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Gardening

Can anyone recommend a rose?

(64 Posts)
Witzend Thu 15-Jun-23 09:09:18

We have an approx. 6 foot section of bare fence, after a dense jungly mass of ivy and winter clematis had to be removed. At the moment I’ve planted hollyhocks* to help ‘dress’ it for the summer, but come the autumn I want to plant a rose to scramble up it. I’ve looked through catalogues/online, but the choice is overwhelming.
It’s a sunny bed. I want something that’s repeat flowering, and preferably scented and disease resistant. Not too fussy about the colour.
Any suggestions from those more rose-savvy than I am gratefully received!

*should add, I got some non tiddly potted ones, around 6 inches and very healthy, plus delivered very promptly, from Roots. Will def. use this co. again - they’re doing very well. I’ve been very disappointed in the past with plants ordered online from elsewhere.

Witzend Fri 16-Jun-23 11:57:36

After a lot of browsing on the David Austin site, I’ve now decided (very guiltily) to ditch a rose that’s in a pot, climbing half heartedly up the back of the house. A friend gave it to me years ago but TBH I’d never have chosen it - clusters of very small, single white flowers, nice enough - but just one flush of flowers in June, and that’s it.
I’m afraid it’s going to have to go.

I’ve found a suitable replacement on the DA site, but will need a bigger pot, since I’d like an obelisk/pillar this time, rather than trellis.

Juggernaut Fri 16-Jun-23 12:16:15

We have a climbing rose more or less covering a fence in our back garden.
It's a good grower, doesn't need lots of special care, and has beautiful blooms, seriously gorgeous!
I can't remember which grower it came from, but the name is 'Handel'.
Have a look, it's really lovely!

Germanshepherdsmum Fri 16-Jun-23 12:29:58

In my experience browsing the DA website is fatal witzend😁

chocolatepudding Fri 16-Jun-23 13:08:18

May I suggest The Churchill Rose by Peter Beale. It has a lovely scent and flowers from June to October. It is a descendant of the famous Peace rose.

Whitewavemark2 Fri 16-Jun-23 13:10:43

travelnan

Another David Austin fan. I have several but my favourite is William Morris, it has lovely big pink blooms and smells beautiful. A very prolific flower too.

My William Morris is more apricot than pink🤔

lixy Fri 16-Jun-23 13:42:25

Not sure where you are in the country Witzend but a rose-fan friend of mine enjoys visiting both David Austin's nursery in and Peter Beale's in Norfolk.
You can get a really good idea of what a plant will look like and talk to the experts there before you make a final decision. No pressure to buy on the day.

midgey Fri 16-Jun-23 13:49:13

Witzend if you can organise a visit to David Austin in Shropshire it is an amazing place, all the roses they have bred are growing in the gardens so you can see habit and flowers etc. Even if you don’t want a rose it’s a glorious place to visit, a good cafe too!

lixy Fri 16-Jun-23 13:50:53

Thanks Midgey - I missed out the important bit about location!

cc Fri 16-Jun-23 13:58:24

Whiff

Witzend Gertrude Jekyll it's a David Austin rose either shrub or climber. It has lovely pink flowers and the fragrance is lovely. Starts to bloom in June until October/November. Also Thomas a Becket also David Austin which is red. Flowers same length of time . Unscented.

To all lovers of roses don't use Roseclear organic bug killer it comes in a white spray bottle but it leaves white spots all over your rose leaves and buds and will not wash off. All my rose leaves are green with white spots. Luckily the flowers are fine once open. I complained to them they said it's shows the product is working. I soon told them they couldn't have tested it before putting it on the market. And there research team needs to find a solution. They sent me a garden centre voucher for £18.50. I noticed on reviews after I used it other people had the same problem.

I agree, this is a lovely rose. However I also used to grow a small rambler called "Ghislaine de Felingonde" which is very pretty, healthy, isn't too vigorous and has bunches of small flowers in various shades of peach, depending on the weather:

www.classicroses.co.uk/roses/ghislaine-de-feligonde-rambling-rose.html.
and
www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/products/ghislaine-de-feligonde

The reason that I suggest it is that you can space out the branches on ramblers to cover the whole space more easily that with a climber. The flowers are small and spread all over the plant and it grows new shoots from the base. You prune by taking out whole old branches to make room for the new.

cc Fri 16-Jun-23 14:05:31

Witzend

After a lot of browsing on the David Austin site, I’ve now decided (very guiltily) to ditch a rose that’s in a pot, climbing half heartedly up the back of the house. A friend gave it to me years ago but TBH I’d never have chosen it - clusters of very small, single white flowers, nice enough - but just one flush of flowers in June, and that’s it.
I’m afraid it’s going to have to go.

I’ve found a suitable replacement on the DA site, but will need a bigger pot, since I’d like an obelisk/pillar this time, rather than trellis.

