Question - is Eden cane hardy where you are? If it's not, it isn't going to climb anyway. If it is, it won't have much trouble replacing canes that are cut off.

You could try duct taping the canes together and see if the crack heals. Given the age and size of the rose, that would probably be my first choice.

Track shade patterns with the trees. On the north side, the shade is going to go out beyond the canopy. It will grow towards the sun, but that isn't something you really want.

Hmm.. while last winter almost did not happen - the lowest temperatures we had were probably 15F, once every couple of years we do get a winter with some February nights below 0F. So I wouldn't say Eden is cane hardy where I live, at least not on those cold years I think. I've only read on forums that some people manage to grow it here but for how long - I don't know. So you are saying I will be growing this rose for a while and then one spring it just won't return. You are probably right.. It's not likely to ever get large. Yes, I have been tracking shadow cast by trees, there is also a garage there which casts shade. I'd probably plant it 2-3' from the canopies then and support it with a simple obelisk rather than worry about a pergola there :-)

I actually thought duct-taping the canes wouldn't work, I assumed it wouldn't heal since it's hard wood. Unfortunately, I have no experience growing roses at all. I think I'll try it, though, and see what happens. If it's only a matter of time before the rose dies in the winter, it doesn't matter much anyway, plus there won't be much of the heavyweight growth above the crack.

Thanks for the reality check :-)

Anna

If you can save the canes by binding them together, that's the best thing to do, because the plant will have more stored food and all to grow new canes with. Cutting them off loses all that for them. I think most roses are hardy down to near zero (depending on how long it's at those temps), I never lost any (or even had damage) in Texas when it got down to 8°F.

--Ron

Thanks for a dose of optimism regarding rose hardiness :-) Usually I am to blame for any lost plants. In this case, I'm likely to find myself too lazy to protect the rose for the winter.. Well, I'll try not to :-)

Good point about storing food for growing new canes. The other 50% of the plant is really busy dealing with the flower buds and therefore short (I think). While all the tall growth is occurring on top of the cracked cane :-( I'll bind it and keep it, since both of you advise so.. Hopefully the bush will emit other canes from elsewhere next year as I somehow cannot believe the crack will heal.. and then I could cut it off.

Or perhaps I can keep this cane even if the crack doesn't heal? The dogs almost severed some branches on my junipers years ago and they just keep growing.. They do not mind. Would a rose behave in the same way?

Anna