Bourbon Rose (Rosa 'Zéphirine Drouhin') is a thornless climbing shrub rose that brings fragrance and continuous bloom from May through frost across hardiness zones 5, 9. This deciduous rose grows 4 to 12 feet tall and spreads 3 to 6 feet, producing showy, fragrant flowers on prickly stems throughout the growing season. Its ability to rebloom continuously makes it a standout choice for gardeners seeking season-long color and scent without the typical rose-growing complications.
Full Sun
Moderate
5-9
144in H x 72in W
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High
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The thornless character of this rose is genuinely rare and changes everything about tending it. Unlike most climbing roses, you can brush past it without fear, making it exceptional for tight garden spaces, arbors, and hedges where prickles become a real problem. Its continuous flowering from May straight through to frost, combined with strong fragrance and pollinator magnetism, delivers a garden feature that works harder than standard roses while demanding the same moderate care.
This rose serves best as a hedge or climbing feature on a pillar, fence, or wall, where its height and spread can be fully exploited. Its continuous rebloom and fragrance make it valuable for cutting gardens and for creating scented garden boundaries. The thornless stems are especially practical for high-traffic areas and borders where gardeners and visitors brush past regularly.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Plant in spring or fall into prepared soil rich with organic matter. Space according to mature width of 3, 6 feet, accounting for the plant's climbing or spreading habit. Secure climbing forms to their support structure (pillar, fence, or wall) at planting time, tying stems loosely to allow for growth and movement.
Prune to maintain shape and encourage the climbing or shrub form you prefer. Remove dead, damaged, or diseased wood in late winter or early spring. Cut back spent flowering stems to lateral buds to stimulate rebloom throughout the season. Thin crowded canes to improve air circulation and reduce disease incidence.
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