Bantry Bay Climbing Roses

Bantry Bay Climbing Rose Plants

Bantry Bay is an excellent all-round repeat flowering pink climbing rose carrying its large, many-petalled, open flowers all through summer. The blossoms are cupped and made up of between 15 and 25 rich pink petals which set off the golden stamens beautifully. Probably because it was bred from New Dawn, Bantry Bay is disease resistant and will grow happily in partial shade. It is not a big climber however and is unlikely to cover more than 4m high by 3m across (12ft x 9ft). It is amenable to pruning and can be kept a good bit smaller if wanted. We have one growing on a wooden fence that is only 2m (6ft) high and it does very well indeed...

Bantry Bay is not a showy rose but don't ignore it as it is willing and trouble-free. Browse our full range of roses for sale here, or see our full range of climbing roses available to buy online.

Great for your garden

As already mentioned, Bantry Bay is a good choice for shadier and colder spots than many other climbing roses. It will even grow on a north wall, although the aspect needs to be open so there is indirect light. You can think of it as New Dawn but with larger blossom and maybe a touch more scent. It is a great climbing rose for that slightly tricky spot such as up the non-sunny side of a pergola, against an east-facing wall or covering the end of a shed. Don't plan your garden around it, but when you find you have something that needs hiding or you want a climber in a relatively unsuitable position, then this may be the one for you.

Rosa Bantry Bay facts

• Type: Climber
• Colour: Pink with gold stamens
• Flower shape: Semi-double, bowl-shaped
• Fragrance strength: Medium
• Final height and spread: 12ft x 9ft
• Flowering season: All summer
• Repeat Flowering: Yes
• Disease resistance: Good

Bantry Bay Climbing Rose trivia

This is yet another rose to come off the Sam McGredy production line. Sam (the fourth rose breeding Sam in an unbroken line going back to his great-grandfather has been one of the most prolific breeders of his generation. Energetic too - at an age when most are thinking about spending more time by the fire and asleep in the afternoons he left Portadown where he had worked all his life and emigrated to New Zealand to start a new rose breeding venture. He has bred literally hundreds of roses, but better known among them are such names as Piccadilly, Irish Beauty, Old Master, Dublin Bay, Trumpeter, Sexy Rexy and Oranges n Lemons.

How to plant Bantry Bay Roses

Bantry Bay can be ordered barerooted at any time for planting between November to April, while pot grown plants are available all year.

Choose a spot about 18ins away from the support on which your rose will climb. It will prefer a sunny spot, but semi-shade will serve. Dig a hole deep enough to allow the graft to finish at just below soil level when planted and with plenty of room for the roots. Improve the soil from the hole by removing weeds, large stones and other rubbish and mixing in about half a bucket of well rotted compost or manure. Spread Rootgrow mycorrhizal fungi over the bottom of the hole so it will make contact with the roots. If planting a pot grown rose gently loosen some of the roots before planting.

Place your rose so its roots are spread out and the union is at the right height. Backfill the hole with the planting mix, firming it down as you go. Water in thoroughly. As in really well.

Feed Bantry Bay with a good top dressing and then mulch with well rotted manure in spring and keep well watered during dry periods for the first year.

Climbing roses roses do not need the radical pruning that you give to ramblers. Just a gentle shaping and removal of growths that are old and tired or in the wrong place will do any time between late November and the middle of March. Deadhead through the summer to encourage more flowers.