Rosa x soulieana Kew Rambler

The 'Kew Rambler' Rose is a reliable and vigorous climbing rose whose unique and relatively late flowering is enchanting. It produces branches that reach 7 metres (23 feet) and are covered in a cloud of charming small pearly pink and white wild roses. After flowering, it is adorned with clusters of orange fruits that are charming in the soft light of autumn. Its small foliage, a greyish green colour, is very healthy and maintains its beautiful appearance throughout the season. Give it space to grow and place it in a tree, along a long fence, on a pergola where it will preserve winter sunlight, or even in a wild hedge.

The 'Kew Rambler' climbing rose, created at the Royal Botanic Garden in Kew in 1912, is the result of cross-breeding between Rosa soulieana and the 'Hiawatha' rose. Its first parent is native to the mountains of western China. It passed down its very healthy and abundant foliage, finely divided into 7 leaflets ranging from almond green to grey-blue, and its flexible branches covered in fine hooked prickles. This foliage is deciduous, falling off in autumn. Its second parent, 'Hiawatha', is responsible for the pinkish colour of its flowers and the appearance of its inflorescences. 'Kew Rambler' can reach 6 to 7 metres (20 to 23 feet) in height, with a spread of 3 metres (10 feet). In June-July, its dazzling flowering appears. Numerous flowers, grouped in generous corymbs, open to reveal tender pink flowers with white centres, punctuated by a bouquet of golden-yellow stamens. These simple-shaped flowers, composed of 5 petals, measure approximately 4 cm (2in) in diameter and have a slight fragrance. Each wild rose forms a small elongated orange fruit, so this rose is adorned in late season with beautiful clusters that accompany its yellowing leaves, and then its bare branches in winter. These hips contain a large quantity of a single-seeded achenes. It is worth noting that 'Kew Rambler' is a very cold-resistant rose.

'Kew Rambler' is a powerful and refreshing rose, perfect for enhancing a large space that will be given to it without regret. Like other climbing roses ('Paul's Himalayan' Musk, 'Sander's White' Rambler), it is perfect for filling large spaces and giving them a slightly abandoned, free and unplanned look above overly strict flower beds. It is an ideal companion for trees that it will enliven, old fences, and ugly buildings or sheds to which it adds a charming touch. Trained on a large arch, near the terrace, it will create a romantic and fragrant passage. Since its flowering is not perpetual, it can be paired with a vigorous montana clematis that blooms again at the end of summer ('Mayleen', 'Tetra Rose').