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Iceberg climbing rose

PianoplayerPianoplayer Posts: 624
in Plants
Hi @Nollie rather than clog the rose thread with a long post, I've started a new thread.

This is one of the photos I sent to David Austin. I specifically asked about the lack of new basal canes, and whether the green canes visible were just laterals; and if the climbing version could `revert` to the floribunda.



A chap from DA phoned me (didn't catch his name, as I was taken unawares), which was good, as I could ask questions. He said:
  • He would not expect new basal canes - the canes I had were exactly what he would expect. I challenged this, and said I had seen examples online of people's climbing roses producing 6-8ft climbing canes, not 2-3ft. His response was `yes, ramblers, maybe` but that the canes I had would continue to grow, and I should continue to train them as horizontally as possible.
  • He felt that the rose was showing climbing characteristics and had not reverted.
  • He said that the rose was about where he would expect for the start of its third season (ie about 3ft high), and that it should start to take off now. I said I was surprised it was described as fast-growing and vigorous in that case! He said climbers take much longer to develop than shrubs.

He kindly offered to send a replacement, which I politely declined - no point going back to square one. I will give it one more season, and see what happens. Otherwise, I will replace it with a non-rose.

I know there are people on here who have Iceberg climbers and have commented on how spectacular and successful they are. I would love to hear from them about its growing form, and how long it took to really develop. @Marlorena I try very hard not to pester you with my stupid rose questions, but if you have any views/advice, I would welcome the input!

Apologies for the long essay.
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  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I have had one for many years. It doesn't grow particularly high, just to the top of the fence 6ft ish but that might be  lack of nurturing. I throw a handful of Toprose at it once a year and let it see to itself apart from a bit of dead-heading.
    Just went out to check. It just grows from one main stem. Branches from about six inches up the stem. Nothing else comes out of the ground ( is that what basal canes are?)
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    My climbing iceberg is trained on the washing-line post. It gets to maybe 8 feet tall. It's main stem was trained to spiral around the post when it was young and green, and now I just shorten the side branches when I prune. Not sure if that's the correct way to train and prune, but it gets the shape I want and it flowers well. It's been there probably about 25 years. I don't expect or want it to produce new canes from ground level because then I'd have to train them in as well.  It doesn't get any special feed, just occasional chicken poo or BFB along with the rest of the border.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    As we discussed previously, PP, mine didn’t take off in year three (3+ years for climbers to take off is not unusual but I would’ve expected to see some action by now), it’s generally weak and struggling to cover a 5ft fence. DA’s own website says it gets to 15ft but it’s interesting he says ‘he would not expect new basals’. Maybe that’s just a characteristic of this rose and you just have to train the laterals to reach that height? I’m equally peeved that it does not rebloom! Be interesting to hear what M says…
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Once it starts, mine blooms continuously until the frosts.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    So does mine (I do deadhead it sporadically).
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • PianoplayerPianoplayer Posts: 624
    @JennyJ @B3 thanks for that, appreciate you sharing your experience. Mine is on a 6ft obelisk, and I am trying to train it in a spiral. Maybe I am just being neurotic and impatient!
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I would agree with the weak growth. It is a rose that has been grown in gardens for decades. If you want a rose to pick it is still hard to beat, each flower is beautifully formed. 
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • MarlorenaMarlorena Posts: 8,705
    @Pianoplayer
    .heya...  Austin's is right about some of what they say but I will disagree here and claim that your rose has reverted to bush form, I see nothing remotely climbing about it, and seemingly with no intention to do so..   perhaps they should review one of the late Mr Austin's many rose books where he wrote himself that ''has a tendency to revert to bush form''..

    I have grown clg. Iceberg once before in a garden in Kent.  By the 4th year I would say, it was around 6-8 feet tall by as much across... it does extend itself upwards from its framework, which is why light pruning is advised,  but I never saw it produce basals, because it's not a true climber ..

    Claims of 15 feet is generous in this country, perhaps against a wall.

    If you want to try another I recommend the clone sold by Peter Beales.  Then again, my neighbour has a magnificent specimen which flowers all summer and he keeps it about 6-8 feet.  Can you believe he got it from Aldi.. ?..  

    No problem with questions, don't ever worry about that... my worry is that I might not always be able to answer them, but then somebody else can... as we see on this thread.. 
    East Anglia, England
  • WAMSWAMS Posts: 1,960
    My mother has a magnificent Iceberg, covers the corner of her house, so probably 10-12ft when she lets it go- in New Zealand, on acidic soil. Not seen an Iceberg here do that.
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    My weak, non-repeating one was from Beales @Marlorena, presumably their own clone, so no guarantees from there either! Interesting what you say about its tendency to revert. I’m not sure if mine has reverted to bush form or not but it’s certainly struggling to get higher than 4ft in as many years.
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
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