BIG BEN™ – creamy yellow climbing rose - O’Connell
BIG BEN™ is a tall, generous climbing rose that gives Your garden a soft, creamy-yellow glow with strongly scented blooms, while staying reassuringly reliable in everyday Irish conditions. With medium disease tolerance, it copes well even when the air is humid and the soil is slow to drain after rain, so You spend more time enjoying it and less on complicated spraying routines. The large, cup-shaped flowers open in clusters, starting a warm buttery shade and fading to nearly white with a hint of lemon in the throat, creating a constantly changing display along walls, fences and pergolas. Because this is an own-root plant in a practical 2-litre pot, it settles in gradually, forming its natural climbing shape where You plant it and building a framework that can last for many years with only basic pruning. It is remontant, so after the first flush it gives a generous second flowering, extending the scented season in smaller family gardens and cottage-style plots alike. In an average garden, the first year quietly strengthens the roots, the second year fills out the shoots, and by the third year BIG BEN™ shows its full ornamental value from ground level to the top of its supports.
Use cases
| Target area |
Reason |
| Family home front garden pergola |
Ideal for training over a modest pergola, creating a vertical curtain of creamy-yellow, strongly scented blooms that frames the front path without taking too much ground space, perfect for beginners |
| Sunny house wall with heavy soil |
Performs well on a warm, south- or west-facing wall where the soil can be on the heavier side, provided drainage is improved, giving confidence where damp, slow-drying conditions often challenge roses for homeowners |
| Small cottage-garden style border |
Its pastel, fading flower colours suit informal cottage schemes; underplant with dwarf box or lavender for a tidy but romantic look that stays manageable for busy-gardeners |
| Arch over a narrow garden path |
The 2.4–3.9 m height and moderate spread allow BIG BEN™ to clothe an arch without overwhelming a small path, bringing flowers and fragrance to head height for urban-gardeners |
| Cluster of climbers for long-term screening |
Planted at recommended spacing, several plants form a leafy, long-lived screen; own-root growth means the framework renews itself over time with less risk of decline for planners |
| Cut-flower corner in a mixed border |
Large, cluster-flowered, strongly scented stems can be cut for the house while the plant continues to produce new buds, suiting those who like garden colour and indoor vases for enthusiasts |
| Coastal or exposed suburban site |
When given a sunny aspect and supportive structure, the dense, glossy foliage and medium disease tolerance help it cope in breezier, rain-washed spots typical of many Irish suburbs for residents |
| Large patio container with support |
In a minimum 40–50 litre container with a sturdy obelisk or trellis, this 2-litre own-root climber establishes steadily and offers an accessible, easy-care introduction to roses for starters |
Decorating ideas
- COTTAGE ARCHWAY – Train BIG BEN™ over a metal or wooden arch, underplant with Lychnis and rosemary for soft colour and scent – ideal for lovers of relaxed cottage style.
- FRONT-DOOR FRAME – Tie the canes along trellis either side of Your doorway, pairing with dwarf box edging – perfect for homeowners wanting a welcoming entrance with little fuss.
- PATIO OBELISK – Grow it in a 50 litre pot with an obelisk, adding lavender at the base – suited to balcony or small-yard gardeners seeking height without sacrificing floor space.
- SCENTED SCREEN – Plant a short row along a sunny fence, weaving stems horizontally for a flowering privacy screen – good for families who want gentle enclosure rather than solid walls.
- MIXED-BORDER FOCAL – Let BIG BEN™ climb a rustic post in a border with hydrangeas and herbs – great for beginners wanting one strong feature to anchor their planting.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Trade name BIG BEN™ climbing rose O’Connell, ARS exhibition name Big Ben; large-flowered climber in the climbing rose group, sold as a pharmaROSA ORIGINAL 2-litre own-root plant. |
| Origin and breeding |
Spontaneous sport of ‘Compassion’ large-flowered climber; bred by Colleen O’Connell around 2002, introduced 2008 in New Zealand and later 2024 in the USA by major distributors. |
| Growth and structure |
Vigorous climbing habit reaching about 2.4–3.9 m high with 0.9–1.6 m spread; dense, dark green glossy foliage and moderate prickliness; needs support and basic training to structures. |
| Flower morphology |
Semi-double, cup to goblet-shaped blooms with 13–25 petals; large flowers borne in clusters on repeat-flowering stems, providing an abundant second flush after the main flowering. |
| Colour and phenology |
Creamy-yellow blooms with soft lemon centre; buds butter-coloured, petals fade to near white with slightly yellow throat; colour retention modest, giving a gentle, pastel progression on the plant. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strong, long-lasting scent suited to seating areas and cut use; semi-double form leaves stamens partly accessible, providing moderate attraction for bees and other pollinating insects. |
| Rose hip characteristics |
Produces moderate quantities of 10–14 mm ellipsoidal hips, orange-red in colour; these add seasonal interest in late season and may appeal to wildlife in more naturalistic plantings. |
| Resistance and hardiness |
Hardy to about −26 to −23 °C (H7, USDA 5b, Swedish zone 4); medium resistance to black spot, powdery mildew and rust, generally satisfactory under normal care and site conditions. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with improved drainage; space 140–250 cm depending on use; suitable for arches, pergolas, walls and cutting. In containers, choose at least 40–50 litres and support the canes. |
BIG BEN™ offers fragrant creamy-yellow clusters, a space-saving climbing habit and steady own-root growth that ages gracefully in Irish gardens, making it a reassuring choice if You want to plant once and enjoy for years.
