Help with a short-ish, pink, shadey hedge choice

16 years ago

I have a spot I need to fill that is fairly small: it shouldn't get more than 3.5' wide, but should get at least 3' tall, but can go taller. The issue is that they are part of a hedge that edges onto a neighbor's walkway, and I don't want to impinge on them. Thus, height can go higher, width should at least be trimmable to 3' or so.

The area gets almost 4 hours of sun, then bright shade. I have Blushing KO's working very well here, as well as Rose de Rescht and Belle Poitevine. I was hoping for hybrid musks, but a previous post and some research showed they get too large.

I should add that this is a no spray garden and this area should bee trouble free, unlike some other areas of the garden where I'll fuss over a rose for its fragrance or whatnot. Also, I like pink!

I've been considering Mordens, Explorers or Bucks (I'm a z5b). Thoughts on roses for this area? Centennial, Frontenac and Quietness seem good. Your thoughts?

Thanks!

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Comments (8)

mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)
16 years ago
I like Frontenac. It ended up behind my car one day, and I either had to put it in the car, or run over it. I put it in the car. It's gotten bigger than I expected, but I'd say it's fairly easily trimmable to 3 ft wide. Mine is in a 4 ft strip, and hasn't outgrown that area yet. It probably would look better as a shrub with a somewhat regular pruning program, but that's really all the care it seems to need.

If Centennial is Morden Centennial, it is one of the many Morden roses that crashed and burned here. They really do not like humidity, and struggle off their dry prairies.

Quietness I know nothing about besides what has been written here. Buck roses do not have a good reputation in my part of the world.
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prairie-rose
16 years ago
Have you considered Bonica? I don't know if it will hit the magic 3-foot height mark for you--I also live in zone 5, and mine (Royal Bonica, same as Bonica but a deeper pink) usually just gets there by the end of the summer. But it's trouble free and a dependable bloomer, with prettier flowers (IMO) than my Blushing KO. I just bought some regular light-pink Bonicas from Lowe's a couple weeks ago, since I was so happy with my older one. No fragrance, but I guess you can't have everything!
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michael_in_chicago
Original Author
16 years ago
Mad gallica - I expect we have similar climates. And Bucks roses don't do well for you? Hmm.

Bonica is a flower that doesn't quite appeal to me once it's opened and whitened, and I do need something tall right away to support nearby clematis.
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mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)
16 years ago
You have significantly more summer heat than we do. This is an area where they are still building large, expensive houses without central air. Buck roses don't tend to be all that cane hardy, but depend on vigorous bounce back to make it in the colder areas. Without heat, they don't bounce. Without heat, most modern roses don't bounce.

If you are looking for something cane hardy you probably are not looking at a Buck rose. Applejack is hardy, but it's larger than you want, doesn't repeat well, if at all, and is just a different beast than the 'typical' Buck.
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michael_in_chicago
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks. Didn't realize parts of NY state were so cool in the summer. Frontenac and Quietness both seem appealing. I'll be calling nurseries this weekend.
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kristin_flower
16 years ago
You might look into Carefree Beauty. It is a Buck rose, but one of the more hardy ones I believe. There is an established hedge of Carefree Beauty in front of a gas station here in zone 4a which caused me to go out and buy 4 for my front garden recently. They seem to bloom non-stop and heavily all summer. They also have massive quantities of hips in the fall. I have not seen any sign of disease on the gas station hedge. My own Carefree Beauties are too new to evaluate, but they have been blooming non-stop since I planted them a month ago. I love them!
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summer_fashion
15 years ago
I'd recommend Frau Dagmar Hartopp (a Hybrid Rugosa) that is a beautiful silvery pink single with awesome to die for fragrance. You can get it own root at Vintage or at Rosefire. This Rugosa is tough as nails, does not need winter protection. It grows to about 1 1/2 to 2 feet tall and will spread a little (it suckers a little). It blooms all season and also puts out rose hips.
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barbarag_happy
15 years ago
Fru Dagmar Hartopp (Hastrup) would be great except for the shade factor. Very few roses will bloom well with so little sun. Quietness is one of the LARGEST Buck shrubs, 4' tall by 5' wide its first year here. J&P have some compact rugosas that are shapely and small-- Wild Spice and Wildberry. I have Wild Spice in part shade (but closer to 6 hours sun) and it is growing quite well. Country Dancer, maybe?
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Help with a short-ish, pink, shadey hedge choice

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mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)

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Help with a short-ish, pink, shadey hedge choice

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mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)

prairie-rose

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