Climbing Pinkie

Earth Kind Roses are among the most thoroughly tested and environmentally responsible plants for the use in Texas landscapes. These roses do very well in almost any soil type, from the well-drained acid sands of East Texas to the poorly aerated, highly alkaline clays of central and Southwest Texas. Earth Kind roses are certainly not immune to pest problems. However, their tolerance to pests is so great that they rarely require the use of chemical pesticides.

Climbing Pinkie was discovered by E.P. Dering in the United States, and later introduced into trade by Armstrong Nursery in 1952. This selection produces semi-double pink blossoms from early spring through first frost. The plant is a vigorous, fast growing rose that can reach heights, when supported, of up to 10 feet. The flowers are so prolific that it is often difficult to see the foliage when the plant is full bloom. Unlike most roses, the canes are “almost” thornless.

Landscape Uses:
Climbing Pinkie is a vigorous climber if supported or makes a beautiful cascading shrub. This cascading form makes an excellent informal landscape border. When planted together, Cl. Pinkie can be used to form tall hedges or screens to block unsightly views. When planted alone this plant is a spectacular specimen. New canes develop from the base of the plant and older canes should be removed annually to maintain optimum growth and flowering.

The Earth Kind designation also ensures that Climbing Pinkie is extremely resource efficient with outstanding landscape performance characteristics.

Join the Earth Kind Rose Brigade:
We invite you to become a member of the “Earth Kind Rose Brigade,” a group of dedicated amateurs helping to conduct advanced field testing of experimental rose selections. Your participation will be educational as well as valuable in providing information to the Earth Kind Team of Extension specialists and research scientists at Texas A&M University.

To participate, simply purchase and plant one or more of the Brigade roses then, at one, two, three, and four years after transplanting, provide the benefit of your growing experience.

These cultivars should be planted where they will receive at least 8 hours of direct sun each day with good air movement over the foliage. The use of compost and organic mulches is encouraged.