FOURTH OF JULY™ – red-and-white climbing rose – Carruth
Vertical espalier and pergola lines built on own-root stability make FOURTH OF JULY™ a convincing propagation choice where you need consistent, space‑defining climbers with strong identity for trained 5–7 litre products. Its repeat flowering and clearly scented, semi‑double blooms add long‑season impact to arches, walls and urban green structures, while the vigorous 250–400 cm habit supports reliable cane development on staked, pre‑trained material. Own‑root capacity for regeneration over time supports homogeneous, low‑replacement stock in nursery networks and public‑realm supply chains, even where winters are cold and windswept in a way typical of northern UK regions. Award recognition (AARS, RHS AGM) underpins professional credibility when building premium, vertical‑feature assortments, and the development arc from roots in year one through structural canes in year two to full ornamental value in year three aligns well with planned, wholesale‑scale programmes.
Usage options
Finished-product ideas
- 5–7 L staked exhibition climber – NEONATAL plants trained to 3–5 canes in 5–7 L containers, highlighting the vigorous height and award recognition for exhibition and collection benches – specialist rose retailers and show-garden partners
- Fragrant pergola pair – matched pairs in 5–7 L, pre-trained for arch or pergola placement, using the strong scent and repeat flowering as key selling points – independent garden centres via nursery wholesalers
- Urban wall-greening climber – robust own-root material trained on lightweight trellis panels from nursery, leveraging hardiness and dense foliage for urban green space specifications – public-realm and municipal framework suppliers
- Striped collector’s series – branded colour-collection SKU emphasising the red-white striping and cultivar authenticity within a curated climber range – mail-order resellers and specialist catalogues
- Pollinator-conscious feature climber – trained climber line promoted for semi-double, pollinator-attractive flowers and decorative hips, aligned with biodiversity-led planting briefs – landscape contractors and project nurseries
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Climbing rose cultivar WEKroalt, marketed as Fourth of July™ Climbing rose WEKroalt; ARS exhibition name Fourth of July, in the climber, large-flowered climber group. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Tom Carruth (Weeks Wholesale Rose Grower Inc) in the USA, 1999; cross of ‘Altissimo’ × ‘Roller Coaster’, introduced and first distributed by Weeks Wholesale Rose Grower, Inc. the same year. |
| Awards and recognition |
All-America Rose Selections winner 1999 and Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit, supporting its use in high-profile garden, collection and landscape schemes. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Vigorous climbing habit reaching about 250–400 cm high and 160–260 cm spread, with dense, glossy dark green foliage and numerous prickles, forming strong frameworks for trained vertical use. |
| Flower morphology |
Semi-double, cup-shaped flowers with approximately 13–25 petals in medium clusters; repeat-flowering with an abundant second flush, medium self-cleaning with some spent blooms persisting in clusters. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Bright red and white striped flowers (ARS rb; RHS 53A outer, NN155D inner) with marbling; red tones fade toward raspberry and creamy white, with colour stability generally good under garden conditions. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strong, clearly perceptible fragrance described as fresh, apple-cinnamon scented, contributing both to sensory impact at close range and to its appeal in exhibition and collector contexts. |
| Hip characteristics |
Produces moderately abundant, spherical orange-red hips around 12–18 mm in diameter, adding structural and colour interest in the post-flowering season on trained climbers. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to approximately –26 to –23 °C (RHS H7; Swedish zone 4; USDA 5b) with moderate resistance to powdery mildew, black spot and rust, plus good tolerance of heat and moderate drought. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best used as a trained climber on walls, pergolas, arches, fences or as a specimen; medium maintenance with occasional plant-protection treatments; NEONATAL suited to staked, pre-trained 5–7 L production. |
FOURTH OF JULY™ combines vigorous climbing structure, distinctive striped blooms and proven hardiness on a predictable own-root base, making it a sound option for stable vertical ranges where we can jointly plan capacity and delivery windows.
