Judith:

Although it is my first year with Crown Princess Margareta that might be a possibility for you. I didn't see a note about your preferred size. I presume when you say mannerly you would like to keep it around 10 ft-ish. The thing about CPM is it can be grown as a shrub or a climber or so I'm told. This spring/summer it grew very well and threw out nice long canes so I think it could be a controlled climber. If you're not familiar with it the buds are a wonderful pinkish-apricot depending on the time of year.

Hope this helps.

Kate

This is a rose I plan to get in the future - I adore the color. I am looking for a rose for this wall that wont get rampant or have bad thorns. I would like it to have flexible canes, sort of like a noisette, that I can work with. Not the huge, thick, stiff, thorny canes like some climbers. I have potted Cl. Clotile Soupert and Alister Stella Gray, but am thinking they will get too big. Have to be careful what I plant here as I dont want a rose that will take over and sprawl everywhere. Do you think CPM would work in this situation?
Judith

Judith:

I'm going to have to go home and check on the thorn situation, I can't recall offhand. The canes are very supple. That has not been an issue at all. Of course the rose is young so hard to say. I tried to find an old post of mine where there were several responses about growing CPM as a climber. At the time I was worried because I want to grow it as a shrub and apparently it lends itself well to either growing habit.

I don't think it will take over. The only relevant link I can find for you just now is at David Austin's site which you've probably already seen. I hope someone who has had this rose a while will weigh in. I can tell you I really like it and it was completely clean and energetic this year.

Kate

Here is a link that might be useful: CPM as a climber

I planted a grafted CPM this past spring and the thorns weren't too awful. The blossom colors were more creamy yellow/ivory.

The canes are very flexible and arching, and I plan to try to grow CPM as a shrub rather than as a climber, but it would work very well if you want to grow it as a climber on a trellis.

For Judith:

{{gwi:345070}}

The coloring on mine wasn't like Terryjean's at all this year. I guess that is pretty normal for Austins. To take time developing their color. I actually really like the pale pink apricot coloring it did show however.

Kate

Kate, your CPM is really pretty; I like yours a lot better than mine. Even your blossom form is quite different from mine. Maybe because mine is still an infant it will improve with age, eh? BTW, Happy Thanksgiving!
-terry

Hey Terry:

I finally found these pictures. I wasn't sufficiently caffeinated earlier this morning to locate them.

{{gwi:345072}}

{{gwi:345073}}

Mine's a baby too. Bare root this spring. Maybe mine is an imposter?:)

Hope you have a great Thanksgiving also! Judith I kind of hijacked your thread, my apologies.

Kate

I love the color on this! I was thinking CPM was a deeper, orange/golden color.....I love this soft apricot! Are the older canes pliable? I want to make sure, for the spot I have in mind, that the canes are not stiff and overly thorny....I want pretty leaves, rather like the noisettes.......Whether this climber will work in this spot or not........I definitely want this rose!! Does this one work better own root or grafted?
Happy Thanksgiving, all!
Judith

Judith, bought mine as a grafted milk carton J&P and it has been very healthy and vigorous. So far the canes have been very pliable and have the look of a graceful arching shrub, but they are wanting to lay down on the ground more than I like, so they will definitely need some kind of support in the spring so they don't smother their neighbors. I haven't noticed that the thorns are too bad when I prune...what do you think, Kate?
Happy Thanksgiving also!
-terry

Hey Terry:

CPM is a little floppy. I went home and checked and I agree, the canes are pliable. The thorn situation is there but not vicious. Manageable. The habit so far for me aside from the long canes it throws resembles my rose Molineux. I haven't really had a problem with the canes lying down so much as really stretching out. Overall I like the form. I'll probably cut it back pretty hard this spring though to keep it from sprawling too much.

You should just go for it Judith:)

Kate

There is no doubt I will! I love the color, my favorite. This is an interesting aside......last week I went with a friend to look at some property - some older people had it, were now infirm and having to move out of town to be near their children. The lady was a gardner - on a trellis by the garage, she had a huge old Mutablis - on ONE great big cane. It was leaning to the right, she kept it like a standard, with the top with the leaves and blooming. It was just beautiful, and I plan to buy a Mutablis and train it like this. Mutablis is a huge shrub, but never thought of it as a climber. She said it had died and this one shoot came back up and she trained it. So interesting, and just goes to show what you can do with roses. I have an offshoot of La Marne that is growing long and flopping. When it gets a bit colder and I can transplant, I am going to do the same thing with it. Let one huge cane grow, leave that one long, trim the other branches off, replant it and see what happens. La Marne is a super bloomer - have a potted one that is covered in blooms right now, its always the last to quit blooming in my garden.

I am definitely adding the Crown Princess to my spring David Austin order, unless I can find it sooner at Teas, or some other nursery.....

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving Day!
Judith

It's a beautiful climber but stingy after the first flush.

{{gwi:251320}}