Sherry, I don't know if that is enough room or not, so I guess I'm not the one to give advice on that one. I will, however, share my experience with growing roses on the west side of my house (morning shade and afternoon sun, like you). They survive, and they grow. I feel the blooming was sparser, as compared to the same rose in more sun. What I did find though was that overall, they were ALL more disease prone with that exposure. It is so humid down here most of the time that the roses stay wet all morning long, whether it is from dew, rain, whatever. They are all much happier when they get sun fairly early in the morning through the rest of the day. Most will tolerate first morning sun, with late afternoon shade, and in fact, some seem to thrive in that situation. (Usually no shade at all is best with the chinas and teas).

I discussed the western exposure situation (where it results in full morning shade followed by afternoon sun) with Paul Zimmerman (owner of Ashdown Roses), and his opinion was that no rose is very happy in that situation. Ditto after a discussion with Mike Shoupe, owner of Antique Rose Emporium. Open western exposure that has sun from sun up to sun down is no problem. It's the morning shade thing that's the issue.

I have moved all of my roses that were shaded in the morning into areas that get sun morning until evening. The difference in the health is unbelievable. I have planted sasanqua camellias that are able to grow in full sun on the west side of my house now. I am going to train a few sasanquas that grow in a weeping fashion onto my trellises, (on that side of the house). I hope to fill in with some low growing perennials in the future, maybe some vincas for color.

Yes, you can get the roses to grow with that exposure, but they will be more disease prone without constant spraying, and not as nice a speciman as one in morning sun.

Sandy

Sandy, it seems I used to know that. What was I thinking?

Sherry

Sherry -- Azaleas. Camellias.
:-)

They love the South, too.

Jeri

Azaleas and camellias love the South but they don't love 8 or 9 unrelenting hours of afternoon summer sun. How about clematis? Gardenias?

Rosyone, you won't believe it. I've been googling for someone I've seen raved about on the GardenWeb who sells great clematis - even for Florida. Can't find her. I thought she was in Texas or Louisiana. Do you know who I'm thinking of?
She's right, Jeri. But there is a variety or 2 of Azalea that can take sun - I have have one, Red Ruffle, a semi-dwarf. In fact, I am ready to yank a whole bunch of them to make room for roses. It's a thought, but I wanted something to climb on that big wall. I'm also thinking of Morning Glory.
Thanks.
Sherry

Sherry, I have no idea. Have you searched the climatis area of HelpMeFind?

Here is a link that might be useful: HelpMeFind / Clematis

I forgot about that, rosyone. I didn't find it though.
Thanks anyway.
Sherry

Sherry, there truly are some camellias that can take full sun. I've been doing lots of research on them and have also found a couple of delightful camellia nurseries locally. Bob Wine is in Ocala, and Erinon Farms is in Plymouth (about an hour and 20 minute drive from here). Both nurseries will spend all the time with you that you need, and have different things to offer.

Most of the sasanqua camellias sold locally are suitable for full sun areas, and many have a growth habit that can be trained on a trellis, although some of them are somewhat slow growing (compared to an OGR). There are a few Japonicas that can handle quite a bit of sun exposure, though most Japonicas like partial and/or filtered sun. While I would plant a sasanqua on the west side, I wouldn't plant a Japonica there.

I absolutely love roses, but I also love camellias. At first I was sad because a few areas of my yard evolved into less than ideal conditions for roses, but it actually presented me with a chance to stretch my horizons a bit. Locally suitable camellias are beautiful evergreen shrubs, and do not require much work. They only bloom once a year, (as do some roses), but the bloom season lasts a couple of months and the blooms are beautiful floating in a crystal bowl. I find that they compliment the roses, as other shrubs and flowers can.

So now I plant my roses in full sun, and plant other things in the areas my roses didn't like so much.

Sandy

Camellias would not fit in that skinny space along the sidewalk. It is literally 15 inches deep. I was just thinking today, forgive me, I don't like camellias. They seem messy and very slow growers. But thanks for the thought, Sandy.
Sherry

If you want to try a rose in that spot, Sherry, I vote that you should go for it. Dig down and see how much soil area the rose really has available. (In other words, is there a lot of junk below ground in this space that reduces the area the rose has available for roots? If there is, you gotta get it out of there.) Replace the sand with the best soil mix you can get (remember that compost is organic, and organics break down, so you'll need some real soil in the mix and to replenish the organics from time to time. Do they sell bagged topsoil in Florida?)

