Of all the colours, red is the most popular when it comes to roses – who can resist a red rose? This month we feature the most popular red climbing rose grown in New Zealand, so popular in fact nothing even comes close to it among climbers and this was after it took the best past of 10 years to really take off.
Dublin Bay was one of three roses named after the bays of Ireland by Sam McGredy and is the most well known around the world. The bright red blooms are produced freely throughout the season and are complemented by the dark green foliage which covers the plant. Unfortunately there is no scent but that is about the only thing missing from this rose.
Some climbing roses can take over and while Dublin Bay is a strong grower, it can be contained very well. Plant it up a wall, across an archway or up a pillar and it reward you with months of colour. It is very easy grow but can be susceptible to disease under the right conditions.
Bred from Bantry Bay x Seedling way back in the 1970’s, it has been rated as the No 1 climber by members of the New Zealand Rose Society since 1987 and shows no signs of being replaced. Usually, it has double the number of votes of the next best rose.