Quick Guide: summer, hardy, full sun, height:6m/20ft, width: 4.5m/15ft

All gardens, whatever their style, are enhanced by a climbing rose - or two. Climbers with species roses as parents are very Vigorous (up to 9m/30ft), bearing 5cm/2in wide cream or yellow flowers in mid summer; climbers bred from hybrid teas are a better choice for more restricted areas such as pillars or fences, and bear flowers up to 12.5cm/5in wide.

GROWING See Floribuda Roses. Always plant climbing rose close to their supports. To prune cut back strong growths after planting to 38cm/15in, weaker ones to within 10cm/4in of the base. Thereafter prune in early spring, leaving the basic framework but cutting back short laterals to 2-3 buds. Tie in new shoots in autumn.

PROPAGATION By budding only

VARIETIES The following arc suitable for restricted areas: `Carolinc Testout', profusion of heavily fragrant, double pink flowers; `Meg', pink and apricot; `Danse du Fen', double, orange-scarlet; `Golden Showers', pale gold; `Parkdirektor Riggers', scarlet; `Zephirine Drouhin', a bourbon rose, bright pink, fragrant, continuous flowering. Strong growers; Mme Gregoire Staechelin', clear pink, fragrant; `Wedding Day', very vigorous, yellow in bud opening white; `Mermaid', large, butter-yellow, fragrant, good on a cold wall. 'Fantin Latour' (above) double flowers over a short summer period.

POSSIBLE PROBLEMS Aphids; caterpillars; sawfly larvae. Black spot: die-back; grey mould; rust; powdery - mildew. Climbers are particularly Susceptible to powdery mildew.