In a word, No. Given the expected temperature ranges, freeze-thaw cycles, and the rest of a normal Philly winter, smothering a rose with mulch isn't generally a good idea. Remember that whatever you do, it shouldn't damage the rose when the temperatures are above freezing. Anything that holds water near rose canes is going to cause canker issues.

Basically, winter protection is for regions that either freeze solid and stay frozen, or are fairly dry during the winter.

I'd love to know where you found a Mlle. de Sombreuil!

You and I are in very similar zones (I'm on the cooler end of 7a, being toward the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains), and I don't winter protect anything in the garden. The only roses I lost last winter were three Austins in pots that were mounded for the winter, and voles got to them and ate all the roots.

Remember that roses are hardy shrubs, and they can take some really cool temperatures. Take your roses that you're concerned about, plant the pot in a location that is protected from the wind, and check on them periodically throughout the winter. They should be fine.

An alternative would be to leave them outside and schlep them into and out of an unheated garage when nightime temps are predicted to be well below 30 degrees or so.

As mad_gallica said, putting roses under a heap of mulch is one of the best ways in our climate to kill the rose. At the very least, it provides a nice comfy place for varmints to gnaw on it all winter.

Hope this helps,
Connie

In Zone 6 KS, I do not protect any of my roses--but my neighbors' four oaks blow some leaves into my yard and around many of the roses, though the results are rather haphazard at times.

I do have a young Sombreuil that got through its first winter last year with no special treatment--just the usual mulch around it left over at the end of the growing season. I don't remember that it suffered from lack of protection. Of course, it is in a somewhat protected area, so that probably helps.

By the way, maple leaves aren't the best for protection. Oak leaves are much better.

Kate

I've had mine for 8yrs and have never winter protected it and gets no winter dieback. Sometimes i wish it would get some dieback it's over 12'

Remember, when you speak of the cold-hardiness of "Sombreuil," that there are now two very different roses marketed under that name.

If the label said: "Mlle. de Sombreuil," this is likely the Tea Rose thought now to be the original. It has also been sold (incorrectly) as 'La Biche.'

OTOH, the climber sold as 'Sombreuil,' is a Wichurana climber which in actual fact has nothing to do with Tea Roses.
It's likely a mid-20th-Century imposter, which is I am told
is quite cold-hardy.

Jeri

tenor_peggy if you're looking for this rose I can tell you that I got a Mlle. de Sombreuil as a free band with my 2010 Rogue Valley order.

Sorry I disappeared for a bit...! I've been very busy building my winter shelving and light system for my plants, The weather here has been pretty mild so that bought some more time for deciding what to do about the outdoor things.

Thank you all so much for the input. I had thought that I would have to protect this particular rose, but I guess not. I am going to just lower the pots into the ground to the rim to help prevent freezing and that will be all.

The couple I rooted that are already living in pots outside will be treated the same way, but the several I have rooting in bags inside will remain inside.

I am sure I will be fighting some insects/mites, but I know they are too small to be outside. That is okay though. It was all an experiment and I won't mind trying to care for them and observe their growth inside and see what happens.

thank you again all so much for your suggestions!

Jeri, I actually purchased one of each variety. I have a bit of a soft spot for white roses. I bought the imposter Sombreuil, the climber AKA Colonial White(?), to use as a climber for the back fence of the property. It only gets limited sun so I hoped it would be a successful choice. It lasted most of the season, but then died. The original condition of the bare root was just ok, arriving with at least one broken and one black cane. I figured I would try it anyhow as one cane was beginning to leaf out. It didn't make it though. I don't think it was in very good condition when it arrived, but the bed was also still very disrupted as it was my big project this year. I will try again though because I do like the look of it's flowers and would love to have that plant, whatever it's name. I don't think I really planned on having to winter protect that one, never really thought about it given it's hardiness.

The second plant, Mademoiselle de Sombreuil, I bought as a live band. I just thought it was a beautiful rose and wanted to give it a try. It had two small bloom so far, just small blooms, but I have no reason to believe it is anything but what it was advertised as. It is thriving. I am looking forward to next year to see it bloom again! :) This one I was unsure about as far as hardiness went, given it's tea rose background.

Tenor- peggy, I actually purchased this rose on ebay of all places. I was pretty skeptical of the whole idea of ebay plant buying. It turned out to be a beautiful plant and I am so happy I made the decision! It is around at a couple mail order places, but I decided to take a gamble. I'm happy I did, It's a nice plant.

tenor-peggy,
I ordered Mademoiselle de Sombreuil from Vintage.
kay

I agree with you Merlcat -- what EVER that rose is, it's lovely.

We're going to pull up our old "Colonial Whites," which have been in place for 23 years. The watering system is failing in that location, and we're losing the roses.
We don't want to be without the rose, though. I think we can pare down to one or two small, healthy plants, and put them elsewhere.
The up-front spot they've been in, once the water issues are handled, will get a pair of "Mel's Heritage" climbers, which have been waiting for a spot.

Jeri