Ramblers
The distinction between Ramblers and Climbers, two terms commonly used for tall-growing roses, is a somewhat hazy one. Both of them can climb up trees or be trained on high walls. We follow the widespread convention of distinguishing Ramblers as once-flowering roses producing masses of small flowers, and Climbing roses as those producing large flowers singly or in smaller groups, often in autumn as well as in midsummer. As in all aspects of nature there are areas of overlap, and some of the roses included here have flowers almost as large as those included in Noisettes and Climbing Roses: which classification a particular rose falls into may vary from country to country, and some rose organizations use quite different terminology.

Most Ramblers originated as crosses between wild roses of the Synstylae group, so called because the styles of their white, single flowers are united into a spike-like column. The Synstylae are all rambling roses, putting out long shoots every year, which produce sprays of scented flowers from each leaf bud. Crossed with Teas and Hybrid Teas, they produced the Ramblers; few roses make such a fine show, though most of them are only once-flowering.

In the early 19th century, rose breeders used the Mediterranean musk rose R. sempervirens to produce Ramblers such as ‘Adélaïde d’Orleans’. Next the Chinese musk rose R. multiflora was introduced to Europe, and from that another group was raised, of which ‘Turner’s Crimson Rambler’ and ‘Goldfinch’ are examples. Later still the Japanese roses R. wichurana and R. luciae were brought to Europe and North America, and these led to another distinct group with very shiny leaves, which includes ‘Alberic Barbier’ and ‘Dorothy Perkins’. The American Prairie rose, R. setigera, produced the enduringly popular ‘American Pillar’ . In each case the crossing of a large-flowered rose with the small-flowered Synstylae gave the typical growth and flowers of the Rambler, combined with greater cold-hardiness than the old Noisettes, although the hardiness of these roses does vary to some degree with the parentage.

Because Ramblers tend to throw up new shoots from the base, those that have flowered should be removed and the new shoots tied in while the plants are dormant.