ALIBABA ® – orange climbing rose - Warner
On breezy Cornish or Devon afternoons, Alibaba creates a sunlit curtain of warm, coppery-orange blooms, turning walls and pergolas into a relaxed coastal retreat with minimal upkeep. This award-winning climber offers reliable repeat flowering from summer well into autumn, even in exposed gardens where you need strong roots to cope with salt-laden winds and well-managed drainage on heavier soils. Its dark, healthy foliage and strong, peach-tea fragrance bring a sense of comfort and quiet luxury to small family plots and verandas. Grown on its own roots, it promises longevity and easy regeneration after pruning or winter weather, steadily gaining character as it matures. In a roomy container of at least 40–50 litres, or trained along a fence or arch, it quickly becomes a focal point, while its low pruning needs keep everyday care simple for time-pressed gardeners.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Coastal veranda windbreak |
Dense, healthy foliage and a climbing habit help filter brisk seaside breezes while the warm orange blooms echo shingle and sunset tones; low maintenance needs suit those who prefer relaxed, no-fuss gardening for the busy homeowner. |
| Family garden archway |
Remontant flowering provides a long season of colour over an arch where children and guests pass frequently, and the strong peach-tea scent creates a welcoming entrance without demanding complex pruning from the beginner gardener. |
| Compact terrace or balcony container |
Performs well in a 40–50 litre or larger container with a simple support, giving vertical colour where ground space is limited and needing only occasional watering and tying-in, ideal for the urban balcony owner. |
| Warm, south-facing wall |
Climbing growth and moderate heat tolerance make it suitable against sun-warmed walls, where its colour remains attractive and repeat blooms continue provided you water during prolonged dry spells, manageable for the time-poor gardener. |
| Clay-based suburban boundary fence |
Strong rootstock form on its own roots helps it establish and anchor well where clay soils are improved for drainage, giving a lasting vertical screen of foliage and flowers that suits the long-term planner. |
| Perfumed seating area by the house |
Strong, long-lasting fragrance and clustered blooms are ideal near a bench or outdoor dining space, creating a softly scented backdrop for evening tea without the need for intensive deadheading by the relaxed host. |
| Lightly shaded pergola |
Tolerates partial shade while still flowering reliably, allowing you to green and colour a pergola that only gets part-day sun, with simple annual pruning to keep growth in check for the casual gardener. |
| Feature climber in coastal-style mixed border |
Works beautifully with grasses, sea kale and lavender in a shingle-style planting where its award-winning bloom quality and steady health complement other tough perennials in areas that benefit from good drainage and wind resilience for the coastal enthusiast. |
Styling ideas
- Sunset Arch – Train Alibaba over a narrow arch, underplant with Festuca and pale lavender for a glowing evening tunnel of scent – perfect for the coastal romantic.
- Harbour Wall – Clothe a warm house wall with Alibaba and edge below with sea kale and chives for a neat, edible-meets-ornamental strip – ideal for practical family gardeners.
- Veranda Screen – Grow in a 50‑litre container with a slim trellis to create a flowering privacy screen beside outdoor seating – suited to small-space balcony owners.
- Shingle Pergola – Let stems weave along a simple timber pergola above a gravel walkway, adding white verbena and St John’s wort for layered texture – great for low-maintenance stylists.
- Copper Corner – Use Alibaba as a solitary climber in a garden corner, paired with silvery foliage plants to highlight its warm orange tones – appealing to colour-focused designers.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Alibaba ® – orange climbing rose; large-flowered climber, commercial climber/rambling rose; registered as CHEwalibaba, ARS exhibition name Alibaba, part of the Climbing rose collection. |
| Origin and breeding |
Raised by Christopher H. Warner in the United Kingdom from Arcadian × Baby Love; bred in 2006, registered 2006, introduced 2011, initially distributed by Fryers Roses. |
| Awards and recognition |
Gold Standard Rose Trials Gold Standard award 2007; Lyon International Rose Competition 1st prize and Fragrance award 2008; La Tacita Best climbing rose 2011; RHS AGM 2012. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Vigorous climbing habit reaching about 200–330 cm high with 80–140 cm spread; moderately thorny, dense dark green foliage with a slightly glossy surface, suitable for walls, arches and pergolas. |
| Flower morphology |
Medium-sized, double, cup-shaped blooms with 26–39 petals and slightly ruffled edges; produced in clusters with remontant behaviour providing a notable second flush after the main flowering. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Warm copper-orange with coral veil; buds bronze-tinged orange-red, opening peach-orange with coral-pink; fades through apricot and creamy pink to paler yellowish tones; ARS ob, RHS 30B outer, 30C inner. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strong, long-lasting scent combining peach notes with classic tea rose character; best appreciated near paths, seating or entrances where air movement carries the fragrance through the garden. |
| Hip characteristics |
Occasionally forms small ellipsoidal red hips about 12–18 mm in diameter, adding discreet seasonal interest in late season without significantly affecting the overall flowering display. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Classed as resistant to black spot and powdery mildew, with moderate rust tolerance; reliably hardy to around –23 to –21 °C (RHS H7, USDA 6a, Swedish zone 3) under normal garden conditions. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best grown with sturdy support on walls, arches or pergolas at 140–240 cm spacing; suits containers from 40–50 litres; low-maintenance, needing light pruning and regular watering only during extended drought. |
Alibaba ® – orange climbing rose - Warner offers long-season flowering, strong fragrance and easy-care climbing performance in a durable own-root form; consider it if you want lasting colour and scent with modest effort.
