Climbing Roses of the World [Hardcover]

Charles Quest-Ritson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 2003

Climbing and rambling roses are sources of grace and dignity in the finest gardens. This book is the first completely new volume in almost 40 years to grapple with the histories, lineages, and special charms of these aristocrats of the garden. Illustrated with 200 color plates, Climbing Roses of the World presents climbers of every type, from the parent Rosa species to the multifloras, noisettes, and modern climbers, to name just a few. The most comprehensive and thoroughly researched study of climbers and ramblers ever published, Climbing Roses of the World will stand as the definitive treatment for years to come. No gardener will want to be without this unique source of information.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Spectacular gardens worldwide often boast one particularly ravishing aspect-- richly scented roses scrambling up walls, ascending the limbs of tall trees, draping pergolas, or clothing entryway arbors. Embracing the entire group of climbing and rambling roses, British rose guru Quest-Ritson tackles a complex topic with an inspired thoroughness based on extensive up-to-date research. Lending his expert voice to a study of some 1,600 roses currently in cultivation, Quest-Ritson should genuinely pique the interest of rose-growing gardeners who have searched for a comprehensive work, one providing definitive descriptions while clarifying names and synonyms, and proffering data on suitable growing climates, bloom times, and scent. Replete with fascinating historical detail on the accomplishments of rose breeders, the book includes abundant color photographs showing a range of species and cultivars amid hundreds of informative entries aimed at helping gardeners successfully cultivate roses of this type. Alice Joyce
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"There has not been a book on climbing roses as complete as this one, nor one that has represented roses from around the world as well. While it is scholarly in tone, the presentation of nearly 1,600 roses will be useful to the researcher as well as the home gardener."—William Grant, Pacific Horticulture, Summer 2003 (William Grant Pacific Horticulture )

"This is the most thorough coverage of this group of plants in over 40 years and will be the bible for the future."—Robert Haehle, National Gardener, June 2003 (Robert Haehle National Gardener )

"Charles Quest-Ritson in an enthusiastic rosarian...This promises to become a standard work."—Bookseller, March 7, 2003 (The Bookseller )

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 376 pages
• Publisher: Timber Press (April 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881925632
• ISBN-13: 978-0881925630
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 7.7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,051,745 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for rose lovers, September 13, 2003

By 

Valerie Adolph "Coast Journal" (Pacific Northwest) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Climbing Roses of the World (Hardcover)

This is a comprehensive, world-wide study of climbing and rambling roses. The topic is a huge one, especially as the writer refuses to be constrained by the contributions of any one country. Most of the leading writers on roses have been American, English or French. The writer adds in the considerable contributions of rose growers in Australia, Germany and Italy as well as other countries.

Despite difficulties in taxonomy and in tracing the history of each rose, the writer has included some 1600 currently grown climbing and rambling roses. I was happy to see an explanation of the differences between the two. Climbers have a small number of stiff stems. Ramblers have a larger number of more pliable stems, and these often trail along the ground. To confuse the issue, some ramblers are known as semi-climbers, and some small climbers are known as "pillar roses". Let's confuse it even further - climate can make a considerable difference in growth. A rose that is a climber in one country may be a shrub in another.

The writer is Director of England's National Rose Society and he has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the topic as well as the resources to research it throughout the world. The book covers the origin and history of each of the roses and the reader learns about the people and circumstances behind each of the different varieties.

The colour photographs of the roses, taken by the author in gardens around the world, are exceptionally fine Each rose is identified, of course, but we also find out in which garden and which country the photograph was taken.

This is a book for the gardener who loves roses. It contains a vast amount of information, well organized and presented.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Valuable rose reference, September 22, 2003

By 

W. Oliver (Alabama) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Climbing Roses of the World (Hardcover)

This book is exclusively devoted to climbing roses and is a welcome addition to rose reference works (as the author states, only two have previously been published, one by G.A. Stephens in 1933 and the other by Graham Stuart Thomas in 1965).

Over 1600 roses are covered here. They are arranged in chapters by classes (Chinese Synstylae and other species, Rosa gigantea and Rosa chinensis, Aryshire and Evergreen roses, Rosa setigera and the Boursault Roses, Noisettes and Tea roses, Rosa multiflora, Turner's Crimson Rambler Race, Wichurana hybrids, New Dawn and its descendants, Kordesii hybrids, Climbing Sports and Large Flowered Climbers). Within each of these chapters, the author divides the roses by hybridizer. A richly detailed biographical account of the breeder is usually given which is followed by a list of the roses he/she hybridized and a brief description of each rose. A final chapter, "Cultivating Climbing Roses" discusses growing roses in general. A section of 200 beautiful color plates is featured in the center of the book.

Only one gripe - sizes of roses is given in the metric system which is annoying but at least it will help you to learn meters and centimeters!