I chose a rosa (Rosa cl. Pinkie) without a lot of thorns in case it trailed down the other side and the neighbor's kids got too close to it. It's also a double-bloomer, so I'd have softly fragrant roses twice a year. In my mind it would (and did for a short while) look like this:
Friends who grow roses tell me they're not that difficult to grow, but I don't really know what I'm doing with them. I didn't have luck with this one (I ripped it out at the end of last fall). This rose came with the house and does well but I don't really know what I'm doing with it so she gets ignored a lot.
So, for months, when I'd see the many new red canes shooting up, I thought - wow! Pinkie sure is an aggressive grower.
If you know anything about roses, you can see where this is going.
In July, I read Jason's post asking for help for his rose and though I was in a bit of denial after reading it, I realized that my Pinkie does, in fact, have rose rosette disease. (By the way, I also diagnosed my echinacea with aster yellows disease after reading Jason's blog last year. I sense a theme here.)
Surely, though, I could control this disease! I read that it can be managed by cutting off the affected canes, so that's what I did in August. I would win this battle! I would still have my dream of cascading roses over my fence!
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| Please ignore the clover that acts as grass 'round these parts |
As you can see by this picture I took today, am not winning this battle:
So long, Pinkie. I enjoyed my time with you and we had some beautiful moments together, but you're going be removed in the next month or so when I can find the time.
I'm going to place a personal ad out in the universe, so if you know of a plant that fits the bill, please let me know.
Wanted: Climbing perennial plant for small city garden. Attractive location along wooden fence with lattice top. Must have flowers. Needs to do well in morning shade and afternoon sun. Fragrance a plus. Roses need not apply.
Oh no! The dreaded RRD. It got my Knockout rose a few years ago and I have been afraid to try any roses ever again. What a shame - that climber Pinkie was like something out of a garden catalogue! Maybe Bignonia? I think it's hardy in Philadelphia. I'm also partial to sweet autumn clematis although I know that many people say it can self seed everywhere.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize Begonia was also a climber - thanks for the inside scoop.
DeleteSorry - Bignonia, not begonia. It's a trumpet vine look-alike that's native.
DeleteRose diseases kicked my butt all summer, too. Have you thought about a vine instead of a perennial? There's a new sweet autumn clematis out with purpleish red flowers that is highly fragrant and really pretty. It's official title is 'Sweet Summer Love' clematis.
ReplyDeleteYet some of your roses still look fantastic, so at least you've got that going for you. I'll look into Sweet Summer Love. I've wanted to try clematis but have been worried I wouldn't be able to grow it well.
DeleteClematis love rich, moist, deep soil with morning sun and light afternoon shade. Sweet autumn is really tough. Actually, all clematis are tougher than they look. :o) If you get one planted soon, it will settle in and sail through a Philly winter.
DeleteI love vines, and my all time favorite is the Confederate, or White Star Jasmine. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/55230/ I'm not sure how it would do in a PA winter, but there is some good feedback on the site I linked. You could also mix a summer and fall blooming clematis, or look for a trumpet vine.
ReplyDeleteAnother favorite are simple morning glories, they're annuals, but they re-seed so well you never have to replant!
That's an idea - mixing vines. It doesn't look like the White Star Jasmine can tolerate my 7a weather but I'll keep looking.
ReplyDeleteMorning glories are invasive here. My neighbor and I keep "sharing" them back and forth. Neither of us can figure out where they came from nor can we figure out how to get rid of them!
Roses have always hated me so after trying and shovel pruning many I'd say the feeling is somewhat mutual. Even the couple of Knock Outs I currently grow may be getting the boot soon.
ReplyDeleteIf you want a tough, vigorous Clematis, try Huldine. Polish Spirit is also a good choice. Neither get as crispy brown late season foliage for am as many of the others. For an interesting annual vine, I always plant at least one Purple Hyacinth Bean.
I think roses are a lot of trouble!
DeleteI'll look into that clematis - thanks. My neighbor was growing the Purple Hyacinth Bean this year and I thought it was fabulous. I'm hoping to get some of her seed pods to see if I can do anything with them.
The Peggy Martin rose is a real tough climber, very flowery, and it survived being submerged under saltwater in Hurricane Katrina for weeks. I think you'd be successful with it. But I agree with the others that sweet autumn clematis is a great choice as well as any other clematis, particularly the viticella small-flowered varieties which do great for me (easy care, chop to the ground in winter, no problems with wilt or brown leaves.)
ReplyDeletePeggy Martin sounds tough. Can she survive RRD also? I keep reading that if I don't know from where the rose mites came that I should avoid new roses because they'll keep getting infected.
DeleteSorry to be the bearer of bad tidings, but thanks for the hat tip. A couple of very disease resistant climbers are 'Darlow's Enigma', which has small white flowers, and the wild Prairie Rose (Rosa setigera). Prairie rose has nice pink flowers, but to be honest a rather short bloom period. A really great and easy vine is Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens). It's native and great for hummingbirds. Several good cultivars with tubular flowers in coral, orange, and red.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the suggestions, Jason. I just did a little bit of research on trumpet honeysuckle, and it looks like I was confusing it with trumpet vine which can be a little bit too aggressive around here. I'm glad I cleared up the confusion for myself because it looks really pretty!
DeleteHow sad. It is always a disappointment when a lovingly held vision turns out to be impossible.
ReplyDeleteA reminder. If you do decided to try roses again, remember that there is also the rose disease that attacks any rose planted where a rose recently lived. I also try to remove as much of that old soil and switch in vegetable garden soil when I am in this situation.
ReplyDeleteThank you - this is why I'm quite reluctant to try roses in that spot again. The vegetable garden soil is an interesting idea!
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