Rose - shortish climber - for a north facing wall, sandy, well-drained soil, mild climate

clematisdorset

I am hoping to find your suggestions for a rose.  I should add that there is moderate rain and wind, with wind coming from the south-west, so the rose would be in the lee of the wind to begin with. The wall is about 7 foot. The wall has some climbers that the rose could lean into in time. I could also add an arch or obelisk.  I will build-up the naturally sandy, well-drained soil with compost and well-rotted manure and will be able to water the rose. I don't mind the colour but it needs to be scented. Single or double flowers are preferred. What would you suggest please?

I might also ask on the rose thread, but will leave it here for now!

pansyface

This is a rambler and the bumf says it’s tall, but my old ma grew it along a six foot high fence many years ago and it flowered its socks off.

And it is one of the few roses that I can smell, so it must be smelly!

https://www.trevorwhiteroses.co.uk/shop/rambling-roses/emily-gray/

GardenerSuze

@clematisdorset A favourite of mine is Warm Welcome only slightly scented.

Joyce Goldenlily

Roses really prefer a good heavy clay to grow well. You will need to bulk up your soil a lot to keep one happy.

pansyface

Yes, I would agree, but Emily Gray seems to thrive in shade and in poor soil, if my mum’s rose was anything to go by. 🙂

Lizzie27

@clematisdorset. Have a look at DA's Claire Austin which can be grown/trained as a shortish climber. It's a white with a lemony centre, incurved petals and grows well for me on thinnish pliable canes. The flowers tend to droop so suited for a climber where you can stand underneath to appreciate the blooms. Has a gorgeous lemony perfume as well and doesn't seem to suffer much blackspot here at least.

clematisdorset

Thank you everyone, I have had a look at them all. They are all gorgeous. Maybe I had better look at preparing the ground better first.

I had not heard of Rosa Emily Gray, @pansyface, but a lovely soft, warm colour and the scent sounds wonderful. It is a rambler, but that could work.

I had heard of Rosa Warm Welcome. @GardenerSuze, but had forgotten about it and it would fit the bill, apart from maybe a weak scent, but the vibrant colour and repeat-performing ability would be excellent.

I have also heard of Rosa Claire Austin, @Lizzie27, but had not realised it may be suited to poorer soils. It sounds dreamy, and the lack of blackspot you have encountered is very encouraging. Standing under a scented rose is just magical - and creamy  or paler colours do work well when facing a northerly direction don't they.

You have given me pause, @Joyce Goldenlily, to maybe try to do some more work on the soil first. I know many of the rosarians on here do grow on fertile and clay soils, and I am never going to have a garden like that, but it sounds as though there could be suitable roses, if not so many.

I need to think this out a bit more, and decide on when I can put in a supporting structure (before the rose is planted is probably the best order to do it).