7 Climbing Roses That Bloom All Summer – For Lasting Beauty & Fragrance

Roses are classic garden favorites, prized for their dramatically beautiful and fragrant flowers. Climbing roses are especially spectacular and can be used to cover arbors, trellises, fences, and walls. If you love their scent and look, try climbing roses that bloom all summer – and even in spring and fall.

The key thing to consider when growing climbing roses is whether they are single or repeat bloomers. Single bloomers have just one generous flush of flowers, usually in late spring or early summer. Most rambling roses are single bloomers, as well as some older varieties. Meanwhile, repeat-blooming roses may flower continuously throughout the growing season – though some varieties bloom more continuously than others.

Growing Climbing Roses

If you're just learning how to grow roses, then you'll be relieved to know that climbers have similar needs to other types of roses. The main difference is that pruning climbing roses is more focused on encouraging long stems and training them to cover supporting structures. Otherwise, the canes will grow long and simply flop over onto the ground.

In addition to choosing a variety with a good continuous blooming period, consider growing conditions and whether you can satisfy them. The rose you choose should be hardy in your planting zone and grow well in your soil type and the amount of sunlight and water you can provide.

Here are some reliable, beautiful, and continuously blooming rose varieties to help you start your search. To enjoy all the blooms these varieties have to offer, be sure to deadhead roses throughout the season to encourage new buds and flowers.

1. Iceberg

‘Iceberg’ is a must if you’re looking for a white rose and a light, sweet scent. This is a favorite of many rose growers for its vigorous growth, profuse flowering, and large, snow white blooms. Iceberg grows up to 15 feet (4.6m) tall and six feet (1.8m) wide.

You can grow this climbing rose in USDA zones 4 to 9. Provide it with full sun and well-drained, moist soil. Watch out for black spot and ensure good airflow when you prune this rose to minimize the risk of the disease.

2. Zephirine Drouhin

This heirloom variety has been around for more than 100 years. ‘Zephirine Drouhin’, available in the Shop, has large, deep pink flowers that reliably bloom from late spring to early fall. The flowers have a strong, beautiful aroma.

It thrives in zones 5 through 11 and grows especially large in warmer zones – up to 15 feet (4.5m). A full-sun position is best, but Zephirine Drouhin tolerates a little shade. It needs moist and well-drained soil.

3. New Dawn

Choose ‘New Dawn’ if you want continuous flowers on a quick-growing plant. New Dawn, available in the Shop, will vigorously grow up to 20 feet (6m) high and ten feet (3m) wide. It blooms continuously from June through September with soft, pink flowers.

New Dawn is resistant to most diseases and pests and is well-known for its low-maintenance needs. Provide full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Although it doesn’t need much attention, you should prune it yearly and deadhead throughout the summer.

4. Fourth of July

‘Fourth of July’ is named for the red and white striping on this rose's semi-double flowers, which bloom on repeat throughout the growing season. The blooms look striking but also smell delightful with a scent of fresh apples.

Fourth of July is tough and will tolerate worse conditions than many other roses, including pollution in urban settings. It does need full sun and grows best in zones 6 through 9 with loamy, slightly acidic soil that drains very well.

5. Royal Sunset

‘Royal Sunset’ is a repeat bloomer with pretty, apricot-colored flowers set nicely against glossy, dark green leaves. In addition to their attractive color, the flowers have a pretty, fruity fragrance. The canes on this rose are stiff and a little harder to work than those of other varieties. They can spread out to 10 feet (3m) wide. Grow ‘Royal Sunset’ in zones 6 through 10, in full sun, and in loamy, well-drained soil.

6. Lady of Shalott

If you want repeat blooms on a climbing rose but have limited space, try ‘Lady of Shalott.’ This is a smaller variety that only grows to about four feet (1.2m) tall and wide. The flowers bloom throughout the growing season in a striking shade of salmon-orange. The fragrance is subtle but pretty, reminiscent of spices.

You can grow Lady of Shalott in zones 4 through 11, so it has a wide hardiness range. It needs full sun but will tolerate a little shade. The soil should be rich, acidic, and well-drained but moist.

7. Don Juan

For a classic red rose, you can’t beat ‘Don Juan’. This climber will bloom on repeat with regular deadheading. The double flowers are large, velvety, and bright red. The strong fragrance of ‘Don Juan’ flowers is sweet and fruity.

Grow ‘Don Juan’ in full sun in zones 6 through 10. It prefers well-drained, moist, and rich soil. This is a less hardy variety than some other types, which means it may be more susceptible to some diseases and pests. Inspect it regularly for signs of a problem, so you can tackle it early.