Climbing
New Dawn
Light pink · repeat-blooming · Zones 5-9
Climbing Rose
Dorothy Perkins
Classic pink rambler, vigorous cottage-garden favorite.
The Dorothy Perkins is a pink climbing rose valued for its generous early-summer display and clean, dependable habit. Below you'll find a full profile of Dorothy Perkins — its characteristics, how to grow it, where to use it in the garden, and answers to the questions gardeners ask most.
About Dorothy Perkins
Dorothy Perkins belongs to the climbing roses, a class defined by cupped to full blooms carried singly or in small clusters along the canes. Because climbing roses flower most freely on horizontally trained wood, how you tie in the canes matters as much as feeding or watering.
In flower, Dorothy Perkins is pink and gives one memorable, concentrated display, carrying a light, pleasant fragrance. It is hardy across USDA zones 5-9, so it suits a wide range of gardens with the right seasonal care.
Characteristics and form
Dorothy Perkins makes long, arching climbing canes that are tied onto a support, typically around 8 to 15 feet tall and 4 to 8 feet wide. The blooms are cupped to full blooms carried singly or in small clusters along the canes, medium to large in size, set against mid- to deep-green, often glossy foliage. Knowing a rose's habit and mature size is the key to placing it well: give Dorothy Perkins room to reach its full spread without crowding its neighbors, which also keeps air moving through the plant and disease at bay.
How to grow Dorothy Perkins
Plant Dorothy Perkins where it will get at least six hours of direct sun a day in fertile, well-drained soil with good air movement around it. In cold climates, set the graft union — the swollen knob where the variety joins the rootstock — at or just below the soil line; in mild climates, keep it at soil level. Once planted, water deeply and less often to encourage deep, drought-resistant roots.
- Light: Full sun, six hours or more; morning sun is best because it dries dew early and limits disease.
- Soil: Rich and well-drained, slightly acidic at about pH 6.0–6.5. Improve heavy or sandy soil with plenty of compost before planting.
- Water: Deep, infrequent soakings at the base rather than frequent light sprinkling; more in heat, sandy soil, or containers.
- Feeding: A balanced rose fertilizer in early spring to support its single flush.
- Pruning: Prune it after the main flush and only lightly, since it flowers on wood formed the previous year.
Bloom habit: Once (early summer). Dorothy Perkins blooms once, in a single generous flush in early summer. Leave the last flowers to form hips for autumn and winter interest.
Where to use Dorothy Perkins in the garden
Train Dorothy Perkins along a fence, arch, or pergola, tying the canes horizontally to draw flowers from the base to the top. Underplant it with lavender, catmint, or hardy geraniums, or pair it with a summer clematis to share the same support. For more ideas, see our guide to companion plants for roses.
Common problems and care
Give climbers good air movement and keep the base clear so foliage dries quickly and black spot is discouraged. Watch for the usual rose troubles — black spot, powdery mildew, and aphids — and head them off with good air flow, base watering, and a tidy autumn clean-up. See our full guide to rose diseases and pests for identification and treatment.
Dorothy Perkins — frequently asked questions
How big does Dorothy Perkins get?
Dorothy Perkins typically grows about 8 to 15 feet tall and 4 to 8 feet wide, forming a long, arching climbing canes that are tied onto a support. Its final size depends on your climate and how you prune it.
Is Dorothy Perkins fragrant?
Dorothy Perkins has a light, pleasant fragrance; it is grown more for its pink color and habit than for perfume.
Does Dorothy Perkins bloom more than once a season?
No. Dorothy Perkins blooms once, in a single generous flush in early summer, rather than repeating through the season — so enjoy its main display and let it set hips afterward.
What hardiness zones does Dorothy Perkins grow in?
Dorothy Perkins is hardy in USDA zones 5-9. That range describes the winter cold it can survive; gardeners colder than zone 5 should give it winter protection or grow it in a movable container.
Is Dorothy Perkins easy to grow?
Give climbers good air movement and keep the base clear so foliage dries quickly and black spot is discouraged. Give Dorothy Perkins full sun, well-drained soil, and the ordinary seasonal care any rose appreciates, and it is a straightforward rose to grow.
How and when should I prune Dorothy Perkins?
Prune Dorothy Perkins after the main flush and only lightly, since it flowers on wood formed the previous year — see our step-by-step guide to pruning roses for the full method.