Altissimo climbing roses are among the most dramatic climbing roses available. Their large scarlet flowers, vigorous growth, and repeat blooming make them a spectacular choice for walls, pergolas, fences, and other vertical garden features.
Known for its bright, blood-red blossoms, this variety of rose has been a garden favorite since its introduction in 1966. The large, single flowers showcase a vibrant contrast with their golden stamens, making the Altissimo rose a standout choice for adding vertical interest to your garden.
Cultivating climbing roses like Altissimo allows you to bring a sense of drama and height to outdoor spaces. They are perfect for adorning walls, fences, or trellises, creating a backdrop that’s as visually impressive as it is fragrant.
The robust nature of Altissimo roses means they’re also relatively easy to grow and care for, even if you’re not an expert gardener. These roses tend to bloom prolifically early in the summer, with regular repeats throughout the season, ensuring that your garden remains lively and colorful for months.
Skip Ahead To:
- History of Altissimo Climbing Roses
- Characteristics
- Growing Altissimo Climbing Roses
- Care Guide
- Common Altissimo Climbing Rose Problems
- Landscape Design Ideas
- Best Companion Plants
- Propagating Altissimo Climbing Roses
- Awards and Recognition
Quick Facts About Altissimo Climbing Roses
| Feature | Details |
| Botanical Name | Rosa ‘Altissimo’ |
| Rose Type | Climbing Rose |
| Flower Color | Scarlet Red |
| Bloom Type | Single |
| Fragrance | Light |
| Mature Height | 10–12 ft (3–3.7 m) |
| Spread | 4–5 ft (1.2–1.5 m) |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | 5–9 (verify for your source) |
| Light Requirements | Full Sun |
| Bloom Season | Late spring through frost (repeat flowering) |
| Best Uses | Trellises, pergolas, fences, walls, arbors |
Flower Lovers Want to Know
How do you plant and care for climbing roses?
To plant climbing roses, dig a hole wide enough to spread the roots comfortably and water thoroughly after planting. Position the graft union according to your local climate recommendations—many gardeners in colder regions plant it slightly below soil level for winter protection, while those in warmer climates often leave it at or just above the soil surface. Provide fertile, well-drained soil, at least six hours of direct sunlight, regular watering, and a sturdy support for climbing. Prune and train the canes annually to encourage healthy growth and abundant flowering.
How long does it take for climbing roses to reach full height?
Climbing roses, including Altissimo, generally reach their full height within 3 to 5 years. Growth rate can vary based on the rose’s variety and growing conditions.
Are there special techniques for pruning climbing roses?
Yes. In addition to removing dead, damaged, or weak canes in late winter or early spring, experienced rose growers train the main canes horizontally rather than vertically. This encourages more flowering side shoots and produces a fuller display of blooms throughout the season.
What are the differences between climbing and rambling roses?
Climbing roses have sturdier canes, larger blooms, and usually repeat flowering. In contrast, rambling roses tend to have smaller flowers, more flexible canes, and often flower only once per season.
How do you protect climbing roses from common diseases?
To protect climbing roses from diseases like black spot or powdery mildew, ensure good air circulation. Also, avoid overhead watering and apply fungicides if necessary.
Regularly inspecting your roses and practicing good hygiene can also minimize disease risks.
Altissimo Climbing Roses – Your Guide To Vibrant Vertical Gardens
With its brilliant scarlet flowers and vigorous climbing habit, Altissimo has remained one of the world’s most admired climbing roses for decades. Whether trained over an arbor, pergola, or garden wall, it creates a spectacular vertical display that returns year after year with proper care.
History of Altissimo Climbing Roses
Introduced in 1966, the Altissimo climbing rose was bred in France by renowned hybridizers Georges Delbard and André Chabert. Created by crossing the climbing rose ‘Tenor’ with an unnamed seedling, the result was a vigorous climber that combined exceptional flowering with a bold, distinctive appearance.
At a time when many popular climbing roses produced densely double flowers in soft pink, white, or pastel shades, Altissimo stood apart. Its large, single scarlet-red blooms with brilliant golden stamens gave it a much more natural, open appearance that also attracted bees and other pollinators. The dramatic color contrast quickly made it a favorite for covering walls, fences, pergolas, and arches.
The name ‘Altissimo’, meaning “very high” in Italian, reflects the rose’s vigorous climbing habit. Mature plants can easily reach 10 to 12 feet (3–3.7 m) or more when properly supported, creating spectacular vertical displays that flower repeatedly throughout the growing season.
Over the decades, Altissimo earned a reputation not only for its beauty but also for its reliability. Gardeners appreciated its vigorous growth, repeat flowering, and ability to perform well in a variety of climates. These qualities helped it remain popular long after many newer climbing roses had been introduced.
