Ground Cover Roses

Posts

• Buttercupdays Posts: 4,546

  May 2020

  I've got 'Max Graf' on a steep, partially shaded bank and it seems perfectly happy. I've never pruned it, the bank slopes at about 75 degrees, so I can't even stand up, but it is covered in flowers every summer.
  Haven't tried any others, but can't see why they wouldn't succeed. Birches don't give heavy shade and you could plant them away from the tree and train them inwards. They aren't evergreen though.
  

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• coccinella Posts: 1,428

  January 2021

  Hello, I would like to plant some ground cover roses too. The soil is light clay (other roses do well) but I fear that the place where I want them to go is too dry. Would they withstand dry soil and semi shade? 

  
  Luxembourg

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• Nollie Posts: 7,529

  January 2021

  Some recommendations for ground cover roses for shade here:
  https://www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/collections/ground-cover-roses?_=pf&pf_t_key_features=filter_feature%3A%20Shade%20Tolerant
  
  and a couple here, Max Graf gets a mention here too:
  
  https://www.trevorwhiteroses.co.uk/product-category/ground-cover-roses/?swoof=1&pa_situation=shade-tolerant&really_curr_tax=19-product_cat
  
  Two issues, first you will need to find a reasonably deep planting hole away from the trunk, in between the main spreading roots of the tree, so a bit of careful excavation/investigation will be required. Secondly, you will need to water and feed regularly, as the rose, however tough, will be in competition with the tree and will need extra tlc in the first few years until they are established and gotten their roots down deep. I suspect there are easier plant options but it would look lovely if it works!
  
  

  Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.

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