent easily over an arch. It's healthy though and that is an asset.

Now I'll hush and let others chime in.

Cynthia

My Guirlande today a but passed its best. The picture doesnt show how truly large it is. Going by Cynthia’s hardiness review it could be a real winner.

In picking a climber, the chief consideration here in Zone 5 is how much each winter will set it back: many "climbers" only get to be shrub-sized here. The obvious answer for your criteria is a rose you already have, 'New Dawn'. As others have mentioned, you may like its sport 'Awakening'.

Among the roses you're considering, I grow 'James Galway', which has good repeat and is quite shade-tolerant for me. However, it won't reach more than maybe 7' here. No other repeating Austins get big enough to climb, in this climate. ('Constance Spry' will, I am told, but it doesn't repeat.)

'Reine des Violettes' is a short climber for me (6', with support), and has good hardiness, some repeat, and reasonable shade-tolerance, as well as a pleasant scent.

'Viking Queen' may be something to consider. It's about as hardy as 'James Galway', here.

'Isabella Skinner' has been fairly indifferent for me, after four years, though I can attest that it is hardy.

No doubt there is a Canadian rose that would fulfill your requirements. If the color of 'William Baffin' doesn't appeal to you, perhaps you could consider its pink sport 'Lucy Irene', which is otherwise identical.

But if you're after a profuse display that will wow people on the street, the best answer I can suggest is a once-bloomer, 'Paul Ricault'. With support it grows to 10'+ here, is fully tip-hardy, and puts on a stunning show for about four weeks each year.

This winter was extremely cold, and I didn’t have the time or energy to properly prepare my climbers. In previous years, I always tied the canes together with rope and, when very cold weather was forecast, covered them with frost cloth. They all survived with little to no dieback.

I’m hoping to follow this protocol again in the future.

Vaporvac, I have two very new climbers from AA—Perfume Royale and Divinia—and I have high hopes for both. Divinia already looks very vigorous and promising. I’ll post updates on them soon.

@elenazone6, How tall Is your peach Melba?

Vapor, I’d say about 9’ for now. Honestly, I didn’t think I needed a second rose on the other side of the arch—but I ended up planting one this spring.

PS. Not a great photo—just snapped it quickly. She’s very full; last year she gave me 7 (!) basal shoots.

As they say, a picture is worth 1,000 words! That is Phenomenal. I can't use a rose on the other side of the Arch, but I'm still curious what rose you planted this spring.

Its a new one Climbing Perfume Royale .

Thanks again everyone for your very thoughtful responses.Jerijen,your post led to a deep late night/early morning rabbit hole of research into Sombreiul. Ultimately, I worry abour hardiness, but what a rose!!! Perhaps for a less conspicuous spot.

Riis,, I agree Tangering Skies is probably too short, but has always sounded yummy It's one that needs a bit more attention as I think it's fairly hardy.

dianela, Gd'Amour IS tip hardy and is a top ffave, but I have thmmme planted in this garden and another friends so looking for diversity with so many I haven't tried. Yours is GORGEOUS!!!

Cynthia, yyou get your own post since I don't want to lose a long post! Thanks for Harlequin information. That's long been a contender. Perhaps you'll post some pics this year. Have you ever grown Kordes' Rosanna? t looks like one you would like and it's quite harrdy here when I've seen it locally. The colour is a bit strong for this spot, but really striking.

Ross very informative post. While I already grow multiple Viking Queens, the infor on JGalway is great and that on your other suggestions will definitely make iiit into the "Master File" :) Viking Queen,Guirlane,d'Amour, Purple Skyliner, Ghislaine de Feligond and of course New Dawn are some of thefavourites of those I grow. My 3 Awakening are not as vigourous as New Dawn, but none of them are in as good light. I think that's key with this rose. Thanks again everyone. I think there's aa winner. I'll update this post, but feel free to continue on with comments!

One of my favorite climbers is HIGHWIRE FLYER. It is a very healthy, vigorous grower, rarely see any leaves with blackspot, flowers are a hot pink that are very prolific and show up all over the yard. I have a white Penelope planted next to one that is beautiful. I have 3 of them - in my opinion - one of the strongest growers with the most flowers. I trim mine as a standard and fan out the branches. It is an eyecatcher! Also love Tangerine Skies, beautiful color, Peppermint Party, also another beauiful colored one, but HF is just great!

Judith

I realize this is an "older" post, but anyone have issues with their Florentina rose, not blooming? Mine is 2 or 3 years old, own root. It's in full sun and has been fertilized. I pruned a large branch as it had winter dieback. Other than, it does have new growth at the base and is probbably 3 feet tall here in zone 5b, NW, Illinois.

I bought what I thought was Florintina from Lowe's over a year ago. The rose grew well, I didnt worry it didnt bloom the first year, but expected blooms this year. I got one. It was red - I guess its Florintina but dont know. I was about to dig it up when it bloomed but guess will let it stay the rest of the season and relocate it elsewhere and let it grow however it wants. Not pleased with its lack of blooms - I have a Pearly Gates from High Country Roses that was a band rose and its blooming well with several blooms. Wondering if I got a dud no name rose.....Anyway, not happy with it and doubt I would buy another.

Judith

Here, Florentina is a great bloomer.

Vaporvac,

Did you pick your rose yet?

I had a similar experience @bellarosa, but mine was in a poor location. She was slow to establish in the new one, but has repaid the favor multi-fold. I asked about it here at the time and the consensus was that she's slow to establish. Currently, she is a magnificent rose and bloomer. Hang in there and I think she'll become a favourite!

@alameda/zone 8/East Texas, That sounds like my experience exactly! I saw them at Lowe's a few years ago and they were definitely Florentina. I kick myself now for not having bought another, but at the time I was barely getting any bloom. Such is life. LOL!

Thanks, Vaporvac! I'll try to be patient with Florentina! lol

@mmmm12COzone5, Thanks for asking! I did choose 1. I meant to write about it but ended up doing so on another thread I believe. I'll try and take a picture tomorrow As well as post pics From when When I 1st received it. It was a beautiful rose From Alexander Nurseries About whom I cannot say enough good things. Service with a smile and so quick!... But to answer your question The winner was Peach Melba!😍😻❤

These were taken upon arrival and potting...4-26-26. I'll try and get a picture of it today. It's probably twice the size.

As promised.

Wow! That has really taken off.

That’s a beautiful rose plant, Vapor. I’m supposing its own root? I hear so much positive about Peach Melba and I think I should try it sometime.

Another rec for Alexander Nurseries (who has 'Peach Melba' on their list, and some other rare roses as well). The own-root band of 'Quietness' (thanks for the suggestion, Moses!) that I got from them a month ago already has 3 new basals and is taking off really well. This was a $25 jumbo band and so nicely rooted that I didn't even waste time putting it into a gallon pot -- it's in a 2-gallon pot (and has buds!):

That looks fantastic!!! I love Quiteness. mine, grown from an esteemed member's cuttings has survived a LOT!!! and still persists. @judijunebugarizonazn8, I'm hoping for grreat things from this rose. I almost chose one I already grew, but can never resist something new. Mine was a GALLON size for $38.

@mmmm12COzone5, Thank you so much. I'll try to comment on your informative post. My keyboard is acting up....guess it needs charging.

@judijunebugarizonazn8, It is an Own root rose. I think most of their roses are If I recall correctly.