Red Fountain is a vigorous hybrid climbing rose in the rose family (Rosaceae) bred by J. Benjamin Williams of the United States and released in 1975. Parentage is Don Juan x Blaze. This climber will grow 12-14 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide. Plant in fertile, moist, well-drained soil in full sun for best results. The large double dark red roses are 2-3 inches across with 26-49 petals and a moderate sweet fragrance. They grow in small clusters and hold their color well in the garden or cut. It will bloom in summer and repeat bloom later in the season. Deadheading will help encourage more blooms. Foliage is dark glossy green on stems with prickles. Use on a trellis, fence or other vertical surfaces in the cottage or cutting garden. It can also be pruned shorter and used as a shrub. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Good disease resistance. See pests of roses to the left. Deer will browse roses. More information on Rosa .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheRosa America™ 'JACclam'Rosa 'Don Juan'Rosa 'Joseph' s Coat'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Rose; Shrub; Vine
Life cycle
Perennial; Woody
USDA zones
6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12-24 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 12 ft. 0 in. - 14 ft. 0 in. | Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Climbing
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy; Leathery
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leathery dark green glossy foliage
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Fragrant; Good Cut; Showy
Flower shape
Cup
Flower detail
Velvety scarlet double flowers in clusters in early summer. Buds are pointed. 2-3 inches across with 26-49 petals and a moderate sweet fragrance.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Green
Stem detail
Green stems with prickles.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Attracts
Pollinators
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Vertical Spaces
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; Cutting Garden
Design feature
Hedge; Screen/Privacy; Small groups
Garden tags
#long bloom time #rose #showy flowers #deciduous shrub #fragrant flowers #red flowers #full sun tolerant #cutting garden #vertical spaces #fence #trellis #climbing rose #cottage garden #arbor