Its enduring performance was recognized when the rose received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit (AGM), an honor given to plants that demonstrate outstanding garden performance, reliability, and ornamental value under typical growing conditions.
Today, nearly six decades after its introduction, Altissimo continues to be one of the most widely grown red climbing roses. Its combination of dramatic flowers, vigorous growth, and relatively easy maintenance has secured its place as a classic choice for gardeners looking to add lasting color and vertical interest to the landscape.
Cultivar History
| Feature | Details |
| Introduced | 1966 |
| Country of Origin | France |
| Hybridizers | Georges Delbard and André Chabert |
| Parentage | ‘Tenor’ × unnamed seedling |
| Flower Type | Large, single scarlet-red blooms with golden stamens |
| Growth Habit | Vigorous repeat-flowering climber |
| Notable Award | Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit |
Characteristics
Altissimo is a climbing rose that gardeners cherish for its vigorous growth, distinct features, and its ability to add vertical interest to gardens.
Altissimo Compared to Other Roses
| Feature | Altissimo | Don Juan | Blaze |
| Flower Type | Single | Double | Semi-double |
| Fragrance | Light | Strong | Mild |
| Repeat Bloom | Excellent | Excellent | Good |
| Disease Resistance | Good | Moderate | Good |
Height and Spread
Altissimo can reach impressive heights, typically growing up to 12 feet tall. Its spread can span about 4 to 5 feet, which makes it an ideal choice for trellises, fences, or arbors where it has ample space to showcase its full beauty.
Bloom Size
Each bloom of the Altissimo rose commands attention with a diameter of approximately 4 to 5 inches. These are substantial, eye-catching flowers that provide a bold visual statement.
Color Variation
The flowers of Altissimo exhibit a blood-red hue that adds a dramatic flair to any setting. Accented with golden yellow stamens, these roses offer a vibrant contrast that stands out beautifully against the medium green foliage.
Growing Altissimo Climbing Roses
Successful cultivation depends on proper planting, healthy soil, and plenty of sunlight. Here’s how to provide the ideal growing conditions for vigorous plants and abundant blooms.
Let’s go through each to ensure the roses thrive.
- Planting – Proper planting is essential for your Altissimo roses to flourish. You will want to soak the roots of a bare-root rose for a few hours before planting to ensure hydration.
Dig the hole about 18 inches wide and deep enough to accommodate the root system comfortably. It’s important to create a small mound of soil at the base of the hole to spread the roots over it.
- Soil Requirements – Altissimo roses thrive in well-drained soil. Ensure that the pH level of the soil is between 5.5 and 7.0, which is typically the ideal range for these roses. Amending the soil with organic matter can enhance its quality and provide the roses with the nutrients they need.
- Sunlight Needs – Altissimo produces noticeably more flowers when its upper canes receive at least six hours of direct sunlight. While it tolerates light afternoon shade, reduced light often leads to fewer blooms and longer gaps between flowering cycles.
Care Guide
When caring for Altissimo climbing roses, it’s crucial to provide consistent attention in watering, fertilizing, pruning, and pest management to maintain their vibrant blooms and vigorous growth.
| Care Task | Recommendation |
| Watering | Deeply once per week during dry weather. |
| Fertilizing | Early spring, then every 6 weeks until late summer. |
| Sunlight | Minimum 6 hours of direct sun daily. |
| Pruning | Late winter or early spring. |
| Training | Tie main canes horizontally for maximum flowering. |
Training Altissimo Climbing Roses for Maximum Blooms
One of the biggest secrets to growing spectacular Altissimo climbing roses isn’t heavier pruning—it’s proper training. Unlike bush roses, climbing roses produce the most flowers from short side shoots that develop along their main canes.
Instead of allowing the long canes to grow straight upward, gently bend and tie them as horizontally as possible along a trellis, fence, arbor, or pergola. As the cane becomes more horizontal, dormant buds along its length are stimulated to produce flowering side shoots rather than continuing upward growth.
Aim to fan several main canes evenly across the support, spacing them a few inches apart to improve air circulation and ensure good light reaches the entire plant. Use soft plant ties or flexible garden tape that won’t damage the stems as they thicken.
Each winter or early spring, remove dead, damaged, or very old canes, then lightly shorten the flowering side shoots to encourage fresh blooms. Avoid cutting back all of the long structural canes unless they are old or no longer productive, as these are the framework that supports future flowering.
Pro Tip: Horizontal canes typically produce significantly more flowering shoots than vertical ones. Training young canes early is one of the simplest ways to create a fuller display of blooms throughout the growing season.
Pest Management
- Inspection: Keep an eye out for common rose pests like aphids and spider mites, checking the undersides of leaves regularly.
- Treatment: Treat pests, when needed, with horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps, being mindful to follow the application instructions closely.
