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Is Lady Hillingdon *really* a repeat flowering rose?

michael_de_la_lamamichael_de_la_lama Posts: 3
edited June 2020 in Plants
Hi All,

I planted a David Austin Lady Hillingdon climbing rose three years ago on the basis that it was listed as a repeat flowering rose which could reach 20 feet. It is planted on an exposed west facing wall which receives an aggressive amount of sun during summer afternoons until sunset.

Over the last three years it has only flowered once per year (in May). When she does flower, she's a real showgirl. But then she proceeds to transform into a horror show of dried spent blooms, and fails to repeat. Admittedly, I haven't gotten up on my ladder to deadhead.

I am a keen rosarian, and my icebergs flower relentlessly without the need for deadheading.

Does anyone else have a Lady Hillingdon? I don't buy that this is a dead heading issue.

Do you think I've been sold a lie? Does Lady Hillingdon really repeat flower? Or does she need a few more years to settle in? If so, how many years? I just want things that spark joy in my garden. Not this awkward teenager. It's not paying off, and I'd like to rip it out.

Any advice greatly welcomed.

Thanks,

Michael

Posts

  • edhelkaedhelka Posts: 2,351
    Climbing Lady Hillingdon is not a DA rose (although she is sold by them) but an old tea rose. As such, she should flower in flushes or almost continually when happy (possibly not in this climate and I am not sure how much she needs deadheading).
    I mark this for @Marlorena, she used to have her a knows more.
  • MarlorenaMarlorena Posts: 8,705
    Lady Hillingdon is a continuous blooming rose but continuous here means one or two blooms at any given time, after the main flush is over... I could term it as a Spring blooming rose with scant later rebloom... which goes on until October... but as I say, just a very few here and there... and I always deadheaded mine because it was accessible..

    ...If you're not happy with it, rip it out... life's too short to put up with roses that don't satisfy you... I no longer have mine for the very same reason despite its Spring magnificence and for those few weeks there was nothing better... 
    ...I'm planting another Tea rose in its place when the soil has recovered.... 'Duchesse de Brabant'.... it's not as large but the rebloom is better..
    East Anglia, England
  • michael_de_la_lamamichael_de_la_lama Posts: 3
    Thanks @edhelka and @Marlorena
    I'm going to bite the bullet and rip the rose out. I was hoping to wait for it to settle in and become a repeat flowerer, but you've confirmed my fears. It's basically a once flowerer. I kind of feel a bit mislead by David Austin –they listed it as a repeat flowerer on their website. I might ask for a refund... I'll let you know what happens!
  • MarlorenaMarlorena Posts: 8,705
    ...well, they are not wrong as it does repeat as I said, just not in a whole mass like the first flush...
    ...confirmed here by the date..


    East Anglia, England
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