Dublin Bay Climbing Roses

Dublin Bay Climbing Rose

Dublin Bay is still the best red flowered, small climbing rose on the market although it is nearly forty years old. Lightly scented but good sized blood red fully double flowers are produced all summer and look fantastic against the dark green foliage which clothes Dublin Bay pretty much from head to foot. The buds make great buttonholes and when fully open the flowers demand attention. As with so many McGredy roses, this is generally healthy and will tolerate light shade.

However it is small - some describe it as growing to 3m (10 ft) but in our experience conditions must be ideal for that. It is wise to budget on a plant that will end up at 2m x 2m (6ft high and wide) so if that is too small for you or if you want to look at roses to plant with Dublin Bay then why not browse our full range of climbing roses for sale here

Great for your garden

Because Dublin Bay climbing roses are on the small side they make excellent pillar roses, growing on the uprights of a pergola for example. It is also a good choice of rose for a small wall space or to grow against a fence of up to 6-7ft (2m) and it will grow in shadier and colder spots than many other climbing roses. However it is not vigorous enough to grow over a rose arch for example. If you are feeling adventurous however, try growing a Dublin Bay rose as a large, free standing shrub rose. It is sturdy enough to make a good bush about 5-6ft high or you can grow it over a small frame in the border.

Rosa Dublin Bay facts

• Type: Climber
• Colour: Pure red
• Flower shape: Fully-double
• Fragrance strength: Light
• Final height and spread: 6ft x 6ft
• Flowering season: All summer
• Repeat Flowering: Yes
• Disease resistance: Good

Dublin Bay Climbing Rose trivia

Another rose from Sam McGredy IV. The fourth rose-breeding Sam in an unbroken line. Amazing to think that he left Portadown where he had worked all his life and emigrated to New Zealand to start a new rose breeding venture and bred this there. This has to be a pub quiz question "Who was the only rose breeder to have bred best selling roses in both hemispheres?" He has bred zillions of roses; better known among them are such names as Piccadilly, Irish Beauty, Old Master, Bantry Bay, Trumpeter, Sexy Rexy and Oranges n Lemons.

How to plant Dublin Bay Climbing Roses

Dublin Bay can be ordered at any time - bareroot for planting between November to April, or pot grown for the summer.

Plant 12-18ins away from the support on which your rose will climb. Semi-shade will do but the more light the better. Dig a hole deep enough to allow the graft to finish at soil level when planted and with plenty of room for the roots. Improve the soil from the hole by removing large stones, weeds, roots and other rubbish and mixing in a goodly amount 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.

Position your rose so its roots are spread out and the union is just below the surrounding soil. Backfill the hole with the planting mix, firming it down as you go. Water in thoroughly. Water again a day or two later and then keep watering in dry spells.

Feed with a good top dressing and then mulch with well rotted manure in spring and (guess what) 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. Dublin Bay should be deadheaded throughout the summer to encourage continuous flowering.