The key in this situation, as I see it from here, may partially be the sun exposure -- but it's mostly the water. If the rose is planted in soil that drains but holds onto some of the water, I think the sun exposure will be less of an issue. If you want a specimen plant in this spot, do whatever you can to make sure it's not thirsty.

Just my $.02.

Connie

How about an espaliered camellia? I've actually seen them sold that way at Home Depot and some other nurseries. And they look fantastic. If you were going to do a trellis anyway.....

All About Espalier

I would ixnay on the azaleas, too much sun for them, in the south they need dappled and afternoon shade. Also no morning glory unless you want people to think you are growing kudzu.

My experience with planting roses on the West side of the house has been very good. I have two full beds of roses in front of my house which gets sun from 1pm on. Here in Florida, that's still about five hours in the winter months. Moreso, in the Summer.

I spray, so I don't have a problem with blackspot. And the front of the house stops traffic. So try it!

Connie, thats a very interesting perspective. I will make sure I add some soil and get all the junk out. Lowes sells topsoil but I haven't bought it. I have opted for the MiracleGro Organic Garden Soil. I know I have to replenish the compost. The question is how fast will it disappear. I'll have to be watchful in the whole garden.

Buford, the espalier sounds wonderful, but my house is a dark avocado green and with camellias only blooming in January I'm afraid no one would see the beautiful plant. Ya know, I did get that impression about the morning glory leaves in the photos I saw. I guess no kudzu either.

ehann, even though you spray, it's good to hear that your roses do fine with only afternoon sun. I may do occasional spraying. And I'm not even sure about the disease resistance of noisettes here. The one I want to put there is white - Pleasant Hill Cemetary. Well, I think I'll give it a shot.

Thanks, all.

Sherry

Sherry, you will most definitely have to spray on a regular spray program if you want to plant a rose on the west side of the house, and have it look good. The leaves just stay too wet in the mornings down here for good health. I've had roses that had absolutely NO disease problems when planted where they receive morning sun, get some pretty cruddy looking foliage on the west side.

They also tended to lean out towards the sun, even in the summer when we have more sunlight hours, despite being planted 6 feet from the foundation. One eye opener I had regarding sun exposure was when a crepuscule planted on the east side of my house bloomed with gobs of flowers. The one planted on the west side had about two blooms total. Both were from the same nursery.

It sounds like you have your heart set on a rose in that spot though, so it may be something you need to try.

An espaliered camellia is quite lovely, but I understand what you're saying about it blending in with the color of the house. One option would be a white trellis that would contrast with both the house and the foliage. Camellias are no messier than any of my roses are, and certainly not nearly as messy as a Crape Myrtle. However, you did say you didn't care for camellias, and that's O.K. We don't all like the same plants. That's why getting to know one another is so much fun.

By the way, judging from the photos you e-mailed me a while ago, you are doing a beautiful job with your yard. Absolutely lovely.

Sandy

Try a few Hybrid Musks. I would recommend Prosperity. Excellent bloomer, clean and looks beautiful on some kind of structure. Most sun it gets is in the afternoon.
Buff Beauty is not in full sun either; I doubt that it gets more sun than 4 max 5 hours a day, midday. It develops some spots time-to time but nothing serious.

Sherry, FWIW, I have 4 climbers in a spot that gets little to no morning sun. I have Don Juan, Sombrieuil (climber) Rev d'Or and Veilchenblau. All get blackspot EXCEPT for Rev d'Or, which was clean, even while being right next to Veil, which was virtually defoliated from the blackspot.

So if you are looking for a disease resistant climber that will cover a wall Rd'O is worth considering.

I also have a narrow spot, the area between the end of my driveway (I have a side entry garage) and our fence to the back yard. I have a bit more room than you, about 2 feet. This year I'm planning on stringing wire along the fence and tying the climbers to that. I did in on the front of my house with my other two climbers and I love the way the roses are flat to the house and I can arrange them much easier than on a trellis.

Wow, Buford, I have Reve d'Or coming at the end of Feb/early March from Roses Unlimited. I'm so glad to hear about its disease resistance in your yard and that you like the look of your roses flat to the house. That would be my situation, and I just think it will so nice walking up to the front door with roses and fragrance right next to your face. Since I have 3 other climbers coming at the same time, this will give me a place to put one of them and I really won't need to buy Pleasant Hill Cemetary. My DH will like that. And her colors will be great against the house color, too. Thank you, Buford, for helping me design my garden!
Sherry