WHITE – white climbing rose - Hendrickx
Step out to your front door for a short stroll under soft rain and meet WHITE – white climbing rose - Hendrickx, a classically elegant climber whose pure snow-white flowers bring cheerful light even on grey Irish days. Bred from the famous ‘Virgo’ hybrid tea, its medium-sized, high-centred blooms look like florist roses growing straight on your wall, arch or pergola, while the medium, clearly noticeable fragrance adds contentment to every passing moment. This own-root climber is bred for longevity, building sturdy roots, then strong shoots, then full display over three seasons so you can enjoy a dependable backdrop of whiteness for years with very little effort. Once established in well-drained soil it copes calmly with our wet, breezy climate and the challenges of humidity and mild fungal pressure, staying healthy without complicated spraying routines. With low maintenance, dark glossy foliage that frames the flowers to perfection, this rose turns a cottage gable, Dublin terrace entrance or back-garden pergola into a soft-lit, romantic focal point that feels both pure and welcoming for everyday family life in the garden.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Sunny house wall in a small Dublin front garden |
The medium-height climbing habit (around 2–3 m) makes it ideal for training on a modest house wall without overpowering the façade, while pure white, high-centred blooms bring a clean, classic look and need little more than an annual tidy for busy urban beginners |
| Cottage-garden pergola or arch over a path |
Remontant flowering with a generous second flush ensures the arch stays in flower over much of the short Irish summer, giving you repeated waves of scented white blooms that frame a path or seating area beautifully for romantic cottage-garden owners |
| Feature trellis near a frequently used doorway |
The medium, clearly noticeable fragrance and florist-style blooms make this an ideal rose to pass by daily, combining visual elegance with a gently sweet scent that feels welcoming but not overpowering for scent-loving homeowners |
| Standalone specimen pillar in a family lawn |
Planted with enough space, its 150–250 cm spread can be trained around an obelisk or pillar to create a vertical focal point that anchors the lawn and stays attractive for many years thanks to the own-root resilience for long-term planners |
| Mixed shrub-and-herb border with herbs at the base |
Its dark green foliage and pure white flowers combine effortlessly with creeping thyme and common sage, while the own-root habit helps it recover well after pruning and shaping, simplifying border care for low-maintenance gardeners |
| Clay-based but improved, well-drained garden bed |
In heavier Irish soils, adding grit and organic matter to improve drainage lets this climber establish a deep, durable root system that then supports reliable flowering through damp, breezy summers and typical fungal pressures for practical problem-solvers |
| Large decorative container by a terrace or patio |
In a minimum 40–50 litre container with quality compost and regular watering, this climber can be trained up a trellis to provide a refined privacy screen of white blooms and healthy foliage, remaining manageable in size for small-space gardeners |
| Cutting patch near the vegetable or utility area |
The high-centred, double flowers echo classic hybrid-tea style, making excellent short-stemmed cut blooms, and the reliable repeat flowering means a steady supply for the vase across the season even in cooler, wetter summers for home floristry enthusiasts |
Styling ideas
- Cottage-arch – Train over a rustic metal or timber arch, underplant with creeping thyme and soft pink geraniums for a romantic Irish cottage look – perfect for nostalgic gardeners
- Urban-frame – Clothe a narrow trellis beside a Dublin front door, paired with potted lavender and slate chippings for a clean, low-maintenance entrance – ideal for busy city homeowners
- Moonlight-border – Use as a white accent against dark green shrubs and silver foliage plants to create evening glow that reads beautifully from the kitchen window – suited to after-work relaxers
- Herb-companion – Combine with common sage and soft mounds of oregano in a sunny bed, letting the white roses rise above a fragrant, easy-care understorey – great for practical cooks
- Patio-screen – Grow in a large 50 litre container with a slim obelisk to make a fragrant, flowered privacy screen beside outdoor seating – attractive for balcony and terrace users
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Trade name WHITE – white climbing rose - Hendrickx; ARS exhibition name Virgo, Cl.; large-flowered climber; unregistered sport of ‘Virgo’ used mainly as a garden and exhibition climber. |
| Origin and breeding |
Sport of ‘Virgo’ hybrid tea, discovered by Ignace Hendrickx in Belgium, 1957; introduced by Grandes Pépinières C. de Coninck -Dervaes; developed for pure white, refined climbing flowers. |
| Awards and recognition |
2nd Certificate at the IV International Competition of New Roses, Madrid, 1959, acknowledging its ornamental value and high-quality flowers in an international trial setting. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Climbing habit, approximately 200–320 cm high and 150–250 cm wide with moderately dense, dark green foliage and moderate thorns; suited to walls, arches, pergolas and tall supports. |
| Flower morphology |
Medium-sized (4–7 cm), double, high-centred blooms with 26–39 petals, solitary on stems; pointed buds show classic cut-rose form; weak self-cleaning so spent blooms may need deadheading. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Pure, uniform snow-white blooms (RHS NN155D outer, NN155C inner) with slight opalescent sheen; colour fades very little so flowers remain clearly white from bud to fall in most conditions. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Softly sweet, medium-strength scent that is clearly noticeable at close range without being overpowering; best appreciated near paths, doors or seating areas where daily passage catches the perfume. |
| Hip characteristics |
Limited hip set due to double flowers; occasional small, ellipsoid, orange-red hips around 8–12 mm in diameter may develop, adding discreet seasonal interest but not a major display feature. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Good overall disease resistance, showing resistance to powdery mildew, black spot and rust; hardy approximately to −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7, USDA 6b), suitable for most Irish garden conditions. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Prefers sunny, well-drained soil; space 140 cm for walls or hedges, 220 cm as specimen; suitable for trellises, arches, pergolas and cutting; prune and tie in annually to maintain framework. |
WHITE – white climbing rose - Hendrickx brings long-season, fragrant white blooms, reliable repeat flowering and durable own-root growth; an excellent choice to grace Irish walls and arches with quiet elegance.
