SCIENTIFIC NAME: Rosa hybrida 'Iceberg, Cl.'

COMMON NAME: Iceberg Climbing Rose, Climbing Floribunda Rose

GARDEN SIZE: 8-15 feet tall x 4-6 feet wide

GROWTH RATE: Fast

USDA ZONE: 5-11

EXPOSURE: Full sun - 4-6 hours of direct sun per day, ideally in the morning

WATER & SOIL: Medium, consistent water; avoid wetting leaves when possible. Prefers well-drained, neutral to slightly acidic soil with plenty of organic matter.

HABIT (FORM): Climbing

FOLIAGE: Deciduous; glossy, medium green leaves made up of 3-7 leaflets. Stems have prickles/thorns.

FLOWER COLOR: White with gold stamens sometimes visible

FLOWER FORM: Semi-double to double, cupped to flat, sometimes with visible stamens

PETAL COUNT: 15-25 petals

FLOWER SIZE: 2-3 inches

BLOOM TIME: Spring to fall, reblooming in flushes throughout the season

REBLOOMING: Yes; blooms mostly on old wood, so prune right after flowering to avoid removing next year's buds

FLOWER ARRANGEMENT: Large clusters

FRAGRANCE: Mild

PLANT ORIGIN: Indigenous to Asia and Europe, but hybridized all over the world for thousands of years

WILDLIFE SUPPORT: Limited - Most roses have little utility as hosts for local insects and wildlife, since they are heavily hybridized plants from other parts of the world. Flowers may provide food for pollinators while blooming.

FERTILIZING: Fertilize monthly during spring and summer by top-dressing with compost or applying any nitrogen-rich fertilizer. Stop fertilizing in fall to allow the plant to go dormant for winter.

PRUNING: Climbing roses tend to require less pruning than other roses, especially if you want your climber to grow tall. Prune reblooming varieties in late winter or early spring while dormant, and remove spent blooms during the growing season to encourage reblooming. For single blooming varieties, prune just after flowering to avoid removing next year’s flower buds. When pruning, remove dead branches and older canes that no longer produce flowers. Keep in mind that climbing roses don’t naturally cling to walls, so you'll need to fasten the canes to a support structure such as a trellis or arbor. Place supports at least a few inches away from walls to promote airflow. For more detailed advice on pruning and shaping roses, many helpful resources are available online.

TOXICITY FLAGS: Roses are non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Ingesting too much plant matter may cause mild gastrointestinal symptoms. Thorns can create small cuts if your pet rubs against them, and can damage the digestive tract if eaten. Remember to also check the safety of any fertilizers or pesticides used on your roses.

USES: Ornamental specimen that climbs arbors, trellises, and walls; Cut flowers

DISEASE PREVENTION: Fungal diseases like black spot and powdery mildew can be a persistent nuisance for Middle Tennessee rose growers. Here are some tips to limit fungal infections:

Avoid letting water sit on the leaves when possible. Water around the base of the plant rather than getting the leaves wet (though nature sometimes has its own plans).

Always use clean tools. Disinfect pruners between every cut using rubbing alcohol or a 10% bleach solution (i.e. 1 ounce bleach + 9 ounces water).

Space roses to promote good airflow and reduce the risk of disease transmission from one plant to the next.

Regularly remove fallen leaves and debris from around the base of the plant. Replace winter mulch in spring.

In late winter, coat the entire plant with dormant oil to suffocate pests and control diseases.

If you have persistent problems with fungal diseases, consider regular applications of an anti-fungal spray like copper fungicide or neem oil as a preventative measure.

Another rose pathogen to keep on your radar is Rose Rosette Disease. Caused by a virus and spread by microscopic mites, it currently has no known cure. Symptoms include deformed, reddish new leaves, excessive thorn production, and stunted growth. If your rose bush is infected, immediately remove, bag, and dispose of the entire plant to contain the spread of infection.

PARENTAGE: Climbing sport of Iceberg (floribunda)

HISTORY: The climbing version of the Iceberg rose was discovered in 1968 as a naturally occurring sport of the original Iceberg, a non-climbing floribunda rose from Germany. An English company called Cants of Colchester discovered and propagated the climbing variant. Established in 1765, Cants of Colchester was the oldest rose commercial rose grower in Britain at the time of its closure in 2023 - older than the United States! In the 1880s, the company split into two rival companies that operated separately until the 1960s, when the owners ended their feud and joined their businesses. Their merger occurred just before the discovery of the 'Iceberg, Climbing' sport.