Rosa 'Alibaba' Chewalibaba - Climbing Rose

The 'Alibaba' climbing rose bush is a very attractive novelty that will adapt to all regions, soils, and climates. If not trained, this rose will form a beautiful bush covered in flowers throughout the summer. Its roses are double, undulated, of a beautiful salmon-orange colour, and also highly fragrant. They are enhanced by a beautiful dark, semi-matte foliage that is very disease resistant. An easy, floriferous, and resistant rose bush within the reach of all gardeners! 

The British hybridiser Chris Warner bred the 'Alibaba' climbing rose 'Chewalibaba' before 2006. In the year of its introduction to the market, in 2012, it was awarded the 1st Prize in the climbing category by the SNHF (National Horticultural Society of France). It has also received 7 Gold Medals in international competitions, including an AGM (Award of Garden Merit) in England. It belongs to the complex family of hybrid roses with large clustered flowers.

It is a sarmentous rose bush with good health and moderate growth. It has a naturally erect habit and thorny stems, usually reaching 2.5 meters (8 feet) in height and 1 meter (3 feet) in width. Its deciduous foliage is abundant, with a very dark shiny green colour, and is highly disease resistant, perfectly enhancing the intermediate color between soft orange and coppery azalea pink of the flowers. It blooms from June to September, abundantly if not lacking water. Its 7 cm (3in) roses are grouped in clusters of 3 to 5 units. They are double, slightly fuzzy and disheveled, composed of 20 to 39 undulated petals. Their moderately intense fragrance with fruity notes recalls that of tea roses.

Climbing roses deserve a wall exposed to the morning sun or a structure large enough to support their shower of flowers (an arch or pergola, a column). Those with moderate growth like 'Alibaba' can also grow freely and be trained as large bushes to flower a free or even defensive hedge mixed with varieties or associated with holly-leaved osmanthus, Mahonias, Holly, Poncirus trifoliata, Japanese quinces... They allow for magnificent decorations throughout the summer, requiring very little maintenance except for regular watering in summer during periods of high heat and prolonged drought. Mix them together or combine them with easy-to-grow large-flowered clematis like 'Prince Charles' or 'Miss Bateman'. They are good companions for phlox paniculata, delphiniums, foxgloves, catmints, and tall baby's breath.