![]() More and larger prickles on these more vigorous sports enable them to hook themselves into a tree's bark, or on to one of its limbs for support while it continues to grow into and through the canopy and out into the sun.īurgundy Iceberg photo courtesy of Susanne Weber In order for a climbing rose to be successful in "the wild", it needs a method of attaching itself, at least temporarily, to some support, allowing it to "climb". It's common for a bush type to mutate to an extra vigorous type, usually referred to as its climbing sport. Roses, and most other plants, have a serendipitous ability to "sport", or mutate, altering one, few or even many characteristics when they do. As the genetically determined size of the plant increases, so do the quantity and size of the prickles. ![]() Most often, the more dwarf the plant, the fewer and smaller the prickles. You'll also notice it can be extremely variable concerning the quantity and type of prickles each plant arms itself with. Who could ask for more?Ĭlimbing Iceberg photo courtesy of Chris Hunkeler Climbing Iceberg wears the same dense, attractive foliage found on the other versions of Iceberg. Its flowers are large and attractive, and the light color shows well in reduced light. It will flower anytime other climbers can be expected to, and it will do it in far less light than many. Its long canes are flexible and easily "trained". It was even used to create a very dark red floribunda, appropriately called, Black Ice.Ĭlimbing Iceberg is one of the more versatile climbing roses around. David Austin massaged its genes to create such beauties as Belle Story, Evelyn, Heritage, Glamis Castle and Perdita. Iceberg is such a good plant with so many desirable qualities, many rose breeders have used it in creating other wonderful roses. It can also have problems with black spot, but a good deal of that can be helped simply by how you treat the rose. Sure, it's prone to mildew on the peduncles, but you may live with it, take steps to alleviate the problem using the fungicide of your choice, or decide not to grow it. ![]() Iceberg has been hailed as the World's best white floribunda, perhaps, the best floribunda, period. One thing is certain, Iceberg requires far less light to grow and explode into bloom than any other hybrid tea or floribunda. If the plant can tolerate three or four hours of filtered sun in our climate here in Southern California, it may well require six or seven hours of similar light in Seattle, Washington. As you travel to higher latitudes, the light intensity decreases. As you approach The Equator, the intensity of sunlight increases dramatically. It's impossible to advise you as to how little sun, because that depends largely upon where in the World you live. No rose grows as well in shade as it does sun. Iceberg is as shade tolerant as any other rose I can think of. Iceberg photo courtesy of Dave and Deb Boyd I've seen "oceans" of its semi double, white clustered flowers waving in a gentle breeze. Let a breeze blow and watch them literally dance with the wind. Its slender canes are limber, but sturdy enough to proudly hold its clusters of flowers where they can be enjoyed. One of the most wonderful of Iceberg's features, is its ability to "dance" with the breezes. ![]() And, still look graceful and elegant while doing it! I don't know of any other rose, as tolerant of such outright abuse and neglect, that's as willing to spring back for more. It will stand up to the standard "mow-blow-go" treatment, as well as "hack and slash" pruning, and refuse to die. This rose thrives where "traditional roses" fail. The few who don't know that much, still ask for "that white rose you see everywhere." Many who know roses well, snub it as "over done". You'll see them crammed into every nook and cranny in pots, beds and planters as tree roses, bushes and climbers in shopping centers, gas stations, private residences and public plantings.It's become so ubiquitous that even folks who know nothing about rose names, much less roses in general, know to ask for "Iceberg". Poor old Iceberg! Like the comedian Rodney Dangerfield, it "gets no respect!" It's planted by the tens of thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, all across California and the rest of the World. ![]()
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