Finding the perfect variety of roses for shaded areas can be quite tricky, but rest assured we’ve got you covered. We put together this list of 8 white climbing roses that grow beautifully in shady areas.
Not only that, but we also include tips on how to successfully care for your plants so they grow into luscious, vibrant rose bushes.
Tips For Planting And Caring For White Climbing Roses In Shady Areas
The most important thing to keep in mind when caring for roses in shady areas is to be extra aware of the moisture levels of your plant.
Shady locations have less evaporation than locations that are in full sun; the lack of evaporation means that residual moisture will linger, leaving your plants wetter for a longer period of time.
Residual moisture can increase the odds of fungal diseases, so it’s recommended to be vigilant with your rose bushes.
Luckily, with some small adjustments, you can make sure your roses are never subjected to any fungus.
First and foremost, it is always encouraged to water your roses at their base, never overhead water your plants.
Of course, it will naturally rain and foliage will get wet, but by avoiding overhead watering, you won’t be adding on any more moisture than there needs to be.
Maintaining good air circulation is another essential in caring for roses in shady areas.
Allowing air circulation in between your bushes will help encourage faster evaporation, therefore keeping the foliage dry.
You can increase air circulation by spacing your rose bushes apart from one another, as well as routinely pruning your roses when they get too thick and unruly.
8 White Climbing Roses That Grow Well In Shady Areas
1. White Cloud Rose
White Cloud climbing rose was bred by W. Kordes & Sons in Germany, in 1985.
| COLOR: White | BLOOM SIZE: Large | FRAGRANCE: Strong Fragrance |
| PLANT SIZE: 8ft – 24ft | FLOWERING: Repeat Flowering | PREFERRED LOCATION: Full Sun, Partial Shade |
The White Cloud rose can be particularly susceptible to common rose diseases, such as mildew and black spot.
We recommend keeping a close eye out for signs of disease and practice good care habits such as proper watering and air circulation.
If your roses are affected by disease, act quickly.
Start by pruning any foliage that has been affected by the disease and destroy it entirely; wrap it up in plastic bags or burn it, but under no circumstances should it be disposed into a compost bin.
This rose variety only requires very light pruning in the springtime.
We recommend only pruning any dead or damaged foliage.
USDA growing zone: 6b through 9b.
2. City of York Rose
City of York rose was bred by Mathias Tantau in Germany, in 1939.
| COLOR: White | BLOOM SIZE: Large | FRAGRANCE: Moderate fragrance |
| PLANT SIZE: 8ft – 20ft | FLOWERING: Repeat Flowering | PREFERRED LOCATION: Full Sun, Partial Shade |
The City of York rose is one of the best disease-resistant white roses.
Choosing a disease-resistant rose is one less thing you have to worry about.
It is a large-flowered climbing rose.
City of York is a type of floribunda rose. Floribundas are famous for having a bountiful yield of many roses throughout their blooming season.
Due to their long spread (which can reach up to 10 feet wide), these roses will need a significant amount of space in between each one to avoid overcrowding and stunted growth.
We recommend spacing these rose bushes at a minimum of 4 to 5 feet apart.
USDA growing zone: 5b and warmer.
3. Aimée Vibert Rose
Aimée Vibert rose was bred by Jean-Pierre Vibert in France, in 1828.
| COLOR: White | BLOOM SIZE: Small to Medium | FRAGRANCE: Mild, Musk Fragrance |
| PLANT SIZE: 9ft – 15ft | FLOWERING: Repeat Flowering | PREFERRED LOCATION: Full Sun, Partial Shade |
The Aimée Vibert rose has little to no thorns.
Not only can you feel safe keeping these roses in a household with children and pets, but you don’t have to put on protective gear every time you need to tend to your roses!
This rose variety can get quite tall, up to a staggering height of 15 feet tall!
We recommend using this rose for your high fences- it is a stylish way to dress up a privacy fence.
Related Article: Climbing Roses On Fence: A Guide For Beginners
USDA growing zone: 6b and warmer.
4. Mrs. Herbert Stevens Rose
Mrs. Herbert Stevens rose was bred by Joseph Pernet-Ducher in France, before 1922.
| COLOR: White | BLOOM SIZE: Medium | FRAGRANCE: Moderate, Tea Fragrance |
| PLANT SIZE: 12ft – 20ft | FLOWERING: Repeat Flowering | PREFERRED LOCATION: Full Sun, Partial Shade |
Mrs. Herbert Stevens roses are hybrid tea roses. This category of roses is known for their long, sturdy stems and fragrant scent.
