Advice please re: Taking out a large fig tree and replacing with a shrub rose.

floralies

We have a large multi stemmed fig tree and the roots are now interfering with our drainage system. I would like to plant a large shrub rose in its place. Would it be ok to plant a rose in the same place once the soil is improved and if so ideas for a tall shrub rose please bearing in mind our hot summers down here in Haute-Garonne. It will be in a south facing position.

Nollie

Can’t see any problem with replacing the fig with a rose, floralies, providing you improve the soil as you say. Your main problem will be digging out all the roots, which run rampant if not contained, as you have discovered!
If you had asked this question in a year’s time I could have told you how the shrub roses I chose with (alleged) heat tolerance in mind, had survived their first season in my similar climate, but they are not even planted out yet... the largest of which are probably Ivor’s Rose and La Rose de Molinard. 

Here are some that have passed the heat test in Texas:

https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkindroses/cultivars/

floralies

Thanks for the info @Nollie I will take a look. It's hard to think about roses in the hot sun when the weather is so cold!

Nollie

Yes I know what you mean, winter has finally arrived here in a big way. It’s bitterly cold with torrential, non-stop rain. Local roads are flooded and impassable and the motorway between us and France is closed due to excessive snow!

If you like yellow, another one to consider is Julia Child (Absolutely Fabulous) that did really well for me in it’s first year and survived the intense summer heatwaves - just kept on flowering prolifically. In the heat the blooms fade from deep yellow to pale lemon but in a pretty way. Gets much bigger than stated in warmer climes. A Marlorena-recommended winner.

floralies

Julia Child rose looks good and would look lovely if it grows taller, one to definitely think about. It's difficult to choose. I have DA Falstaff which is supposed to reach 125cm, but mine grows to at least 170cm! 

Nollie

I could’ve guarantee the height of course, my Julias ( I have 3 in a group)  reached 3ft in the first season, but I expect them to get much bigger, as most roses do here, except when they don’t - Munstead Wood is determinedly dwarf!

Here is a good illustration of how yellow blooms reacted to the heatwaves for me. The first is Charles Darwin - in less belting heat than JC but the washed out blooms crisped around the edges and didn’t open, then Julia in full sun, but unscathed:

And here is how Lady of Shallott and Lady Emma Hamilton fared in heat:

amancalledgeorge

Such a dramatic difference @Nollie those poor ladies.

the enduring gardener

Sounds like a plan but...use some mycorrhizal fungi when you're putting in the new roses. That should help get them off to a good start.