Old Bush or Blush is one of the best-loved and easiest-to-grow Old Southern Garden Roses. For centuries, it has graced the yards of grand plantations, manor houses, homesteads, and simple cabins across the Southern US and Europe.
'Climbing Old Blush' is one of the oldest climbing roses in commerce. Being a sport of the 'Old Blush,' the bloom form and color are identical to the shrub and differ in size. It is a very vigorous climber and can get quite large, so please allow it plenty of space where you can enjoy its blooms throughout the year, a trait that is rare for most climbing roses.
Touted to be the rose that inspired the Thomas Moore poem 'Last Rose of Summer,' it is easy to see why. This rose is a reliable and continuous bloomer that continues to bloom into the Dog Days long after others have surrendered to the sweltering heat and humidity.
The Bush grows sturdy and upright, with a naturally full and branching habit, maturing at 6 to 7 feet on average. It is resilient, resistant, and self-curing. It will tolerate a wide range of soil conditions except wet, muddy, poorly draining areas and will withstand a fair degree of neglect once well established.
Flowers are medium-sized doubles in varying shades of clear medium pink in short-stemmed clusters and are moderately fragrant.
