If you have a small spot in your yard for a climbing rose, consider one of the climbing miniatures.  There are not too many climbing minis, but what there is available will make an impressive display in your yard.  They can be grown on a trellis, arbor, up a pole, on the wall, or among other roses.  Unlike many of the climbing sports of hybrid teas, the climbing version of a bush mini will bloom more than once or twice.  Most will bloom off and on all season long.  Climbing minis can also make great hanging pot roses.  Red Cascade is excellent example of a hanging pot rose.

Most climbing minis stay in the 5 to 10 foot range.  There are several members of this family and they come in different colors even though they are one of the smallest rose classes.  Modern Roses 10 lists only 76 climbing minis compared to 520 climbing hybrid teas.  The one climbing mini that you will most likely not see, but it played an important part in Ralph Moore’s breeding program is Zee. 

• Rollercoaster – Although classed as a mini, this rose is more of a climber in our climate.  This red blend with white stripes is almost single petalled (6-14 petals).  Grows to six feet.
• Hurdy Gurdy – This is another mini that is a climber in our climate.  This dark red (sometimes burgundy) with white striped rose has super clean foliage.  Kitty Belendez has a great specimen in her yard trained on a trellis.  Grows to eight feet.
• Angel Pink – A lovely climber with coral pink blooms that have good exhibition form.  Blooms come in small sprays.  I gave this rose to a worker as a welcome gift for his new home, they love it!  Grows to six feet.
• Ruby Pendant – Another mini that is more of a climber in our climate.  The reddish mauve blooms have great form and still can win at rose shows.  Grows to seven feet.
• Candy Cane – An oldie, but still a goodie.  I have this mini climbing among the old garden roses.  The nearly single petalled, deep pink and white striped blooms come on a plant that grows to about five feet.
• Jeanne Lajoie – Probably the best overall and best-known climbing mini.  The full, pink blooms come profusely on a vigorous hardy plant.  Jeff Wyckoff of Seattle has a fence lined with this rose that was in full bloom and awesome!  Grows to about eight feet.  It is actually pronounced “Jean La Joy.”
• Little Girl – A once popular climbing mini, it isn’t seen as much as it should be.  The coral pink, full pom-pom type blooms come on a strong plant.  Grows to about six feet.
• Climbing Yellow Doll – The standard for yellow climbing minis, this is still an excellent rose.  Light yellow blooms are produced on a vigorous plant.  This is a climbing sport of the bush.  Grows to about eight feet.
• Climbing Rainbow’s End – This is a recently discovered climbing sport of the bush, which appears to be every bit as good.  The yellow and red blooms come on a plant that grows to about nine feet.
• Climbing Rise ‘N’ Shine – The climbing version of the popular yellow mini. 
• Climbing Lavender Lace – The climbing sport of the popular lavender mini rose.  Has a great fragrance, grows to about five feet.
• Hi Ho – This is an older climbing mini (1964) by Ralph Moore.  The blooms are full deep pink, in clusters, on a clean plant with glossy foliage. 
• Irish Heartbreaker – A great climbing mini from Sean McCann.  The full flowers are bright red and yellow on a vigorous, clean, upright plant to five feet.  Should be better known.
• Pink Cameo – Another mini climber from Ralph Moore, this rose has small rose pink blooms with darker pink centers.  Grows to five feet.
• Work of Art – One of my favorites of Ralph Moore’s minis.  This vigorous, clean plant produces orangy yellow blooms with good form.  Grows about six feet.
• Twister – A red and white striped, full bloomed mini that grows about five feet.  From Ralph Moore, this rose is almost dahlia like in appearance. 
• Red Cascade – Ralph Moore developed many trailing minis that could be used for hanging pots or as climbers.  One is Red Cascade.  It produces lots of full, deep red blooms on a plant that grows to about five feet.
• Magic Dragon – Another one of Ralph Moore’s climbing minis, this oldie produces dark red, full blooms on a vigorous plant that grows to five feet.
• Orchid Jubilee – The very full lavender blooms come in good-sized sprays.  Vigorous plant to six feet, a constant bloomer.
• Nozomi – The only once blooming mini climber, but it is very popular, especially in rock gardens.  Small white blooms on a plant that could be a ground cover.  Grows to about six feet.
• Dreamcatcher – Another climbing mini from Sean McCann.  Red and white striped blooms on a vigorous, clean plant to seven feet.
• Dreamcoat – Another climber from Sean McCann, the yellow with pink edged blooms reminds one of the climber Joseph’s Coat.  Grows to six feet.
• S.W.A.L.K. – I talked with Sean McCann about his climbing minis and he feels that this is one of his best and he gets more complements about this tall mini, about seven feet, with full, scarlet red blooms, than any other of his creations.
• Radiant – An orangy pink mini climber from Frank Bernadella, hybridizer of such great minis as Kristin and Jennifer.  Strong and clean plant, grows to six feet.
• Snowfall – One of the few white mini climbers, this oldie will grow to six feet tall with good disease resistance. 
• Stolen Moment – One of Sean McCann’s best mini climbers.  Near single petalled lilac blooms come on a seven feet tall plant. 
• Klima – A super vigorous mini climber with loose, bright yellow blooms.  Named for past ARS President Joe Klima and his wife Marion who both passed away last year and donated a considerable amount of their estate to the ARS. 
• Jean Kenneally – You may ask why this rose is in the climber article.  My Jean Kenneally will grow to 7 feet, larger than most climbing minis.  The apricot blooms have good exhibition form, but is rarely seen on the trophy table any more. 
• Dorothy Rose – How could I write an article about climbing minis and not include one of my own registered roses.  This very vigorous, clean plant grows about seven feet.  The red, red-orange, or orange and white striped, single petalled blooms come in small sprays.  No two blooms are alike.  I have won many best seedling certificates with this rose and recently I won the best single petalled mini spray trophy.  Named after my mother and grandmother.  Sets seeds readily and I am using it in my breeding program.