Do I need a climber or a rambler?

LilyP

Hi all,

I'm looking for a rose to cover this structure (have no idea what to call it!). It's about 6ft high 3ft wide and 4ft deep and made of a thick trellis. I was looking at climbing roses, but have just read that a climber might not cope with growing horizontally to cover the top of the structure, so I am now a bit confused. Do I need a rambling rose? Is it possible that would get too big and vigorous for the structure, which is pretty small? I'm clueless about roses .

 

What do people think?

Any suggestions for a pink fragrant rose that would like this spot are welcome too. It is east facing and is a spot in our garden that gets a little dappled shade from a tree.

Thanks!

pansyface

Climbers are good because they flower repeatedly over the summer whereas ramblers have one big flush of flowers and that's your lot till next summer.



Ramblers are good because you don't have to bother too much about pruning them unless bits break off and die back.



The thing to look for us the growth habit. Some roses are stiff and upright and can't be bent over a form. Others are thin and pliable and can be trained.



One rose which I would recommend for this situation is Adelaide d'Orleans. The stems are thin and wiry, the flowers perfumed and pretty. But it is thorny!

LilyP

I see, so it isn't climber or rambler, but how flexible it is that I need to focus on? I like the sound of not having to prune though

Ooh Adelaide d'Orleans is beautiful, that would be perfect. Thanks Pansyface!

 

Busy-Lizzie

Have a look at this page from David Austin roses. 4 repeat flowering ramblers. I have Malvern Hills and a friend of mine has Snow Goose, both lovely. There are 2 pink ones there too, I haven't got them but if they are like the other two they will be fine.

http://www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/english-roses/english-rose-ramblers   

Marinelilium

LilyP if you, and any 'sample size' people pass through the archway you might like to consider the very fragrant, pink, thornless Zepherine Drouhin. Mine never suffered mildew because I sprayed it with a milk and water mix (1 part milk to 2 parts water).



It flowers almost continuousy but the big plus is, as you squeeze through the archway with your wheelbarrow or tray full of gin and tonics, you can do so without gouging your knuckles or snagging your jumper on thorns.

Sheila34

Z

bulkerb

Just for a laugh you could buy a rambling rector its a climber so you get both for the price of one only joking

What about some thing like flower carpet pink its a ground cover rose a pretty thing you might like it we grow them as standards 

Lily Pilly

Ooooh Lily P for a moment I thought I had a twin!

i think the advice about thornless is good advice, I get attacked by most of my roses! I wouldn't recommend a climber for that space. David Austen are expensive but worth every penny

LilyP

Thanks very much for the advice everyone!

After long deliberation I have decided on Malvern Hills. Not the pink I originally wanted, but it looks lovely and is supposedly thornless (as per your advice Marinelilium!). Does it have much fragrance in your experience Busy-Lizzie?

One other thing - should I buy the bareroot or potted rose? I don't fully understand the differences between the two.

Fairygirl

Bareroot is just that LilyP - it comes wrapped in hessian or similar, having been dug out the ground with very little soil attached. A potted plant has been grown in the pot and is more expensive. The advantage of potted plants of any kind is that you can buy and  plant them all year round. Bareroot plants are sent out when the plant is dormant  

Busy-Lizzie

Malvern Hills has very few thorns and is scented, but the fragrance is quite light, stronger when the sun is on it. I think it's very pretty.