Climbing Pinkie

An interesting season this is turning out to be as June has arrived and we are still getting rain and it is yet to surpass the 80 degree mark. The garden is behind by about two weeks. This isn't necessarily a bad thing (or I don't think so) but it makes scheduling garden tours a bit tricky.

Looking back at garden photos from last year, I see that by late May, the roses were in full swing. This year, they are just beginning near the end of the first week of June.

The one rose that has been blooming fully is 'Climbing Pinkie'. Introduced in 1952, this polyantha rose is said to be popular in the United States and Australia but not as well known in other countries. It is a sport of the shrub variety 'Pinkie', introduced in 1947 (a seedling of 'China Doll'). Often described as a "mannerly climber", it does project an elegant statement when grown on a structure. It can also be grown as an arching shrub although I've never seen it used this way.

This rose is almost thornless and it is a fast grower. The one seen here in our garden is just 3 years old, having been planted on March 10, 2019. It reblooms through the summer although not as heavily as the first flush. The medium-sized semi-double flowers have a very light fragrance. Disease resistance is pretty good but it does drop lots of leaves during windy periods and Michael gripes about them messing up the pergola floor. It is easy to forgive for the stunning floriferous display it provides out our back windows.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy