@WhereAreMySecateurs, I’m fascinated by the history and often muddled origins of roses, as Marlorena says many in Loubert’s vast catalogue simply won’t have stood the test of time, but some may have simply fallen by the wayside, perhaps due to the sheer number of varieties being introduced. So I like to try a few uncommon ones, especially when they come Marlorena-approved like Marie Nabonnand!
I was resisting a Loubert order this year because I had already gone mad elsewhere, but when Filroses let me down, I again searched for and found Crépuscle in stock on their site so that was it. MN and Indigo made up my minimum order. I would have loved to have added Mlle de Sombreuil (the original tea rose shrub by Robert, 1850, not the better-known large-flowered climber ‘Sombreuil’ of unknown origin that supplanted it in commerce for so long). However, I have no suitable space for such a large vigorous tea.
I have a slightly different focus than most, often looking to the warmer US states for recommendations for heat-tolerant varieties of old European roses. That’s how I ended up buying Mme. de Sévigné, for example, which so far has done better for me in it’s first year than the far more widely available Mme Isaac Pereire did in it’s second.
Mme de Sévigné, Bourbon [Moreau-Robert, France, 1874]
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
@cooldoc I hope you enjoy Rose de Rescht, a great little rose. Just a heads-up, watch out for ‘damask crud’ which looks like normal blackspot at first, but some think is a different class of lurgy. Mine got a little in it’s first year on the lower leaves and I picked them off immediately and remulched and it didn’t reoccur. This year I got complacent and it spread further, turning leaves black and slightly furry.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
@Marlorena, if you have time, do you have any tips or tricks to share about growing roses in greenhouses? Is it beneficial to erect a greenhouse that has a soil base for the roses, or is a solid floor and pots a better way to go? And are there any tender rose varieties that you think rose-lovers *should* try to experience in their lifetime? (Please don't feel obliged to answer if you are pressed for time... my greenhouse is still at the planning/daydream stage ).
@Nollie your rose-buying impulse control seems to be lacking, tsk tsk
I don’t think there is a cure, WAMS, but I’m not convinced I want one!
My pick for a tender rose would be Marechal Neil.
I got another climbing yellow noisette Duchesse d’Auerstädt in the hope it wouldn’t be as tender, but sadly it was. Not all my purchases of warm climate roses work because of my harsh winters. It’s tricky satisfying both requirements. Another casualty is Excellenz von Schubert, winter hardy but the small, exquisite blooms shrank to penny size in summer and heat stress turned them white! Oh and Mutabilis couldn’t take my cold winters either.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
@Mr. Vine Eye - I’ve had similar issues with my Penstemon sour grapes. I bought them in the spring as 9cm potted plants (x2). They are huge now but they have not produced one single flower. One is in a slightly shady place and one in decent sun. Both are big but no flowers:
The circled one is sour grapes. I planted two apple-blossom penstemon next to them at the same time and have grown to the same size but they flowered non stop from May to November. This was taken today and still some flowers on it. The sour grapes has baffled me. Maybe I will get some flowers next year.
@WhereAreMySecateurs Tea roses are supposed to be tender.. not sure if any would be tender enough for Luton winters.. most European origin ones should do ok with the cold here(I think).. will see if my C Carbonieri will survive the winter outdoors.. supposed to be -3 to -4 here in 3 days time..
@WhereAreMySecateurs Growing in greenhouses is fun.. if you have a soil border the temptation is always to grow exotic fruits I found, I used to grow Melons, Lemons and other tender plants, I had a huge Brugmansia trying to get out the windows..
With roses, it's nice to have some in small pots on the bench, even those cheap supermarket roses from cuttings you get on the florists shelf, brighten up a summer greenhouse in different colours. I used to have some.. I wouldn't want to plant them in the ground.. Roses spoilt by rain like Souvenir de la Malmaison look totally exquisite in a greenhouse pot 18 x 18 inches.. I've had loads in my greenhouse over the years here, highly scented ones as the scent wafts and concentrates, so you can smell as soon as you open the doors.. It's also great to try some tender roses that suffer out of doors, as what you do is plant in a soil border close to the frame. The rootstock is hardy so will grow underneath the house and into the soil outside - once established you'll never need to water it - but inside the topgrowth which is tender or blooms may be spoiled by rain, grows vigorously with the extra heat and will flower to perfection, unblemished.. Drawbacks are, masses of aphids and whitefly.. spraying might be needed, I used to hose off.. with windows open, sparrows will fly in for the aphids, but sometimes can't get out, so watch out for that.. butterflies also fly in and there will be ants and spiders galore.. For a very special rose suitable for this purpose in an average size greenhouse, I recommend our favourite nursery Trevor White, where he sells one called 'Columbia', which is a short climber made for this way of growing.. it will suffer outside.. Low thorn roses are advised. From Louberts, I would be looking at their Tea rose offerings for pots.. 'Souvenir de Francois Goulain' has the most lovely spring foliage too.. I had that outside here..
I grew this one 'Mme. Berard'... which is thornless and produced exquisitely beautiful blooms..
