Climbing rose Fourth of July
* Common name: Climbing rose Fourth of July
Climbing rose Fourth of July in bloom.
(Credit: All American Rose Selections)
* Botanical name: Rosa ‘WEKroalt’
* What it is: Fourth of July is a climbing rose that got its name because it reminded the breeder (Tom Carruth and Weeks Roses) of fireworks going off with its sparkled, eye-grabbing, bicolor, red-and-white flowers.
The flowers are semi-double, ruffled, and borne in clusters. Plants often rebloom sporadically after June’s main show. Excellent disease resistance and good enough overall to win a 1999 All-America Rose Selections award.
* Size: Canes can reach 10 to 14 feet tall with support. (You’ll have to tie or guide the canes since roses don’t cling on or twine up supports on their own).
* Where to use: Grow up any trellis, arbor or pergola. Or train to ramble across a picket fence. With guidance, climbers like this will also meander up and out the branching of a small tree. Flowers best in full sun.
* Care: Scatter organic granular fertilizer formulated for roses around the base in March and again in June. Work compost into the soil at planting. Keep consistently damp for best performance (water the soil, not over the leaves), but roses can go without water except in extended hot, dry spells.
Starting in year three, thin out excess branches and shorten overly long arms at the end of each winter. Mound three to four extra inches of mulch around the base to insulate the crown over winter, then pull it back in spring.
* Great partners: Purple salvia, purple allium, and lavender are three good color-coordinated perennial partners. Pair with boxwoods for a more formal look.