Rosa Zephirine Drouhin is my favourite climbing rose, for several reasons. First and foremost, it’s virtually thornless, making it an ideal choice for a family garden, or for planting near a frequently used door or pathway. One of the few roses that will thrive in a shady spot, it requires very little attention, is easy going about pruning and is fairly pest resistant. For me, a rose isn’t a rose unless it smells like one and this has a gorgeous old-fashioned fragrance that carries for quite some distance. As if all that wasn’t enough in one plant, the very best thing about the Zephirine Drouhin rose is the large fluffy pink blooms that are profuse and perfect as cut flowers.