Common Altissimo Climbing Rose Problems
| Problem | Likely Cause | Solution |
| Few or No Flowers | Too little sunlight, excessive nitrogen fertilizer, or overly aggressive spring pruning. | Grow in at least 6 hours of direct sunlight, use a fertilizer formulated for roses, and preserve the main structural canes when pruning. Train long canes horizontally to encourage more flowering side shoots. |
| Yellow Leaves | Overwatering, poor drainage, nutrient deficiencies, or natural aging of older leaves. | Allow the soil to drain well between waterings, improve soil with compost if needed, and remove only leaves that have naturally yellowed or become diseased. |
| Black Spot | A fungal disease encouraged by warm, humid conditions and wet foliage. | Improve air circulation, water at the base of the plant, promptly remove infected leaves, and apply a labeled fungicide if the disease becomes severe. |
| Powdery Mildew | Cool nights combined with warm, dry days and poor air circulation. | Space plants properly, prune congested growth, avoid overhead watering late in the day, and treat early if symptoms appear. |
| Weak or Floppy Canes | Young growth, inadequate support, excessive shade, or heavy nitrogen feeding. | Secure canes to a sturdy trellis, arbor, or fence, reduce high-nitrogen fertilizers, and encourage sturdy growth with plenty of sunlight. |
| Winter Dieback | Cold temperatures, drying winter winds, or insufficient winter protection. | In colder regions, mound mulch around the crown, secure long canes before winter storms, and prune away damaged wood in early spring after new growth begins. |
| Poor Repeat Blooming | Spent flowers left on the plant, lack of nutrients, drought stress, or insufficient sunlight. | Deadhead regularly, fertilize after each major flush of flowers, water deeply during dry periods, and ensure full sun exposure. |
| Aphids or Spider Mites
|
Warm weather and tender new growth attract these common rose pests. | Inspect new shoots frequently, spray aphids off with water when populations are small, encourage beneficial insects, or use insecticidal soap or horticultural oil if necessary. |
Keeping Altissimo Roses Healthy
Most Altissimo climbing rose problems can be prevented before they become serious. Plant your rose in a location with full sun, fertile well-drained soil, and good air circulation. Water deeply rather than frequently, avoid wetting the foliage whenever possible, and remove spent flowers to encourage repeat blooming throughout the season. An annual pruning to remove dead or overcrowded canes, combined with regular inspections for pests and disease, will keep plants vigorous and flowering for many years.
Landscape Design Ideas
In landscape design, Altissimo Climbing Roses serve as striking vertical accents due to their ability to grow upwards of 7 to 20 feet. They are excellent for adding height and a splash of color on structures like:
| Landscape Feature | Why Altissimo Works Well |
| Pergolas | Creates a flowering canopy overhead. |
| Arbors | Makes a dramatic garden entrance. |
| Brick walls | Softens hard surfaces with vibrant blooms. |
| Trellises | Ideal for smaller gardens and narrow spaces. |
| Pillars & Obelisks | Adds height without taking much ground space. |
| Cottage gardens | Complements traditional mixed borders. |
| Formal gardens | Provides strong vertical structure and seasonal color. |
Their long, arching canes are ideal for training over garden features. When allowed to climb, they provide a dramatic backdrop to garden beds and various outdoor living areas.
Best Companion Plants for Altissimo Roses
When considering companion plants for these climbing roses, select varieties that complement their vigorous growth and the vivid red of their flowers. Here are some great matches:
| Plant | Why It Pairs Well |
| Lavender | Contrasts beautifully with scarlet flowers while attracting pollinators. |
| Catmint | Soft blue flowers complement the rich red blooms. |
| Alliums | Extend seasonal interest before roses peak. |
| Foxgloves | Add vertical contrast in cottage gardens. |
| Salvia | Provides long-lasting color and attracts bees. |
Remember, the goal is to harmonize plants with varying heights, colors, and textures to highlight the visual appeal of Altissimo Roses in your garden.
Propagating Altissimo Climbing Roses from Cuttings
The easiest way to propagate an Altissimo climbing rose is by taking stem cuttings. While not every cutting will root successfully, healthy semi-hardwood cuttings taken during the growing season often produce excellent results with a little patience.
Best Time to Take Cuttings
The ideal time to propagate Altissimo roses is from late spring through midsummer, after the first flush of flowers has finished and new stems have begun to mature. At this stage, the wood is firm enough to resist rotting but still flexible enough to produce new roots readily.
Preparing the Cutting
Choose a healthy, disease-free stem from the current season’s growth that has recently finished blooming. Using clean, sharp pruners, cut a stem 6 to 8 inches (15–20 cm) long just below a leaf node.
For the best chance of success:
- Remove any flowers or flower buds.
- Strip off the lower leaves, leaving two or three leaves near the top.
- Make a fresh angled cut at the base of the stem.
