The Modern Climbing and Pillar Roses

The Wichurana Ramblers and Scramblers

The discovery of R. wichuiana in Asia and its subsequent arrival in Europe in about 1860 was a most significant happening. The species itself remained hardly noticed for almost 40 years but, at the turn of the century, it was crossed with various hybrid roses of the day, especially Teas, Chinas, and Noisettes, and most of the resulting progeny inherited its propensity to ramble, coupled with brighter flower colors passed on by the pollen parents.

Although only a few breeders made use of this species, the outcome of their work remains with us today, for Wichurana Ramblers play very important roles in the modern garden landscape. While they do not make natural wall plants, give them an archway, an obelisk, or a trellis and they will thrive with relatively little attention beyond the removal of old wood, after they have finished flowering each summer.

Over my lifetime I have come to know, and enjoy, a good number of Wichurana Ramblers and will discuss about 20 of these, in alphabetical order, in this chapter.

WICHURANA RAMBLERS FOR THE GARDEN
The first, appropriately, is one I consider to be among the very best of its type. Introduced by Barbier in France in 1900, `Alberic Barbier' is one of an indispensable clutch of Wichurana Ramblers brought out between the end of the 19th century and the 1930s. Its shapely, globular buds open to beautiful, double roses of creamy white flushed lemon and are complemented by lots of dark green, very glossy foliage. A vigorous plant, with sparsely thorned shoots, it looks especially good when grown on gazebos, trellis, and arches, where, if allowed, it will get to at least 6m (20ft).

`Albertine' is one of the world's best loved roses, also introduced by Barbier, in 1921. Its glossy leaves are conspicuously brushed coppery red, and its stems, of similar coloring, are very vigorous and thorny. The scented flowers open from tight buds to become rather muddled-petalled; their color is lobster-pink, with a hint of yellow deep down, and fades with age. After flowering, 'Albertine' becomes prone to mildew, but this feisty rose shrugs off this affliction, continuing to grow bigger and better every year, and reaching a maximum height of about 3m (15ft).

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