I garden in coastal So Cal, and the Pickering Four-Seasons rose is one of my favorites. Mine is own-root. It comes an intense bright shade of not-exactly-cerise not-exactly-rose but somewhere in that area, and has the quality of looking as if lit from within. The fragrance is a delicious spicy damask. The bush is well foliated with handsome leaves. Mine is planted in the best soil in my garden--the natural adobe was moderated first by its falling heir to lots of sand obtained for use in mortar for a brick edging, but in excess of need, as well as to a quarter century of leaf mold from a row of eventually-removed Catalina Cherries. It grows to maybe five and a half feet each year, and is of an erect habit. Its exposure is a rather strange one, as it is hemmed in on one side by a wall, and on the other, at a distance of perhaps ten feet, the house; consequently, it only receives full sun from about one PM to three or four; but during those hours, it gets it from all directions between the direct sun and the sun reflecting from the various surfaces. To make your choice about container or soil: The critical factor, I think, is the nature of your natural soil. I had a specimen of this growing in the usual hard adobe; and while it grew and bloomed, and the flowers were beautiful, it wasn't very enthusiastic. In the splendid soil it is in now, it's passionate about life. Hope this helps!

Hi odinthor,
Thanks for sharing your experience. That was very helpful. Appreciate it.

I must have overlooked the height on this one, as I was mainly considering it for it's remotancy. I had thought it was going to be short like other portlands.

I also just acquired a Rose de Rescht from another nursery. Can't wait for it to flower...
Dar