11 Fast-Growing Climbing Roses for a Lush, Cottage-Garden Look

If you want to add a little drama to your garden structures, choose one of these fast-growing climbing roses.

Climbing roses growing on a trellis
Rosemary Calvert / Getty Images.

A garden mainstay, roses are usually planted in flower beds or as a border plant, but you can add additional height, dimension, and texture to your garden with climbing roses. These blooming shrubs with long, arching stems can grow along an arbor, fence, gazebo, pergola, or trellis and create visually pleasing areas in any landscape. Thriving in full sun, climbing roses do best when placed in an area that receives ample sunlight. Check the variety before purchasing, as some climbing roses prefer a respite from the heat and fare better with some shade. 

"Climbing roses are specifically bred for their ability to produce long, bendable canes that can be trained to grow vertically along a support structure," says Wes Harvell, rosarian at Jackson & Perkins. "They are ideal for creating vertical interest in gardens, covering walls, or adding height to structures." 

Our gardening experts share their favorite fast-growing climbing roses to plant for arbors, gazebos, trellises, and more.

  • Wes Harvell, rosarian at Jackson & Perkins, a full-service nursery considered the world's foremost producer and marketer of roses
  • Stephanie Waltz, rose trial coordinator for Star Roses and Plants, a company that partners with plant breeders to bring unique plants to the market
01 of 11

America Climbing

America climbing rose on a trellis

Jackson & Perkins

A fast-growing climbing rose, America Climbing can reach up to 12 feet high and grow up to 8 feet wide. "It has a strong fragrance, with coral, pink, and salmon blooms and dark green leaves," says Harvell.

  • Zones: 6 to 9
  • Sun: Full sun
  • Soil: Loamy, well-drained
02 of 11

Cherry Frost

Cherry Frost roses

Courtesy of Star Roses and Plants / Bloomables

Living in a colder region and still want to enjoy beautiful climbing roses? Grow Cherry Frost. "It has abundant, bright red blooms and is very disease-resistant," says Stephanie Waltz, rose trial coordinator for Star Roses and Plants.

  • Zones: 4 to 10
  • Sun: full sun
  • Soil: Well-draining soil
03 of 11

Cloud 10

Cloud 10 rose

Courtesy of Star Roses and Plants / Bloomables

If you love the classic look of an English rose, you'll want this climbing rose in your garden. The Cloud 10 produces beautiful white roses in the spring with a fragrant scent. It's also "a highly disease-resistant variety that does well anywhere," says Waltz.

  • Zones: 5 to 9
  • Sun: Full sun
  • Soil: Well-draining soil
04 of 11

Don Juan

Don Juan roses climbing across a fence.

Willy Sebastian / Getty Images

Want fragrant, bold, red roses? Consider the variety Don Juan. This climbing rose can handle hot weather and humidity and loves plenty of sun. "Don Juan is a great red southern climber that has been around since the 1950s and can take the heat and humidity," says Harvell. "It is fragrant and has large blooms up to 5 inches in diameter, with glossy dark green leaves."

  • Zones: 6 to 10
  • Sun: Full sun 
  • Soil: Well-draining, loamy soil
05 of 11

Fruity Petals

Fruity Petals rose

Courtesy of Star Roses and Plants / Bloomables

If you want to add vibrancy and color to your landscape, grow Fruity Petals for show-stopping roses. "Fruity Petals has a very unique ombre coral color with a yellow eye and ruffled petals," says Waltz. "It is a compact size of 6.5 feet for those who don’t have room for the larger climbers and gets absolutely covered in blooms!" Waltz says.

  • Zones: 4 to 9
  • Sun: Full sun
  • Soil: Loamy, well-draining soil
06 of 11

New Dawn

New Dawn Roses

Courtesy of Star Roses and Plants / Bloomables

With light pink flowers blooming in the spring that will continue throughout the summer, New Dawn will brighten up any area where you plant a hardy climbing rose. "New Dawn is an extremely fast, vigorous grower that will fill up your space quickly," says Waltz. "It is a prolific bloomer and has a great fragrance."

  • Zones: 5 to 9
  • Sun: Full sun
  • Soil: Well-draining soil
07 of 11

Peppermint Party

Peppermint party roses

Garden Media Group

Peppermint Party produces white and cream-colored roses with vibrant magenta or red edges with a fruity scent, making a statement in any garden. "The blooms can vary in color intensity from bloom to bloom and season to season," says Harvell. "The canes are medium in length, and the leaves are dark green and glossy." 

  • Zones: 5 to 9
  • Sun: Full sun
  • Soil: Loamy, well-draining soil
08 of 11

Joseph’s Coat

Joseph's Coat climbing rose in yellow and orange

Egypt Williams / Getty Images

Want many hues on one climbing rose vine? Opt for Joseph’s Coat. "The blooms are multi-colored, orange, pink, red, and yellow and are up to 4 inces wide," says Harvell. "The canes are long and arching, covered in dark green glossy foliage." This climbing rose has been around since the 1960s and is a popular choice. 

  • Zones: 5 to 9
  • Sun: Full sun
  • Soil: Loamy, well-draining soil
09 of 11

Polka

Polka rose

Courtesy of Star Roses and Plants / Bloomables

Polka roses will give you luscious, big, pastel orange roses in your backyard. "Polka has a strong fragrance and large 5-inch-plus blooms with a beautiful apricot color," says Waltz. It's her personal favorite. "I have it growing next to my front doorway," she says. 

  • Zones: 5 to 10
  • Sun: Full sun
  • Soil: Loamy, well-draining soil
10 of 11

Sally Holmes

Sally Holmes rose

izanbar / Getty Images

A versatile climbing rose, Sally Holmes produces delicate-looking flowers that can handle high temperatures. "The rose blooms are considered singles with 5 to 8 white petals with soft pink edges and bright yellow stamens," says Harvell. "Blooms are borne in large clusters with soft pink buds." 

  • Zones: 5 to 9
  • Sun: Full sun, part shade
  • Soil: Loamy, well-draining
11 of 11

Zephirine Drouhin

Rose Zephirine Drouhin
Ron Evans / Getty Images

Zephirine Drouhin dates back to the 1860s and grows well in cooler climates. This climbing rose produces 4 inch pink blooms with a strong fragrance, and has long arching canes up to 20 feet in length, says Harvell. When it comes time to prune your roses, you won't have to worry too much about being pricked by the thorns. "This variety is mostly thornless," says Harvell. Expect roses in the spring and fall when temperatures are cooler. 

  • Zones: 5 to 10
  • Sun: Full sun, part shade
  • Soil: Loamy, well-draining soil
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