Darlow's Enigma beneath two juniper trees?

13 years ago

We have two large, established Juniper trees in a corner of our backyard. The trees are limbed up with a canopy about 12 feet up, and allow some direct sun and some dappled shade depending on the time of day and season. The roots, of course, are also very established. The soil there is probably very good after keeping a compost pile there for several years. The trunks are about 10 feet apart and placed diagonally with the corner of the fence --- i.e. the corner and each trunk would form a triangle, with (I'm estimating) 10 feet or more of space for a large shrub or rose.

Several years ago we grew Darlow's Enigma in a different spot where it got shade about 1/2 day. That spot was way too small so we gave it away. However, I've never forgotten her scent, lovely white blooms, 99.99999999999999% disease-free and ease of care.

I'm considering getting another DE and putting her in the corner beneath the Juniper trees. I believe there is enough shade and space --- so my only concern is root competition and droppings from the tree.

Is there any reason why she would not be happy beneath the canopy of these Juniper trees? If can take a picture later if that would be helpful.

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Comments (11)

roseseek
13 years ago
Jenn, Darlow doesn't require shade, it's just quite tolerant of it due to the enormous concentration of multiflora genes it contains. It seems to me, the only qualifying restriction would be if you can dig a hole where you want to plant it. If the root concentration isn't too severe, and you can get and keep water to its roots, it should be fine, presuming you are somewhere filtered sun would be sufficient. If your sun is as intense as it is here in SoCal, it should be fine. Kim
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jenn
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks, Kim. I'm in inland SoCal, so hot summers here too.

The picture shows the corner with the trees on each side. Those sorry puny roses in front are Angel Face (center) and a very old Granada (near right).

I may also post the pic and ask for other suggestions on the Landscape Design forum.

{{gwi:266383}}
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I grow both! Darlow's has just fully leafed out. It's always my latest leafer, latest bloomer but the only one that blooms consistantly all summer. I love it for the tiny little roses and mine has a BIG rose scent. Veilchenblau grows by the driveway and I"ve been pruning it torturously back every year the the fence. It's not large at all and trying to sucker because I cut it back so much. It is GORGEOUS in bloom and never has a single foliage issue all summer, except that it doesn't bloom again. Like the others, my Darlow is very disease resistant but it is the only rose to get powdery mildew if we had a lot of moisture in summer, and that is the only time it gets any spray (of powdered milk and water). I think there's a photo of that and the Mozart rose on the driveway arch somewhere on this forum!
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harborrose_pnw
13 years ago
Here's a not-very wonderful picture of a mature Darlow's Enigma here in the Pnw. It's about 10 or 12 feet high. Maybe that will help you figure out whether you like it in that corner. ..? Gean

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jenn
Original Author
13 years ago
WOW!!! That is amazing. After a couple of years, ours was basically a round shrub a little over 5 feet tall and wide with the canes arching out in all directions., but not upright like yours. It may not be the right plant for that corner if it gets that tall.
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roseseek
13 years ago
Appears as if it should work, Jenn, as long as you can dig a hole there. You can easily keep Darlow the size you want by pruning it. Kim
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harborrose_pnw
13 years ago
fwiw, I think it would be cool looking in that corner.
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roseseek
13 years ago
Agreed! Kim
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jenn
Original Author
13 years ago
Thank you!

How far from the corner should I plant it? I am concerned about it getting taller than it is wide (as it appears in the above photo --- beautiful as that is!) and the flowers disappearing into the canopy of the juniper trees.

I believe the one we had was shipped as a band. Is that too small to plant out, or does it need to be potted up and grown in a pot for a while? If I could plant it out right away then it certainly wouldn't be hard to dig a small hole for a band. The trick will be protecting it from the crows and critters while still small.
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hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
13 years ago
Where ever there is enough root room, probably. If you dig just a tiny hole among all the tree roots, will the rose be able to thrive?

I put a cylinder of wire fencing around small roses for protection from critters. Sometimes I put a piece on top of the cylinder too, depending on the rabbit threat.
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ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9
13 years ago
If Darlow's Enigma is too tall for that space, would you consider a large tea rose such as Mrs. B.R. Cant? There are many others of course, depending on what colors you're interested in.

Ingrid
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Embothrium
13 years ago
If "Darlow's Enigma" (a study name, resulting from my demonstrating to Darlow that the plant was not Rosa moschata 'Plena') survives that spot it should be allowed to grow up into the junipers, whose foliage will form a contrasting backdrop for its flowers.

Elevated, arching, bushy habit typical for this one, after it has been in place for awhile.

Unless diligently pruned and trained against a support, as a climber.

As Darlow was doing.
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Darlow's Enigma beneath two juniper trees?

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Darlow's Enigma beneath two juniper trees?

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