- Lightly scrape a small section of the outer bark from the bottom inch of the cutting to encourage root formation.
Using Rooting Hormone
Although Altissimo cuttings may root without assistance, dipping the base in a powdered or gel rooting hormone can significantly improve rooting success and encourage faster root development. Shake off any excess hormone before planting.
Planting and Rooting
Fill a small pot with a free-draining propagation mix, such as equal parts peat moss (or coco coir) and perlite. Insert the cutting about 2 inches (5 cm) deep and gently firm the soil around the stem.
Keep the growing medium consistently moist but never waterlogged. Place the pot in bright, indirect light where temperatures remain between 65–75°F (18–24°C).
Maintaining high humidity is one of the most important factors for success. Cover the pot loosely with a clear plastic bag or place it inside a propagation dome, making sure the plastic does not touch the leaves. Remove the cover occasionally to allow fresh air to circulate and reduce the risk of fungal disease.
Rooting Timeline
Most Altissimo cuttings develop roots within 6 to 8 weeks, although cooler temperatures may slow the process. You can check for rooting by gently tugging on the cutting—light resistance usually indicates new roots have formed.
Once healthy new leaves begin to emerge and the root system is well established, gradually acclimate the young plant to normal outdoor humidity by removing the cover over several days.
Transplanting
Allow the rooted cutting to continue growing in its container until it has developed a strong root system. Transplant it into the garden in early autumn or the following spring, choosing a location with full sun, fertile well-drained soil, and a sturdy support structure for climbing.
Pro Tip: Because Altissimo is a named cultivar, propagation from cuttings produces a plant that is genetically identical to the parent rose, preserving its distinctive scarlet flowers, vigorous climbing habit, and repeat-blooming characteristics.
Grafting
Grafting is an advanced propagation technique used primarily by commercial rose growers and experienced hobbyists. Instead of rooting a cutting, a bud or stem (called the scion) from an Altissimo climbing rose is joined to the root system (rootstock) of another rose variety. This combines the vigorous, disease-tolerant root system of the rootstock with the beautiful flowers and climbing habit of Altissimo.
Many nurseries use rootstocks selected for their hardiness, adaptability, and strong root development. Depending on the region, commonly used rootstocks include ‘Dr. Huey’ and Rosa multiflora. These rootstocks can improve plant vigor, help roses establish more quickly, and increase tolerance to a wider range of soil conditions.
Successful grafting requires sharp, sterile tools, careful alignment of the cambium layers, and secure wrapping of the graft union until it heals. Because precision is essential, grafting is generally recommended for experienced gardeners or those interested in learning specialized rose propagation techniques.
For most home gardeners, propagating Altissimo from stem cuttings is simpler and produces plants that are genetically identical to the parent. Grafting is best reserved for situations where improved vigor, specialized rootstocks, or nursery-style production is desired.
Pro Tip: If you purchase a grafted Altissimo rose, plant the graft union at the recommended depth for your climate. In colder regions, many gardeners position the graft slightly below the soil surface to provide extra winter protection, while warmer climates often allow it to remain at or just above soil level.
Awards and Recognitions
Altissimo has earned widespread recognition for its beauty, vigor, and dependable garden performance. One of its most notable honors is the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
The RHS AGM is one of the gardening world’s most respected plant awards. Rather than recognizing a plant for appearance alone, it is awarded to varieties that have demonstrated outstanding performance under normal garden conditions. Plants receiving the AGM are carefully evaluated for qualities such as ornamental value, reliability, vigor, pest and disease resistance, and ease of cultivation.
For gardeners, this award provides reassurance that Altissimo is more than just a beautiful climbing rose—it is a variety that has consistently proven itself over many years in a wide range of growing conditions.
The rose has also earned praise from rose societies and enthusiasts for its:
- Large, brilliant scarlet-red flowers with distinctive golden stamens
- Vigorous climbing habit that quickly covers fences, walls, pergolas, and arbors
- Reliable repeat flowering throughout the growing season
- Strong landscape impact as a vertical focal point
- Good overall garden performance when grown in full sun with proper care
Although many newer climbing roses have been introduced since Altissimo first appeared in 1966, it continues to be recommended by experienced rose growers because of its combination of dramatic blooms, dependable growth, and long-lasting garden appeal.
Did You Know? The Royal Horticultural Society has awarded the Award of Garden Merit to only a select group of plants that consistently perform well in home gardens. For many gardeners, the AGM symbol is a trusted indicator that a plant has been thoroughly tested and is worth growing.
The Last Vertical Climb
Nearly sixty years after its introduction, Altissimo remains one of the world’s most widely grown red climbing roses. Its combination of vigorous growth, repeat blooming, and timeless beauty continues to make it a favorite among gardeners looking to add dramatic vertical color to the landscape.
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