It's funny isn't it, we feel guilty about throwing out a rose plant costing £30 at the most, but think nothing of throwing out a bunch of flowers which might have cost just as much and only lasts for a week or so.
I agree with you about the roses that only flower once though, unless you have a really big garden.
I have a lovely one called "Lady of the Lake" from David Austin, I just leave it to itself and cut out any exhausted branches when they die. Sadly it's too big for Witzend's fence though.

Witzend Fri 16-Jun-23 14:31:01

I hadn’t thought of it like that (cost) cc but you’re right. I still feel a bit bad about ‘murdering’ a reasonably healthy plant, though. But our garden is very small, so I do want plants that earn their keep.

Soozikinzi Sun 18-Jun-23 11:39:49

Arthur Bell from David Austin is beautiful with a lovely scent if you like yellow roses ! Available as climber or shrub .

Metra Sun 18-Jun-23 11:42:40

I have Mary Delaney which used to be called Mortimer Sackler. It is disease resistant, thornless and has what was described as a fruity scent similar to old roses. It can be grown either as a shrub or small climber. I have had it for 3 years now and have had no problems of any kind. I just give it the occasional feed but have never needed to spray it. I love it.

oldstuuk Sun 18-Jun-23 12:09:31

I was never a fan of roses but since we moved I have bought several, some for their scent and colour and my favourites are Rhapsody in Blue and Golden Wedding. Agreed bareroot stock is easier to look afterm and David Austin roses are not cheap but the quality is superb.

Gelisajams Sun 18-Jun-23 12:10:34

This is my Dame Judy Dench. Not a climber but fills a decent space.

Mokeswife Sun 18-Jun-23 12:18:38

We love roses but most do not have open petals to enable them to be good pollinators - something perhaps to be considered on your search for one?

MadeInYorkshire Sun 18-Jun-23 12:33:17

I've been astounded over the rose Zephrine Drouhin (Peter Beales online is where I got it) Dark to light pink climber, I got it last year and it has been absolutely beautiful, covered in flowers, and lovely fragrance ...

Germanshepherdsmum Sun 18-Jun-23 12:35:20

It is lovely, I have one. Thornless too.

MadeInYorkshire Sun 18-Jun-23 12:48:15

Whiff

Witzend Gertrude Jekyll it's a David Austin rose either shrub or climber. It has lovely pink flowers and the fragrance is lovely. Starts to bloom in June until October/November. Also Thomas a Becket also David Austin which is red. Flowers same length of time . Unscented.

To all lovers of roses don't use Roseclear organic bug killer it comes in a white spray bottle but it leaves white spots all over your rose leaves and buds and will not wash off. All my rose leaves are green with white spots. Luckily the flowers are fine once open. I complained to them they said it's shows the product is working. I soon told them they couldn't have tested it before putting it on the market. And there research team needs to find a solution. They sent me a garden centre voucher for £18.50. I noticed on reviews after I used it other people had the same problem.

Yes have found the same with Rose Clear - my Mum's lovely patio rose looks like a load of birds have poohed on it!

pce612 Sun 18-Jun-23 12:53:39

I have just bought a climbing rose, Peach Melba, rose of the year 2023. Disease resistant. I bought mine from Amazon because other suppliers will not deliver to my postcode. I have just looked and it is out of stock on their site but here is the link so you can have a look.

www.amazon.co.uk/Peach-Melba-Rose-Scented-Climbing/dp/B0BRSY1WMS/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=climbing+rose+peach+melba&tag=gransnetforum-21&qid=1686388736&sr=8-3#customerReviews

The actual growers are THE GARDEN ROSE COMPANY.
It arrived well packaged in a good sized box, well watered and looking very healthy. I haven't planted it yet but it is doing very well in it's deep pot.

grandMattie Sun 18-Jun-23 12:53:51

Because I used to make a lot of marmalade, my late DH bought me “Lady Marmalade” rose to tease me. It is gorgeous, generous, scented and marmalade coloured!

StephLauraine Sun 18-Jun-23 12:57:47

I am also a David Austin fan. Retirement present from my former boss, an expert rose grower, was Strawberry Hill, Gertrude Jekyll and Emily Brontë (see photo - I’m growing it on a pergola). I am no gardener but all three are thriving. He highly recommends Altissimo by DA. I shall be getting, particularly as it attracts bees.

MadeInYorkshire Sun 18-Jun-23 13:07:53

I have never tried a bare root rose - always bought one that is 'grown with buds on' - what's the difference, will they grow properly the year after planting?

4allweknow Sun 18-Jun-23 13:19:54

Anothet for Gertrude Jekyll.

HannahLoisLuke Sun 18-Jun-23 13:23:09

Queen of Sweden is trouble free, disease resistant and grows to about 5 feet tall. I’ve successfully taken cuttings for family and she always obliges. The scent is quite light but you can’t have everything.