You might also consider looking at Roses Unlimited which I understand has very large roses and a very considerable inventory. They might be able to give you advice as to what rose will do well in your area.

Ingrid

Hi, Ingrid! Thanks for this idea. I am taking my mother on trip to RU when she comes down to visit me this spring. We'll be picking up my order and hopefully finding a few other treasures as well.

I suppose I am wanting to present her with a rose from ARE because they always arrive so sturdy and even more developed than those from RU, which are good as well. I want to give her a rose that will take off with a minimal amount of fuss.

I know I listed pretty strict criteria and it probably would be a good idea to contact the nursery for its suggestions. I was simply hoping a rose lover on the forum would have a suggestion for a "sure thing." I am leaning toward the hybrid musks at this point.

I've asked about roses for Kentucky a couple times on this forum since I have two sisters living in the Louisville area that I wanted to gift with roses. Both times I didn't get much response. I suspect that area represents a geographic hole in our membership. You might try posting on the regular Roses Forum where membership is higher and mentioning that you prefer an old, old-fashioned, or climbing rose. Actually there are not a lot of climbing repeaters among the truly old roses (you did say "on a fence") unless you look at teas and noisettes. Those classes can be iffy in zone 6.

Good luck - and let me know what you find!

BTW, I eventually gave one sister Zephirine Drouhin, not in my opinion a good choice for the climate, but a rose she adores. The other sister decided she'd rather grow vegetables than roses in her one sunny spot. Different strokes.

Folly

I live in Indiana right across the river from Louisville, ky and I know of one other member on here that lives in Louisville. For me the stand outs in my garden are "crown princess margereta", "sharifa asma", "zephrine drouhin" and "crocus". I have a bunch more these just do the best, but even they have problems with disease towards the end of the season. The disease pressure is ridiculously high here, but the good thing is we have plenty of water. I have seen knockouts with blackspot here occasionally. Typically that's all that's ever planted around me which is why I don't have it. Why have something I can see every time I go anywhere. A friend of mine a little further north has "Harlow Carr" and Winchester cathedral and says they are wonderful. Typically I have to say anything will grow here but be prepared for disease

Grace e

Forgot to add madame alfred carriere. She does splendidly here for me though we will see how hardy she really is this year.

Grace e

Thank you, Grace e and Folly! I sent ARE a note and, if I hear back from them, will post their suggestions here. If I still am not satisfied, I'll post at the rose forum as well :)

I will definitely consider Zephirine and Madame Alfred.

I am a little hesitant about ordering a DA rose for her fence. I usually RAVE about my beloved English roses but have not had success with those I've planted in locations a bit more removed from my immediate gardens. It's not a fair judgment. When I say "those" -- it was three DAs but all the same variety. A Shropshire Lad. This rose outgrows my pillars every year but only shriveled out on my fence. My mother, I know, will not neglect her rose but I don't want her to have to struggle with it either.

I like to experiment and coddle in my own garden and am willing to accept failures. But, for my mother, I want to give her a rose that will delight her and not turn out to be a major disappointment.

This post was edited by Sidos-House on Sat, Feb 15, 14 at 15:03

While it is not a climber sharifa asma has proved to be my favorite rose. Knock your socks off fragrance, beautiful bloom, blooms itself silly. Out of the 42 roses I have I can always count on sharifa to give me something beautiful. I really highly recommend her!!!!!!!!

Grace e

Here is a picture of sharifa asma in my garden

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I am located near Dayton Ohio. Hybrid musks Prosperity and Penelope have been winter hardy here. Penelope is miserable but for other reasons. Both have some but not awful blackspot. Sombreuil, NOT the tea, has been hardy here and might work well in Kentucky. It is a lovely, fragrant, climber and it doesn't get much blackspot. Mme. Plantier is lovely, fragrant and floriferous when she blooms but that is only once a year. I do not recall her having blackspot which I agree is a pain here on most roses

Cath.

Sounds like a job for a Polyantha or a Hybrid Musk.

My specific recommendation would be Cornelia. Mine bloomed from spring to hard frost. There were always some blooms on them. The fragrance, IMHO, is the best of any rose. A spray or two will perfume a room.

Cornelia is relatively thornless, vigorous, and is happy in part shade.

Hi, Everyone. Thanks so much for your time and your recommendations. Grace, that's a gorgeous rose. I have SA on order for myself and she should be here any day.

Mike from ARE emailed me a few suggestions:

Climbing roses:

New Dawn, (pink repeat blooming , fragrant)
Climbing Pinkie (pink cluster flowers repeat fragrant)

Shrubs:

Penelope (apricot, fragrant repeat)
BelindaâÂÂs Dream (pink repeat fragrant)

And I think I am going to go with Penelope.