Climbing roses are more than just garden plants—they’re living works of art that bring vertical drama, old-world romance, and long-lasting color to your outdoor space. Whether you’re looking to cover a trellis, fence, or arbor, the best climbing roses offer a combination of lush blooms, heady fragrance, and vigorous growth that turns plain walls into floral masterpieces. In this guide, we’ll explore ten exceptional climbing rose varieties that thrive across USDA zones 5–9, each with its own unique charm—from rapid growers to fragrant favorites.
Ready to find the perfect rose for your garden goals? Let’s climb into it!
🌸 1. New Dawn – The Fastest Growing Climbing Rose
If you’re dreaming of a rose that grows fast and looks fabulous doing it, New Dawn is your go-to climber. This vigorous variety is beloved for its romantic, blush-pink blooms that appear early and keep coming throughout the season. Ideal for impatient gardeners, New Dawn quickly scales trellises, fences, and arbors—reaching heights of up to 20 feet in just a few years.
Why You’ll Love It:
- Rapid growth rate: Perfect for covering large spaces in no time
- Color & charm: Soft pink petals with a subtle fragrance
- Hardy performer: Thrives in USDA zones 5–9 with minimal fuss
Garden Tip: Train New Dawn early while the canes are flexible, and enjoy a dreamy pastel cascade by its second season.
🌷 2. Zephirine Drouhin – The Thornless, Longest Blooming Climbing Rose
For gardeners who want beauty without the battle scars, Zephirine Drouhin is a dream come true. This charming cherry-pink climbing rose is nearly thornless, making it ideal for high-traffic areas, small gardens, or spaces where kids and pets play. But its appeal goes beyond its smooth canes—it’s also one of the longest blooming climbing roses, producing waves of fragrant flowers from spring to fall.
Why You’ll Love It:
- Thornless canes: Gentle on hands and easy to train
- Repeat bloomer: Flowers nearly non-stop throughout the season
- Classic fragrance: Sweet, nostalgic scent with every bloom
Garden Tip: While Zephirine Drouhin can be prone to powdery mildew in humid climates, good air circulation and regular maintenance will keep it thriving beautifully in USDA zones 5–9.
🌼 3. Golden Showers – The Tree-Climbing Ray of Sunshine
If you’re looking to brighten a shady spot or add cheerful color to your garden canopy, Golden Showers is your golden ticket. This climbing rose produces vibrant yellow blooms that gradually fade to creamy white, creating a dynamic display throughout the growing season. It’s especially well-suited for climbing trees, fences, or trellises where other roses might struggle.
Why You’ll Love It:
- Color-changing blooms: Yellow to cream for visual interest
- Shade tolerant: Performs well even in lower light conditions
- Repeat flowering: Long blooming season from spring to fall
Garden Tip: Golden Showers is a tough, adaptable rose with a strong second flush. It’s a reliable performer in USDA zones 5–9, especially in partial shade or areas with dappled sunlight.
🤍 4. Climbing Iceberg – The Prolific White Bloomer
Elegant, effortless, and endlessly blooming—Climbing Iceberg is a timeless favorite for a reason. Known for its crisp white flowers and abundant flowering habit, this rose is a must-have for gardeners seeking a graceful, low-maintenance climber. It thrives in a variety of climates and is especially loved for its disease resistance and repeat blooming nature.
Why You’ll Love It:
- Masses of white blooms: Clean, classic look for any garden style
- Blooms all season: Continuous flowering from spring through fall
- Low-maintenance charm: Very disease-resistant and easy to grow
Garden Tip: Train Climbing Iceberg against a sunny wall or pergola for a snowstorm of blooms that keep on giving—perfect for USDA zones 5–9.
🌹 5. Don Juan – The Most Fragrant Climbing Rose
Looking to add passion and perfume to your garden? Don Juan is your leading man. With velvety, deep red blooms and a fragrance that turns heads, this climbing rose brings dramatic elegance to arbors, walls, and trellises. It’s not just a beauty—it’s a hardy performer that handles cold winters well, thriving in USDA zones 5–9.
Why You’ll Love It:
- Bold red blooms: Large, double flowers with a classic romantic look
- Powerful scent: Intensely fragrant—ideal near patios or seating areas
- Cold-hardy: Handles winter better than many other climbers
Garden Tip: Don Juan pairs beautifully with pale or pastel companion plants, creating contrast that really makes its color and scent pop.
