Renae is gorgeous as a weeping standard. I think there are some pics of it at HMF. Unfortunately, neither of the two local nurseries I visited this winter carry it this year (they usually do). Perhaps it is not available this year, I don't know.
Masha

Here's a high tech link to a low tech book on how
to make and keep a tree rose alive (from 1828).
I've had a plant of Weeping China Doll for the same reason you got interesting in this; but I am in a colder location, and realized I'd have to over winter it inside.

I'd seen the Canadian gardens bringing their tree roses out to the gardens in spring and got lazy. Since then I've kept it in the back of my mind with the thought of using a very strong root and stem stock and then putting on it, a hardy, but weeping rose.

Here is a link that might be useful: Practical Instructions......go get 'em, kid.

We purchased some from Weeks a few years ago and I went to their website to have a look. They still have some including Renae and China Doll but say it's the last year for them. Weeks only wholesales but Witherspoon works with them and they are in your area.

Here is a link that might be useful: Weeks Roses PDF on Tree Roses

Masha, yes Renae looks like it would make a pretty standard. I checked out the picture of Cliff's- very pretty.

Anne, thanks for the link. Man that guy is wordy..I will have to wade through his flowery speech to find out how to do it but it is charming.

I looked up something on GW about how to do it and it said to use large canes of Dr. Huey or Multiflora. I bet a large cane of something else vigorous would work also. First of course I'd need to learn how to graft.

Which brings me to Paul Zimmerman, who once kindly demonstrated to us how to graft. Since I didn't practice doing it I haven't retained the knowledge. But thank you for your suggestion about Witherspoon..it would be a lot easier to buy one.

I still think I'd like to learn how to do this. I think floppier roses might be ideal. Hybrid teas on sticks look a little awkward unless you prune them all the time.
Thanks,
Linda

I know someone who does it.
She probably made Cliff's.
For small standards, she uses Pink Clouds, and I'm not sure what she uses for larger ones.
She does some budding on Fortuniana, but I don't know what else.

Jeri

Linda,

I made a weeping standard out of Paul Transon. It's supported with a piece of rebar (of course). I just trained a cane vertically until the desired height, then I pinched it to encourage branching. It was quite lovely last spring. I can send you one of the Barbier ramblers to try (Leontine Gervaise, Francois Juranville, Alexandre Girault, etc). Let me know.

Robert

I've budded numerous tree roses over the years. I don't like them with a single scion bud -- they tend to be lop-sided. So for a finger-thick rootstock trunk, I like to double-bud them (2 scions, on opposite sides, at the same height). If the stock cane is thick enough (thumb thick or more), a triple budding can produce an even more symmetrical head.
Malcolm

I don't know where in NC you are, but Witherspoons in Durham has them. The catch is you have to pick them up.

Robert, that's interesting..it makes sense that you could make a standard without grafting it. I do wonder how any standard manages not to put out branches lower down on the trunk. Thank you very much for your offer...when we trade plants later this spring I think Francois Juranville would be wonderful. I bet those ramblers want to get pretty big though.

Malcolm, what do you use for the stock cane? I suppose the cane should be pretty young in order to take the graft. I do have a Fortuniana plant which I could try to make stock canes from.

Carrborogardener, thank you...I will call them up.

Thank you,
Linda

Linda, Like all roses in Central Florida, my #1 choice of rootstock is Fortuniana. It naturally throws out long unbranched canes in spring and early summer, so we root them -- maybe 4 feet long. Very long canes are not as successful at rooting as are short cuttings, but if we want 5, we stick 10-15, and can usually get our five. You could do the same with Dr. Huey or any other stock of choice. The way you prevent a lot of sprouting down on the trunk is that you carve out the dormant buds very carefully, making sure you get all of them.

Malcolm, thanks. I usually take cuttings about 6" long but have seen some people root 15" cuttings. Will have to try rooting some 4 or 5' ones.
Linda