WHITE – white climbing rose - Hendrickx
With its snow-white, high-centred blooms and classic climbing habit, WHITE – white climbing rose - Hendrickx brings elegance and purity to pergolas, arches and house walls while remaining reassuringly straightforward to grow. The medium-sized, double flowers repeat well through the season, so once established you can expect reliable, showy flushes with only light routine care. As an own-root plant it develops naturally into a balanced, long-lived framework that recovers well from pruning and winter weather, helping it cope confidently even in damp, breezy conditions typical of exposed British gardens. Over its first few seasons it settles in steadily – roots in the first year, frame and shoots in the second, full ornamental impact by the third – giving you time to shape it to your space. Its disease-resistant foliage and moderate thorniness make everyday upkeep, light tying-in and deadheading more manageable for busy gardeners. Ideal where you want a dependable climbing rose that brings structure, height, romance, cut-flowers and long-term value to a family garden backdrop.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Front garden house wall |
Trains readily on wires or trellis to frame doors and windows, its pure white blooms brightening brick or render without overwhelming a modest facade. Low maintenance needs and good disease resistance keep the display tidy for style-conscious beginners. |
| Arch or pergola over a path |
The medium-height, climbing habit is ideal for softening a garden entrance or walkway, creating a romantic tunnel of white flowers with a softly sweet fragrance at head height. Reliable repeat flowering supports season-long appeal for busy homeowners. |
| Small cottage-style bed with vertical accent |
Works beautifully as a vertical anchor behind perennials and herbs, its snow-white flowers contrasting with looser cottage planting while the own-root vigour underpins a long-lived, structural presence. This suits relaxed yet orderly gardeners. |
| Feature rose on a courtyard trellis |
Neat, high-centred blooms and dark foliage create a refined backdrop in small, paved spaces; its remontant habit gives repeated flushes for months, so even minimal pruning and tying-in still reward design-conscious urbanites. |
| Cutting patch or exhibition corner |
The pointed, hybrid-tea style buds and medium, double blooms are excellent for cutting, with stems suited to vases and show work. Repeat flowering allows regular harvests through summer for detail-loving enthusiasts. |
| Shared or family garden boundary |
Planted along a fence at the recommended spacing, it forms a light, flowering screen that stays attractive for many years with simple annual pruning. The own-root base regrows well if stems are damaged, reassuring cautious families. |
| Raised bed in heavier clay soil |
Performs reliably when given improved drainage and a good planting hole, its strong framework coping well with wind and rain in typical UK weather, even in more exposed sites. This makes it practical for time-pressed beginners. |
| Large container near a seating area |
In a substantial 40–50 litre container with support, it delivers fragrant white blooms at eye level on patios and roof terraces, while the own-root habit ensures longer-term resilience compared with grafted climbers, suiting space-limited owners. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage Arch – train over a wooden arch with lavender and catmint below for a soft, nostalgic entrance – ideal for romantically inclined front-garden owners
- Classic Facade – fan against a brick wall with box edging and terracotta pots for a restrained, formal frontage – suited to homeowners who prefer crisp, traditional lines
- Herb Walk – grow along a narrow pergola above thyme and sage, using the white blooms to lift aromatic, silver-green foliage – perfect for cooks who love sensory gardens
- Evening Corner – place in a large container by a bench with pale hostas and ferns so the white flowers glow at dusk – appealing to those who unwind outdoors after work
- Showpiece Bed – combine as a vertical focal point with repeat-flowering bush roses in whites and soft pastels for easy, coordinated cutting – ideal for aspiring flower arrangers
Technical cultivar profile
| Characteristic |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Climbing rose from the Virgo line, sold as WHITE – white climbing rose - Hendrickx; ARS exhibition name Virgo, Cl.; unregistered sport used as a verified, own-root garden climber. |
| Origin and breeding |
Sport of ‘Virgo’ (Mallerin 1947), bred by Ignace Hendrickx in Belgium, 1957; associated with De Coninck-Dervaes & Pomona, introduced by Grandes Pépinières C. de Coninck-Dervaes. |
| Awards and recognition |
Awarded 2nd Certificate at the IV International Competition of New Roses in Madrid in 1959, reflecting its ornamental value and performance as a climbing, exhibition-capable rose. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Vigorous climber reaching about 200–320 cm high and 150–250 cm spread, with moderately dense, dark green foliage and moderate prickles; forms a trainable, structural framework over supports. |
| Flower morphology |
Medium-sized, double, high-centred blooms with 26–39 petals, typically borne singly; pointed buds with a classic cut-rose appearance; remontant habit with a notably abundant second flush. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Pure, uniform white flowers (RHS NN155D outer, NN155C inner) holding their snow-white shade from bud to fall, only slightly dulling with age; excellent colour retention and refined, silky surfaces. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Medium-strength, clearly perceptible scent with a softly sweet character; sufficiently noticeable near paths or seating areas, though not overpowering, adding refinement to decorative plantings. |
| Hip characteristics |
Due to very double blooms, hip set is limited; occasional 8–12 mm, ellipsoid, orange-red hips may form late season, but the variety is grown primarily for its flowers rather than fruit. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Good overall disease resistance, with reliable resistance to powdery mildew, black spot and rust; hardy to about -21 to -18 °C (RHS H7, Swedish zone 3, USDA 6b) under normal garden conditions. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in sunny positions on pergolas, arches, walls and trellises, at 140–220 cm spacing; low maintenance needs, prefers well-drained soil, with light pruning and deadheading improving repeat bloom. |
WHITE – white climbing rose - Hendrickx offers pure repeat-flowering blooms, reliable disease resistance and long-lived own-root structure, making it a thoughtful choice if you want a graceful yet undemanding climber for your garden.
