ALIBABA ® – orange climbing rose - Warner
Bring storybook romance to your garden with Alibaba, a richly scented climbing rose that rewards you with warm copper-orange blooms from early summer onwards. Bred for health and proven in trials, it shrugs off typical Irish damp and humidity-driven fungal problems, making it a confident choice even if You are new to roses. Its vigorous yet manageable growth clothes arches, fences or a sunny house wall with dense, glossy foliage and waves of flowers. As a pharmaROSA ORIGINAL own-root plant, Alibaba is grown for longevity, forming its permanent framework in your garden and regenerating well over the years. In the first season it quietly builds roots, in the second it pushes stronger shoots, and by the third year it reaches full ornamental value, becoming a reliable highlight in a family garden.
Use cases
| Target area |
Reason |
| Front-garden arch by the entrance |
Alibaba’s strong, long-lasting peach-tea fragrance and frequent repeat flowering create a welcoming entrance feature that looks impressive without complex care, ideal if You want visitors to be greeted by a romantic, perfumed display, beginners |
| House wall or sunny garage wall |
The climbing habit and dense dark green foliage are perfect for training on a wall or trellis, softening hard surfaces and providing privacy; with basic tying-in and light pruning it delivers tall colour with very little ground space needed, homeowners |
| Family seating area or patio backdrop |
The strong, long-lasting scent and warm copper-orange flowers give a cosy, atmospheric backdrop near a terrace or seating area, while good disease resistance keeps foliage attractive so You spend more time relaxing and less on spraying or tidying, busy-gardeners |
| Small rose group along a fence |
Planted in a short run of 1–3 plants at the recommended spacing, Alibaba quickly knits into a continuous vertical screen, combining moderate height with reliable repeat flowering so a modest investment gives a long-lived, high-impact boundary, small-gardens |
| Cottage-style border with perennials |
The soft, apricot‑orange to coral shades blend beautifully with cottage‑garden companions, while the remontant flowering keeps colour coming back among perennials; own‑root vigour supports a lasting, informal structure that ages gracefully, cottage-gardeners |
| Coastal or exposed suburban garden |
Its robust health and award-backed reliability suit gardens where wind and damp can be challenging, and the rose copes well once established, even where Irish Atlantic weather often brings prolonged moisture and fungal pressure, coastal-owners |
| Large container on patio or balcony |
In a 40–50 litre or larger container with a sturdy obelisk, Alibaba becomes a vertical accent for patios or balconies; its controllable size, repeat flowering and tidy foliage give high decorative value where soil is limited, if watering is kept regular, balcony-gardeners |
| Low-maintenance statement specimen |
With minimal pruning, occasional deadheading and basic feeding, this climber offers a long lifespan, strong disease resistance and dependable flowering, making it an excellent “plant it and let it work” choice for those wanting impact without complicated routines, time-poor-starters |
Decorating ideas
- Storybook entrance arch – Train Alibaba over a metal or wooden arch, underplant with lavender and chives for soft scent and movement, perfect for homeowners who want a romantic, low-fuss welcome.
- Warm cottage wall – Let its copper-orange blooms climb a cottage wall with Hypericum ‘Hidcote’ and white verbena at the base, ideal for rural gardens seeking classic charm with reliable performance.
- Patio fragrance corner – Grow Alibaba in a 50 litre container on a patio with pots of rosemary and hydrangea nearby, suited to small urban gardens where You want evening scent and colour.
- Fence-length flower curtain – Space several plants along a boundary fence to form a vertical curtain of foliage and blooms, a good choice for families wanting privacy and beauty without intensive upkeep.
- Romantic mixed border – Combine this climber with pastel perennials and ornamental grasses, allowing its apricot-orange clusters to weave through supports, ideal for beginners building a soft, informal look over time.
Technical cultivar profile
| Property |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Alibaba ® Climbing rose CHEwalibaba is a large-flowered climbing rose from the pharmaROSA ORIGINAL range; registered cultivar name CHEwalibaba, ARS exhibition name Alibaba, in the climbing rose commercial group. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Christopher H. Warner in the United Kingdom from Arcadian × Baby Love, bred and registered in 2006, introduced by Fryers Roses in 2011 and now available as an own-root garden rose for long-term use. |
| Awards and recognitions |
Gold Standard Rose Trials Gold Standard award 2007, Lyon International Rose Competition 1st prize and Fragrance award 2008, La Tacita Italy Gold medal Best climbing rose 2011, SNHF Grand Prix de la Rose 1st prize climbing rose category, RHS AGM 2012. |
| Growth and structure |
Climbing habit with dense, slightly glossy dark green foliage and moderate prickliness; typical height 200–330 cm and spread 80–140 cm, suitable for pergolas, arches, trellis and walls, forming a well-furnished vertical framework over time. |
| Flower morphology |
Medium-sized, double, cup-shaped blooms with 26–39 petals, often produced in clusters; slightly ruffled edges add texture, and the variety is remontant with an abundant second flowering wave given adequate feeding and deadheading. |
| Colour and phenology |
Warm copper-tinged orange flowers with coral and apricot tones; buds bronze-tinged orange-red, freshly opened blooms peach-orange with pale coral, maturing to softer apricot and cream, with colour holding best in cooler, less intense sun conditions. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strong, long-lasting scent with peach and tea notes, especially noticeable in still, mild weather; ideal for planting where people pass close by or sit regularly, so the fragrance can be enjoyed throughout the main flowering periods. |
| Rose hip characteristics |
Occasionally forms small ellipsoidal red hips, around 12–18 mm in diameter; hips are mainly of ornamental interest late in the season and do not usually dominate the appearance of the plant. |
| Resistance and hardiness |
Good disease resistance, especially to powdery mildew and black spot, with moderate rust sensitivity; hardy to about −23 to −21 °C, RHS H7, USDA zone 6a, suitable for most Irish gardens given reasonable soil preparation and feeding. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Plant near supports such as arches, pergolas, trellis, walls or fences; spacing around 150 cm for runs or 240 cm as a specimen. Tolerates partial shade, prefers moist but well-drained soil, and benefits from minimal pruning plus occasional deadheading. |
Alibaba ® Climbing rose CHEwalibaba offers strong fragrance, award-winning health and long-lived own-root reliability, making it a straightforward, rewarding choice if You would like a romantic, easy-care climber for your garden.