🌸 6. Climbing Peace – The Classic Beauty Reimagined
A symbol of harmony and resilience, the Climbing Peace rose brings the iconic charm of the world-famous Peace rose to vertical spaces. With its soft pink petals edged in creamy yellow, this variety delivers a graceful, romantic palette that complements both cottage and modern garden styles.
Why You’ll Love It:
- Iconic blooms: Gentle blend of pink, cream, and yellow hues
- Elegant form: Ideal for trellises and pergolas in formal or informal gardens
- Glossy foliage: Rich green leaves enhance the soft floral tones
Garden Tip: Climbing Peace performs beautifully in full sun and is well-suited to USDA zones 5–9. Provide some protection from harsh wind to keep the blooms pristine.
💛 7. Golden Gate – The Cheerful Floribunda Climber
If your garden needs a burst of color and a citrusy twist, Golden Gate is your go-to climber. This floribunda-style rose stuns with clusters of golden-yellow blooms that radiate joy from spring through fall. With its fruity fragrance and strong disease resistance, it’s a standout for both beauty and reliability.
Why You’ll Love It:
- Vibrant color: Golden clusters that light up any vertical space
- Citrus scent: A refreshing, lemony fragrance
- Low-maintenance vigor: Robust growth with great disease resistance
Garden Tip: Perfect for pergolas or large trellises, Golden Gate shines brightest in full sun and thrives in USDA zones 5–9. Its upright, bushy habit also makes it ideal as a privacy screen.
🌷 8. Eden Rose – The Fairytale Classic
Also known as Pierre de Ronsard, the Eden Rose is pure garden romance. With creamy white petals softly blushed in pink, its full, old-fashioned blooms cascade like poetry across arches, fences, and trellises. This variety is beloved for its heavy, nostalgic blooms and is a top choice for creating that enchanted, fairytale vibe in your garden.
Why You’ll Love It:
- Vintage appeal: Large, cupped blooms with soft pastel tones
- Long-lasting flowers: Each bloom holds well, even in heat
- Graceful growth: Ideal for smaller garden spaces and vertical accents
Garden Tip: Eden Rose prefers drier climates and well-drained soil, making it ideal for Mediterranean-style gardens. Best grown in USDA zones 5–9.
🧡 9. Polka – The Apricot Showstopper
If you adore warm, peachy tones and lush, ruffled petals, Polka is bound to steal your heart. This climbing rose delivers waves of apricot-orange blooms with a delicate, paper-like texture that adds whimsy and warmth to any garden space. Each flower is large and romantic, making Polka a standout both up close and from afar.
Why You’ll Love It:
- Unique color palette: Apricot-peach tones with vintage vibes
- Repeat flowering: Blooms in flushes all season long
- Charming texture: Wavy, ruffled petals add visual interest
Garden Tip: Polka performs beautifully in full sun and reaches impressive heights on walls or large structures. It thrives best in USDA zones 5–9 with consistent watering and occasional deadheading.
💗 10. Candy Land – The Playful, Disease-Resistant Climber
Looking to add a pop of whimsy to your garden? Candy Land is a vibrant, striped climbing rose that’s impossible to ignore. With bold pink blooms streaked with creamy white, this variety brings color, energy, and a soft apple-like scent to your vertical garden design. Even better—it’s highly disease-resistant and incredibly easy to grow.
Why You’ll Love It:
- Playful blooms: Striped petals in bubblegum pink and cream
- Fragrant & fun: Subtle apple scent adds to its charm
- Strong performance: Glossy foliage and excellent disease resistance
Garden Tip: Candy Land grows tall—up to 15 feet or more—so give it a sturdy structure to climb. It thrives in USDA zones 5–9 and looks stunning when paired with softer-colored companions.
🌿 Final Thoughts: Let Your Garden Climb in Style
Whether you’re after fast growth, non-stop blooms, captivating fragrance, or unique colors, the best climbing roses offer something for every gardener and every space. From romantic classics like Eden and Don Juan to bold beauties like Candy Land and Polka, these climbing varieties turn ordinary walls, fences, and arbors into vertical flower shows.
With just a bit of planning and the right variety for your USDA zone, you can enjoy lush, vibrant displays that come back stronger each year. Climbing roses don’t just grow—they tell a story in every bloom. Now’s the perfect time to start writing yours.