Suggestions for my first climber (pics)

14 years ago

Hello everyone! I'm starting to get settled into the new house & I am now thinking about design. I've included a picture of my new pergola & would like some feedback regarding what type of climber to chose, or if putting one here is a good choice.

This would be my first climber, & I would like one that is pretty easy to grow. I would really like something fragrant with good repeat. I am open to color (but right now apricot or purple are my favorites) & have recently been collecting OGR's. I was going through my collection and ones I already have that might fit are Abe Darby & Crepuscule.

Any suggestions are welcome!

Thanks

Deron

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Comments (10)

lesmc
14 years ago
I`m in KY>, so I have no suggestions, but I wanted you to know I love your pergola! It`s fabulous!! I know someone will suggest the perfect rose and I can`t wait for photos. Good Luck...Lesley
jerijen
14 years ago
Love the pergola!

My Number-One selection for a SoCal garden is the lovely apricot Noisette: 'Reve d'Or.'

A visitor asked us why we have three of it, and we said, simply: "It works."
'Reve d'Or'grows vigorously, is disease-resistant in SoCal (and I think NoCal) and blooms generously.
Blooms are fragrant, and not half bad in a vase, either. (Perfect for a high shelf, where they can nod down at you.)

I also love Sombreuil, but in that location, the prickles might be off-putting.

Love 'Lamarque,' if you'd like to consider a lemon-white. (Also fragrant, abundantly blooming, and disease-free here.)

In a completely different style, I absolutely love the Carruth striper -- 'Fourth Of July.'
Though most of my roses are "antiques," I wouldn't be without this bloom-factory.

Growing 'Fourth of July' is like having year-'round fireworks in your garden. It's fragrant, disease-free, and a rapid-repeater.

Jeri
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cjrosaphile
14 years ago
Fourth of July is my most vigorous rose, truly amazing. But I have several others. If you like more of the English look, Lavender Lassie is great and is fragrant -- oh, and its not lavender but pink -- multipetalled and smaller blooms. I also love apricots and oranges but haven't had good luck finding a great one. Right now, I'm testing Clement's "Impressionist." You might check out Polka as well. Just bought Rosarium Uetersen and Eden from Heirloom. They both have an English look -- the first is darker pink, with fragrance and Eden is whitish with pink edging, beautiful, but not so fragrant. Just some ideas. Good luck! CJ
Cindy Ehrenreich
14 years ago
Allister Stella Gray is a wonderful OGR that gets about 15 ft. Its a pale yellow with a wonderful fragrance. For purple I'd go with Night Owl. This is a fast grower with a great fragrance and a deep rich color. Royal Sunset is a great fragrant apricot climber. My favorite new climber is Lunar Mist. This is a nice heavily petaled yellow with a nice fragrance and blooms like crazy.
jerijen
14 years ago
After 3 years, and a sum-total of about 6 blooms, we gave up and shovel-pruned Night Owl.

Jeri
Cindy Ehrenreich
14 years ago
Jeri-We have 3 Night Owls and they bloom like crazy. Right now they have a good amount of blooms & tons of buds getting ready to open.
jannorcal
14 years ago
I think Crepuscule would be a great choice for the pergola.
Looks like you'll need a few others too. DON'T get Zepherine Droughin - though thornless, it does not bloom well in So Cal due to lack of cold weather (been there, done that).
I tried Abe Darby as a climber and it didn't work that well; not a true climber, more of a big shrub. I'd suggest putting Abe along the fence line and letting him grow as a big shrub. If Abe is bareroot it will take a while to get established and be a bit floppy, but if you have a grafted plant then it should have self supporting canes now.

Janelle
kandaceshirley
14 years ago
not sure but will westerland or autumn sunset do well in california?
rosecorgis
14 years ago
This is a great thread! I have a pergola that looks almost like this one and have been considering a climber to get additional shade and have room for more roses!

How would Lavender Lassie do in heat? It's very hot here in the summer. If that won't work, do any other Californians have suggestions for heat lovers?

How do you care for the rose? I can't see how to prune it or deadhead once it's up there. I didn't try this year because I got a little intimidated!

Debbie
jerijen
14 years ago
Debbie -- How far are you from Sacramento?

The Sacramento City Cemetery has many wonderful climbers of all sorts. That might be the best place to get ideas about what you might do well with.

1000 Broadway, Sacramento, CA.

Jeri

Suggestions for my first climber (pics)

Comments (10)

lesmc

jerijen

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