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Does The Bush Form Of Devoniensis Stay Small?

16 years ago

Just wondering how much space to give her from other bushes. Is 6 feet too small in the south? We grow them big here.

I usually space my teas (except Mrs BR Cant) with 7 ft. centers. however, I'm afraid that spaced that far from Francis Dubreuil, there would be a large gap.

Sandy

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Comments (14)

patricianat
16 years ago
Mine was either not hardy or very small. I think something like Devoniensis or Crepuscule must have used it as a cataylist for compost. As my oldest son would say when he was a toddler and I asked him what happened to the candy, he would reply, "It distappeared."
jerijen
16 years ago
It never grew above 24 inches for me. BUT I have seen it 10 ft. tall in an old cemetery.
I am determined to try again, if only I can find a vigorous clone.

Jeri
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Florie
16 years ago
Mine has been in a large pot for 6 years or so and is around three feet tall. Not a great loking bush, but the flowers redeem her- they are to die for. I have read the climber is a monster, so since I don't have room, the bush does nicely. Also, pretty disease free in my no-spray garden. Another plus is that the thrips don't seem to like her, unlike some of my others who have not had a good bloom in months due to what I think are chili thrips.
sandy808
Original Author
16 years ago
Mine had been in a pot, and I had planted her on a 7 ft. center from Francis Dubreuil. I think I'll leave her, because in just one week she has started growing like gangbusters. I had briefly considered moving her closer to Francis, but my instincts say no.

It is my belief that this is a rose that absolutely does not like being in a pot. Even if she has plenty of room, she knows she is in there and sulks, and sulks....and sulks. It is unbelievable the change she has undergone since going in the ground. Nice foliage, lots of buds. She actually smiled at me today. I'm not going to disturb her.

She never gets sprayed, stays almost totally clean, and I agree that thrips don't touch her.

Sandy
jerome
16 years ago
I have three of them, all in the ground, all from the same outfit. They are 1 year old this month. One is about 3x3, another slightly smaller and the third might be 12 inches tall. I know they are all going to make it, and have a strong feeling the small one is making roots like crazy, because what growth it does put out is substantial. I don't spray and they're absolutely clean now although they were lepers of mildew for the first 9 months. Just awful. I almost gave up. Then, in June it went away and has not come back. Strange. When they bloom, people stop on the path and gawk: it's that beautiful. It also has a heavy fruity scent that wafts in the evening here.

I hope they get big eventually, because they are special.

Jerome
mendocino_rose
16 years ago
They are slow growing. I'm very proud of mine which has attained 5 feet.
sandy808
Original Author
16 years ago
mendocino rose, how long did it take for yours to get to 5 feet? Do you have cool winters, or do you stay warm? We get some cool weather and a few freeze warnings, but not very often. If we do, it is typically only in Jan or Feb.

I am asking because if she stays small, then maybe I should shorten the distance between her and Francis by a foot or so...maybe 6 ft. centers instead of 7.

Sandy
ceterum
16 years ago
Sandy, is it possible that you got the climber not the bush? I thought I got the climber but it reverted to the bush - happy event for me because I would not have had space for another monster. My 3 or 4 years Devoniensis is about 3' maybe 3 and half. Beautiful and healthy. I should relocate her since it does not seem to want to climb but I am so afraid of moving this finicky bush.
jbfoodie
16 years ago
Ceterum--I moved my bush-form Dev just recently (about 1.5 to 2 years old now) and it started blooming in its new location in about 3 months. I think if you are careful about creating the root ball before moving it, you will not have a problem.
sandy808
Original Author
16 years ago
I'm sure mine is the bush form. It was very small when I got it and it has been in a pot for almost two years and is still quite small. It had developed a very good root system though. This is a bush that does not like a pot. I am convinced it would never have amounted to anything if left in a pot.

Since putting it in the ground it has started to grow nicely. There are several buds now. It doesn't show any tendancy to climb at all. It looks like a typical tea. Since it seems to be expanding in width I am going to leave it alone. It may need the 7 feet, and I do not want to risk upsetting it.

Sandy
anntn6b
16 years ago
In zone 9, you won't have the winter dieback problems with the bush form that I've had up here in the unfrozen, but often below freezing clime. (Pine needles and a box aren't enough protection.)
sandy808
Original Author
16 years ago
We typically get a few freeze warnings through the winter, but I just water everything well and hope for the best. So far I haven't lost any roses, but if it was going to be a severe one I would probably cover up a few of the new babies with a bucket. After a year in the ground they're on their own.

Is Devoniensis more tender with cold temps?

Sandy
jerome
16 years ago
We had a few nights where it got into the high 20's or 30 last year...Devoniensis (which was about 3 months old at the time) did not even get brown leaves. But our climate here is so mild it's ridiculous, and I am dumb to even reply to this...Anntn6b said it best...it's a tender plant. I don't know what cold is like in your zone of Fla...but here in Orange County (about 14 miles inland and 1200 feet above sea level, the climate does not throw anything at these roses that would even burn foliage.

Jerome
patricianat
16 years ago
We do not get really below zero weather, but what happens with ours in zones 6, 7 and 8, is an unexpected freeze. For example, this past spring when all the roses were blooming, young and tender, and a hard freeze hit them on Easter Sunday morning. Low was probably in the mid 20s so it was not the thermometer, but the unexpected drop and it was not due to any lack of watering, as it had rained 4 days straight, up until that time, and to my knowledge, has not rained more than 4-5 inches since Good Friday. We are still high and dry, no rain in sight and in the driest month of the year, October.

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