Please help me choose...Coloradoans especially!

16 years ago

SO...

Our local nursery has several plants that looked fun, and on their own root! So, I wanted to ask how big these actually get in CO. Three of them have been discussed extensively here, and I've read lots of posts, but few from CO people.

I'm looking at: Bonica vs. Morden Blush? Bonica can get wide, and be a semi climber, but is that true in CO?

Also, Betty Boop vs. Carefree Delight. Sounds like Carefree delight is a monster? I though I saw Carefree Delight at the rose garden downtown, and it looked very well behaved, but I don't know how old it was, and all I'm really sure of is that it was Carefree Something. The color change on Betty Boop doesn't trouble me; as soon as any flower looks less than perfect, my husband is out there deadheading, anyway! This plant grows outdoors at our local nursery, and looks to be several years old, so I know its hardy here.

Can people tell me their thoughts on these in CO? I have some decent places to put them, but don't really have space for anything wider than about 4 feet or so.

Thanks so much,

Lara

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Comments (7)

mexicanhat
16 years ago
Morden Blush is fantastic in CO. Very carefree and winter hardy. Mine is only about 3 x 3. I don't deadhead, and they are almost always in bloom. I have three of them in various spots. Bonica grows in a nearby arboreatum and to me is not that exciting... For some reason, it always looks kind of blah. It doesn't get more than 4' tall in that garden (which would be a z5/z6). I had a copy of it, but gave it away.

Can't comment on your others... Closest I get is Carefree Beauty, which is a wonderful Buck rose. I have several of them interplanted with lilacs and just love them! The HMF pictures of Carefree Wonder are pretty, too.
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lilgreenfrog
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you so much Mexicanhat! That is terribly helpful. How big do your Carefree Beauties get? I hadn't realized that they were Bucks.

Best,
Lara
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mexicanhat
16 years ago
Hi,

The grafted CB's are about 3x3 this year (planted last year). I think they will get to at least 4x4 if not bigger. I also have an ownroot, planted the same time, and it's a bit slower to catch up.

BTW, Morden Blush is always my first rose to flush in Spring. That's another reason I love it so much. :-)

If you can ever find Quietness, it's another fantastic Buck shrub rose for our climate. Very winter hardy, and the first flush is just gorgeous.
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lilgreenfrog
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks again, that helps! I will probably put in Quietness next year, as I've heard such great things about it here. I planted two Bucks this year: Blue Skies, and Gentle Persuasion. I'm really looking forward to seeing them next spring!

Thanks,

Lara
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nicole__
16 years ago
I have 2 bonicas, they are VERY reliable, hardy. Yep, grows about 4' tall, my oldest 1 is not more than 3' wide. It's a long time for the repeat flush to appear.

I don't grow the others on your list to compare it to. I agree that if you can find a Buck rose for sale U like...buy it!
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sage_co
16 years ago
It seems all depends on your micro climate, soil and fertilizer. "Carefree Delight" at Littleton Memorial garden is about 6' x 6' but 3'x3' at the Longmont Roosevelt rose garden. My 4 year old Bonica is about 4'x4' but I saw an old specimen as big as 7'x7'at a near-by nursery against the well protected south facing wall. Morden Blush at Boulder tea house was tiny this spring (less than 1', I am not sure how old it was). William Buffin, for example, at Denver Botanic Garden and Boulder Tea House are monsters but remain compact 5' at Longmont rose garden.

My personal opinion is that they will grow to be the maximum size in Colorado when they are left non trimmed in sunny protected locations. I strongly recommend that you visit those four gardens mentioned and see them in action. They are all amazing.
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lilgreenfrog
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks, Sage!
My husband and I went rose "shopping" at Roosevelt last year and this year, as we live in Longmont. I think I saw Morden Blush at the tea house a few weeks ago, but I'll have to check again. I don't think any of them were particularly small...
We definitely need to go check out Botanic Garden's roses...got married there in May, actually, but the roses weren't really going yet.
Didn't know about Littleton Memorial Garden; we'll check it out! Thanks so much; no bush will remain "untrimmed" in our garden, as my husband has recently discovered the joy of pruning, but we don't want to have to cut anyone back severely.

Best,
Lara
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Please help me choose...Coloradoans especially!

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mexicanhat

lilgreenfrog
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Please help me choose...Coloradoans especially!

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mexicanhat

lilgreenfrogOriginal Author

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sage_co

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