We recommend cutting a few of these roses to keep in a vase! Their beauty and aroma are sure to brighten the interior of your home, as well as the exterior.
The closest you can plant these rose bushes are 2 feet apart, but we recommend 4 feet apart to account for the mature size of these roses.
USDA growing zone: 6b through 9b.
5. Paul’s Lemon Pillar Rose
Paul’s Lemon Pillar rose was bred by George Paul in United Kingdom, in 1915.
It was introduced in the United States by Boston Rose Farms in 1928, as ‘Mrs. John Whicher’.
| COLOR: White | BLOOM SIZE: Large | FRAGRANCE: Strong, Lemon Fragrance |
| PLANT SIZE: 8ft – 20ft | FLOWERING: Repeat Flowering | PREFERRED LOCATION: Full Sun, Partial Shade |
The Paul’s Lemon Pillar rose is a vigorous grower, therefore it will need a good pruning regimen in order to avoid an unruly appearance.
The best time to prune this roses is in the early spring, just when the new growth begins to emerge.
We always recommend starting with the dead/damaged parts of the bush before moving on to the healthy growth. Cut down any canes that cross over each other.
You can fertilize your established rose bush in order to encourage vigorous growth.
A fertilizer high in nitrogen is beneficial in encouraging new leafy growth that may have been lost during the winter.
However, do not fertilize too late in the growing season, as prolonged use of nitrogen can inhibit flower growth.
USDA growing zone: 5a through 9b.
6. Lamarque Rose
Lamarque rose was bred by Maréchal in France, in 1830.
| COLOR: White | BLOOM SIZE: Large | FRAGRANCE: Moderate, Lemon, Tea Fragrance |
| PLANT SIZE: 8ft – 15ft | FLOWERING: Repeat Flowering | PREFERRED LOCATION: Full Sun, Partial Shade |
Feed your Lamarque white climbing roses about 1 inch of water per week.
The soil should always maintain a light, even moisture without getting too soggy.
A good rule of thumb is to wait until the top couple of inches of water has dried up before giving your plants more water.
Don’t be hesitant about getting your hands dirty and sticking your fingers in the soil, it’s the best way to feel the general soil moisture in your garden!
If your garden tends to suffer from poor soil, it’s a good idea to toss in a few scoops of a 1:1 mixture of soil and compost to give your new plants a boost of nutrition to help them establish easier.
USDA growing zone: 7b and warmer.
7. Ilse Krohn Superior Rose
Ilse Krohn Superior rose was bred by Reimer Kordes in Germany, in 1964.
| COLOR: White | BLOOM SIZE: Medium | FRAGRANCE: Strong Fragrance |
| PLANT SIZE: 9ft | FLOWERING: Repeat Flowering | PREFERRED LOCATION: Full Sun, Partial Shade |
If you live in a location that is privy to late spring freezes, then protecting your Ilse Krohn Superior roses is a must.
A spring freeze can jeopardize the new spring growth that your rose bush had developed earlier in the season.
You can mitigate this damage by pruning your roses later in the spring as well as reducing the amount of spring fertilizer.
Ilse Krohn Superior roses are not just a great climbing variety, but they are also suitable as cut flowers. They are known for their strong aroma, which is ideal for homemade potpourri or rose perfume.
USDA growing zone: 6b through 9b.
8. Guirlande d’Amour Rose
Guirlande d’Amour rose was bred by Louis Lens in Belgium, before 1988.
| COLOR: White | BLOOM SIZE: Small | FRAGRANCE: Strong Fragrance |
| PLANT SIZE: 5ft – 10ft | FLOWERING: Repeat Flowering | PREFERRED LOCATION: Full Sun, Partial Shade |
Guirlande d’Amour rose is a disease resitant climber.
Prune the Guirlande d’Amour roses after all the blooms have disappeared, as opposed to the early spring.
Other than that, pruning is very typical. Start with dead/damaged foliage before trimming down crossing canes.
While beautiful, these roses are known for having thorns.
We always advise gardeners to practice strict safety procedures before handling thorny roses by wearing protective gloves and a protector for your eyes.
USDA growing zone: 5b through 9b.
Conclusion
Beautiful white roses are sure to brighten up a shady area of your garden.
But with so many varieties out on the market, it can be overwhelming to find the perfect match for your individual situation.
We hope you’ve found our list of these 8 white climbing roses to be helpful!
