The history of Sombreuil is pleasantly tangled. Introduced to the United States by Roses of Yesterday and Today in 1951, it was later reintroduced in 1959 under the name Colonial White by rose specialist Melvin Wyant. In 2006 the American Rose Society ruled definitively in favor of Sombreuil as the correct name, though Colonial White persists in older references. Parentage has never been established. What the record does confirm is performance: a vigorous climber reaching 8 to 14 feet with a 5-foot spread, carrying fully double, white to ivory flowers 3 to 4 inches across in repeated flushes through the season, each one strongly fragrant.

Sombreuil grows in full sun to partial shade and tolerates drought once established, making it more forgiving than many climbers on this list. Plant in moist, well-drained garden soil and prune in late winter to remove dead or diseased canes and to manage size. The glossy dark green foliage on thorny canes provides a clean backdrop for the cream-toned flowers. Good disease resistance has helped sustain its reputation across decades. Grow it on any sturdy vertical surface as a specimen or hedge, and pair it with cutting or cottage garden plantings that benefit from the addition of a reliable, fragrant white climber in zones 6 to 9.