I'm about to do what you intend, plant a climbing rose by my house where a door, window, and spigot are placed. Yes, a trellis is needed for most climbing roses unless the rose you pick is like "Blossomtime" which can be grown as a self supporting plant. I plant my climbing rosebushes c. 2 feet away from a trellis, and leaning a bit towards it. Be sure and measure and then cut out a piece of the trellis, before you situate it in its place, so that you can easily get to the spigot. You need a cold tolerant rose, and so I suggest you look at the hortico.com website because they give the zones in which each of their climbing roses can be grown. Good luck, Luxrosa

Just from experience, Austin climbers, Canadian explorers, and Kordes roses will do really well. I agree, a red, yellow, or fuschia colored climber would look nice. What aspect does it face- full sun/part? I have Zephirine and it is cane hardy for the most part- uncovered in the SW suburbs. Late frosts have set the plant back, since this is the front of the house (I think) - I would get something that grows fast and blooms a lot! A rose with a clematis might be nice too - to extend bloom!

Magpie, I don't remember that well how many feet the canes looked bare...I think it was at least 3'. Yes, there are trade offs for being in a dry climate. I think an own root Alchymist might not be as huge . Mine was an ungainly grower...sent out very long stiff canes. I still liked it. A climber I bought this spring is John Cabot. I think Frances in NJ's plant is gorgeous. Another couple of climbers I like but which are not very big plants: Penny Lane...seems to be a tough plant Courageous Love Polka... mine has been in a lot of shade but still is healthy and blooms and grows. I put another one in more sun to replace dwindling MAdame Alfred.

I agree that knowing the part of the country you're in will help us advise you. The low thorn item is the trickiest part as most of the "thornless" roses I can think of are either pinkish or white, or not hardy to our zone 5. For yellows, I've had good luck with Lunar Mist. It can die to the ground some years but in the past several years has had reasonably good surviving cane. If Teasing Georgia didn't survive for you thought anything we list might be tricky, as that one is rated to zone 4 and performs that way for me. It's possible TG would be more hardy after a year protected to grow better roots. It's a little early to endorse this yellow, but Sunshine Sally has small blooms but has so far been tip hardy over the last winter. Same with Golden Opportunity. A reliably tip hardy apricot climber is Polka, with big fat fully double blooms. It has good sized thorns but they're spaced enough that they're relatively easy to avoid. There are some options that are coral pink like Rosarium Ueterson or Lady Ashe, but to my eye they look more pink than coral. Cynthia