ALIBABA ® – orange climbing rose - Warner
Bring a sense of storybook magic to your Irish cottage or terrace with ALIBABA, an easy-going climbing rose that shrugs off rain and wind while lighting up walls, fences and pergolas in soft, coppery colour. Its vigorous yet manageable growth quickly clothes supports in dense dark-green foliage, while the strong peach‑tea fragrance drifts through the garden after showers, creating that feeling of cheerful contentment. From your first simple planting in well-drained clay to its steady, own‑root longevity and ability to regenerate after rough weather, this rose is designed for low‑fuss care over many years. Enjoy the natural development from settling roots to fuller top growth and, by the third season, a romantic curtain of blossom for everyday walks in soft Irish light.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Family pergola or arch |
Strong, long-lasting peach‑tea scent and warm copper flowers create a welcoming entrance while the climber’s manageable height makes it easy to keep in bounds with light, occasional pruning, ideal for fragrance‑loving beginners. |
| Irish cottage-style front wall |
Reliable repeat flowering from early summer to autumn brings colour back between showers, and dense foliage helps soften bare masonry, suiting busy homeowners who want charm without complex training, perfect for urbanites. |
| Dublin terraced-house railings or fence |
Moderate vigour and upright climbing habit allow neat vertical greening of small spaces, giving privacy and seasonal interest where ground space is tight, attractive for compact gardens and time‑pressed residents. |
| Specimen rose on trellis in mixed border |
The large, cupped, double blooms with ruffled edges stand out against perennials, adding height and romance without needing constant deadheading, appealing to those favouring impactful yet undemanding planting. |
| Large patio container (minimum 40–50 litres) |
Own‑root growth adapts well to big containers, provided you give good drainage and regular watering in prolonged dry spells, making it a flexible choice for renters and balcony gardeners seeking lasting colour. |
| Low-maintenance family play garden backdrop |
Good resistance to black spot and powdery mildew reduces spraying and fuss, while only occasional tying-in keeps it safe and tidy near play areas, reassuring for families preferring resilient, low‑intervention borders. |
| Rose-and-herb cottage border |
Year-on-year own‑root durability and ability to regrow from the base give a long-lived vertical accent, pairing beautifully with chives or St John’s wort for an aromatic corner enjoyed by relaxed home gardeners. |
| Exhibition-standard climbing feature |
Award-winning performance and strong, lasting fragrance mean abundant, show-worthy trusses even in changeable summers with frequent rain and short bright spells, rewarding enthusiasts who appreciate dependable, repeat-flowering climbers. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage-Arch – Train ALIBABA over a metal or timber arch, underplant with chives and verbena for a soft, romantic entrance – ideal for lovers of traditional cottage gardens.
- Warm-Facade – Fan the climber along a sunny front wall, weaving it between windows for a lantern-like glow of copper blooms – perfect for Dublin terraces seeking gentle street presence.
- Patio-Curtain – Grow in a 50‑litre half-barrel with a trellis, letting scented clusters form a living screen for seating – suited to small patios where privacy and perfume both matter.
- Family-Backdrop – Use as a flowery backdrop to a lawn or play area, combining with low shrubs for an easy, low-pruning green wall – great for families wanting beauty with minimal upkeep.
- Romantic-Trellis – Thread stems through a freestanding trellis in a mixed border, echoing the copper tones with apricot and yellow perennials – attractive for creative hobby gardeners.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Climbing rose Alibaba ® CHEwalibaba, large-flowered climber (Rós dreapadó); registered CHEwalibaba, exhibition name Alibaba; ARS exhibition climbing rose for walls, arches and pergolas. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Christopher H. Warner in the United Kingdom from cross Arcadian × Baby Love; breeding and registration year 2006; introduced commercially in 2011 by Fryers Roses. |
| Awards and recognition |
Gold Standard award 2007; Lyon International Rose Competition 1st prize and Fragrance award 2008; La Tacita gold medal and best climbing rose 2011; RHS Award of Garden Merit 2012. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Strong climbing growth, typically 200–330 cm high with 80–140 cm spread; moderately thorny canes and dense, dark green, slightly glossy foliage suited to covering vertical supports and structures. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, cupped, double flowers 7–10 cm across, with 26–39 petals and slightly ruffled edges; borne mostly in clusters; remontant habit gives an abundant second flush after the main summer flowering. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Warm coppery orange with coral and peach tones; buds bronze‑red, opening vibrant peach-orange, then soft salmon and apricot with pale yellow base; colour holds better in cooler conditions than in heat. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strong, long-lasting scent combining peach and classic tea-rose notes; fragrance noticeable on still, humid days and ideal near seating or paths; double flowers offer moderate rather than high pollinator interest. |
| Hip characteristics |
Occasional small, ellipsoidal red hips 12–18 mm across; generally sparse and ornamental rather than prolific, adding discreet late-season interest without significant self-seeding or untidiness. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Good resistance to black spot and powdery mildew, moderate rust tolerance; fully hardy to about −23 °C (RHS H7, USDA 6a, Swedish zone 3); moderate heat and drought tolerance with watering in dry spells. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Plant 140–150 cm apart or 240 cm as specimen; prefers well-drained soil, including improved clay, in sun or partial shade; minimal pruning and occasional watering; tie in shoots regularly for best coverage. |
ALIBABA ® offers award-winning fragrance, generous repeat flowering and reliable disease resistance on a long-lived own-root climber, a refined choice if you would like a romantic, low-fuss vertical accent.