Mme de Sévigné was also healthy in it’s first year, repeated surprisingly well for a just-planted old rose, and divine fragrance too. It’s often described as a ‘free-standing climber’ although I have it propped against an obelisk. OTOH Catherine Guillot, it’s competitor in trials, only produced a few rather small, if refined, blooms, didn’t repeat and got bad BS. We’ll see how it does next year..
Just to prove a rose doesn’t have to be old - or an Austin - to produce exquisite, fragrant blooms, this is a modern shrub rose Palais Biron (Purple Lodge) which produces wonderful large rainproof clusters and stood up well to this year’s intense heat. I particularly liked this early summer photo after a rare shower:
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
^impressive Nollie.. but it always is from your garden..
Nice posy @Mr. Vine Eye and @Alfie_ I see you have a pretty Hebe in your photo..
Some various from me today.. nothing very exciting..
I've done most of my pruning, but the largest I have to leave for another day, including this 'Mutabilis' which I'm dreading.. I take it yours is no more Nollie..
'Wild Rover' I hope to prune very soon.. Pittosporum 'Tom Thumb' makes a nice small evergreen.. Griselinia brightens the place up in winter.. ..this Rhodanthemum flowers most of the year.. ..as does Parahebe 'Avalanche'..
Posts
I was resisting a Loubert order this year because I had already gone mad elsewhere, but when Filroses let me down, I again searched for and found Crépuscle in stock on their site so that was it. MN and Indigo made up my minimum order. I would have loved to have added Mlle de Sombreuil (the original tea rose shrub by Robert, 1850, not the better-known large-flowered climber ‘Sombreuil’ of unknown origin that supplanted it in commerce for so long). However, I have no suitable space for such a large vigorous tea.
Mme de Sévigné, Bourbon [Moreau-Robert, France, 1874]
@Nollie your rose-buying impulse control seems to be lacking, tsk tsk
My pick for a tender rose would be Marechal Neil.
I got another climbing yellow noisette Duchesse d’Auerstädt in the hope it wouldn’t be as tender, but sadly it was. Not all my purchases of warm climate roses work because of my harsh winters. It’s tricky satisfying both requirements. Another casualty is Excellenz von Schubert, winter hardy but the small, exquisite blooms shrank to penny size in summer and heat stress turned them white! Oh and Mutabilis couldn’t take my cold winters either.
@WhereAreMySecateurs Tea roses are supposed to be tender.. not sure if any would be tender enough for Luton winters.. most European origin ones should do ok with the cold here(I think).. will see if my C Carbonieri will survive the winter outdoors.. supposed to be -3 to -4 here in 3 days time..
@WhereAreMySecateurs
Growing in greenhouses is fun.. if you have a soil border the temptation is always to grow exotic fruits I found, I used to grow Melons, Lemons and other tender plants, I had a huge Brugmansia trying to get out the windows..
With roses, it's nice to have some in small pots on the bench, even those cheap supermarket roses from cuttings you get on the florists shelf, brighten up a summer greenhouse in different colours. I used to have some.. I wouldn't want to plant them in the ground..
Roses spoilt by rain like Souvenir de la Malmaison look totally exquisite in a greenhouse pot 18 x 18 inches.. I've had loads in my greenhouse over the years here, highly scented ones as the scent wafts and concentrates, so you can smell as soon as you open the doors..
It's also great to try some tender roses that suffer out of doors, as what you do is plant in a soil border close to the frame. The rootstock is hardy so will grow underneath the house and into the soil outside - once established you'll never need to water it - but inside the topgrowth which is tender or blooms may be spoiled by rain, grows vigorously with the extra heat and will flower to perfection, unblemished..
Drawbacks are, masses of aphids and whitefly.. spraying might be needed, I used to hose off.. with windows open, sparrows will fly in for the aphids, but sometimes can't get out, so watch out for that.. butterflies also fly in and there will be ants and spiders galore..
For a very special rose suitable for this purpose in an average size greenhouse, I recommend our favourite nursery Trevor White, where he sells one called 'Columbia', which is a short climber made for this way of growing.. it will suffer outside..
Low thorn roses are advised. From Louberts, I would be looking at their Tea rose offerings for pots.. 'Souvenir de Francois Goulain' has the most lovely spring foliage too.. I had that outside here..
I grew this one 'Mme. Berard'... which is thornless and produced exquisitely beautiful blooms..
Just to prove a rose doesn’t have to be old - or an Austin - to produce exquisite, fragrant blooms, this is a modern shrub rose Palais Biron (Purple Lodge) which produces wonderful large rainproof clusters and stood up well to this year’s intense heat. I particularly liked this early summer photo after a rare shower:
Nice posy @Mr. Vine Eye
and @Alfie_ I see you have a pretty Hebe in your photo..
Some various from me today.. nothing very exciting..
I've done most of my pruning, but the largest I have to leave for another day, including this 'Mutabilis' which I'm dreading.. I take it yours is no more Nollie..
'Wild Rover' I hope to prune very soon..
Pittosporum 'Tom Thumb' makes a nice small evergreen..
Griselinia brightens the place up in winter..
..this Rhodanthemum flowers most of the year..
..as does Parahebe 'Avalanche'..