Ancient Mariner rose and a 5 foot obelisk?

debs64

Hi all and especially the rose experts. I have an Ancient Mariner rose growing, it says it reaches 5 foot tall so I was wondering if it could be trained to climb up an obelisk, about 5-6 foot tall? It’s a beautiful rose so just wondered whether it would be suitable? @Marlorena could you maybe advise? Thanks 

Marlorena

@debs64
..Hi Debs...

well, what can I say about this fabulous rose... first of all, it's not one to train as a climber.. it makes a large, bulky, freestanding shrub and is best allowed to grow that way.. it does not take kindly to hard pruning, as it totally ruins the character, and it sulks...  here it grew 6 x 6 feet and I would say it would demolish a 5 foot obelisk, or at least render it inconsequential.. unless pruned.. but it does need supporting, as the canes get top heavy and during gales/rain will flop forward... 
..so an obelisk would give some support but I feel it would look somewhat superfluous to the rose, unless you pruned it harder than I would.. which of course you can do..

..by all means give it a go if that's your plan, but it wouldn't have worked for me where I had it.. I have to use past tense as it was a casualty of my new fence when they put it up..
I had it sandwiched between my shed and greenhouse... as you can see it makes huge clusters on long stems... these may need supporting..







...see how it goes... plant it outside the obelisk, not in the middle.. and if you find it doesn't need the support, well, you can just remove the obelisk that way..

debs64

@Marlorena, hello and thanks for the advice, excellent as always. I will stick to using the rose as a shrub, it certainly looks fantastic in your photos. I want a short climber from DA, I already have a Gertrude Jekyll for one obelisk so want another pink rose for the other. My problem is I do love to see roses in situ and have been spoiled in the past by visiting DA nursery regularly. They are of course closed at the moment so I will need to cultivate patience until I can pick out my perfect short climber. 

Thanks again for your speedy response and advice. 

Marlorena

@debs64
..can I recommend this one to you, for your 5 foot obelisk?..

'Scepter'd Isle'... wonderful scent, continuous bloom, upright and not as dense as TAM, therefore easier to train against such a support, by leaning it back, and tying it in..  

debs64

That’s a beauty. Will definitely consider it. Keeping everything crossed that DA are open again this year. Nothing beats seeing roses growing and being able to smell them. Thanks 

Cambridgerose12

I think @Marlorena's 'Scepter'd Isle' looks the business. I wanted to put in a good word for a non-DA shrub rose which is very beautiful and wonderfully scented--'St. Ethelburga', which can be grown as a short climber.

https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/rosa-st-ethelburga/

debs64

Thanks for that @Cambridgerose12 I will take a look. 

gjautos

I've never grown ancient mariner, but i have read up on it. My understanding is it can be bothered by albatross.

debs64

Not a problem here we are inland so the worst issue is likely to be pigeons!