The perfect climbing rose?

nice healthy specimen from Toss Bryan in Fermoy, Co. Cork

Last weekend I bought what may be the perfect climbing rose. It's name is Zephirine Drouhin. It is an old Burbon rose from 1868. I had been reading up on it online it seems to tick all the boxes. It came at a good price too just under €10.

• It is one of the first roses to flower and the last to finish

• Its branches are almost thornless

• It has a wonderful old rose scent

• It repeat flowers all summer long

• Its easy to train as a climber, but can be grown as a shrub rose or in hedges too

• It will flourish on North facing walls and in poorer soils

The only downside is that it can suffer from lack or airflow!! not a problem here I think. Out to the north facing, windswept front wall we go!

Rose from Toss Bryan