Climbing rose for North facing house

bartyfum · 2026-03-27T21:49:42+00:00

Looking for a climbing Rose (ideally pink!) for the front of my house. However, it’s North facing and therefore gets no direct sun. Is this likely to be an issue? Does anyone have any recommendations? Amateur gardener here!

twentyeightfishinthepond · 27/03/2026 21:52

https://www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/collections/ideal-for-climbers-for-north-facing-walls

Climbers for North Facing Walls

Buy Climbing Roses For North Facing Wall from David Austin Roses. Award-winning roses developed over the last 60 years. UK delivery & 5 year guarantee on all plants.

https://www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/collections/ideal-for-climbers-for-north-facing-walls

Original poster

bartyfum · 27/03/2026 22:02

Thanks. I’ve been looking at the Generous Gardener.

OP posts:

Riverpaddling · 27/03/2026 22:07

We've got six roses from that David Austen list. The Generous Gardener is my favourite by far. Beautiful and very resilient.

Scripturient · 27/03/2026 22:45

I’ve had great success with Rambling Rector on a shaded wall, though it doesn’t repeat flower.

ElizabethVonArnim · 27/03/2026 22:58

I’ve got the Generous Gardener in a relatively shady patch (north end of an east facing fence). It’s getting there now, but it has been in place for five years and has only covered on fence panel. It has taken ages to establish properly and although it has two flushes of flowers, it’s less generous than the name would suggest. Lovely blooms when they do come, though.

Scripturient · 27/03/2026 23:10

ElizabethVonArnim · 27/03/2026 22:58

I’ve got the Generous Gardener in a relatively shady patch (north end of an east facing fence). It’s getting there now, but it has been in place for five years and has only covered on fence panel. It has taken ages to establish properly and although it has two flushes of flowers, it’s less generous than the name would suggest. Lovely blooms when they do come, though.

Rambling Rector is incredibly vigorous! Mine is two years old and has eaten a long wall and climbed up into a tree…

Maggiethecat · 28/03/2026 07:48

ElizabethVonArnim · 27/03/2026 22:58

I’ve got the Generous Gardener in a relatively shady patch (north end of an east facing fence). It’s getting there now, but it has been in place for five years and has only covered on fence panel. It has taken ages to establish properly and although it has two flushes of flowers, it’s less generous than the name would suggest. Lovely blooms when they do come, though.

My GG has been very slow too. Unlike Claire Austin planted the same time last year and which has really taken off.

Different conditions though as GG is in the ground and CA in pots.

GloiredeDijon · 28/03/2026 08:03

bartyfum · 27/03/2026 22:02

Thanks. I’ve been looking at the Generous Gardener.

I have The Generous Gardener and Madam Alfred Carriere (which is white) on a north facing wall. Both doing well.

Riverpaddling · 28/03/2026 08:22

It's interesting isn't it. My Claire Austen is much slower than the GG. The two ramblers I've got are growing like mad, but of course their flowering season is so brief.

GloiredeDijon · 28/03/2026 08:26

You could also try Zephirine Drouhin. It is a beautiful strong pink. Darker than The Generous Gardener and has no thorns. I have one doing very well growing up a large trellis at the side of my house which is in shade most of the time.

Gettingbysomehow · 28/03/2026 10:49

Gertrude Jekyll. David austin roses. OMG the scent and it grows anywhere. I cried when I had to leave mine at my last house. Repeat flowers in shade too.

Original poster

bartyfum · 28/03/2026 12:05

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Anyone have experience of growing a James Galway in shady spot?

OP posts: