Crepuscle is divine for a situation like that but it is apricot. I have it on my fence, covering my front verandah rail and as a standard. The verandah rail and standard get lots of water and are ballistic with growth. The fence is slower growing as there is little water down there. The verandah and standard are still flowering with many many flowers and buds - maybe more than 50 on the standard as I write looking at it. No work except to keep it from getting too big so it will definitely cover your fence, particularly if you plant a couple of plants depending on the length. Flowers are divine, it has a perfume and is almost thornless. The new growth is also so pretty as it is reddish. It looks divine with blue flowers nearby as the apricot is a soft shade with touches of pink. Also nice with white daisies or similar. I have lavender planted in between each bush on the verandah and love the mauve and apricot combination.

I also have Zephedrine Drouhin which is a pretty cersise pink thornless climber and it has a sport, ?Margaret Harrop which is a pale pink. But it does not flower anything like crepuscle and is growing in the same conditions near my front verandah.

Renae!!

Lamarque is a lovely old white climber but not too vigorous so would be perfect for a fence. Has gorgeous fragrance too and not too thorny.

Of course it's only 7 months since you posted your message which I've just read...what did you end up with? I am curious because I too have a similar fence which I am going to plant next winter...

I have a similar situation and after some thinking I've decided to give that place to some old roses: Alba Maxima and Gallica Complicata (spring flowering), together with Sombreuil (remotant). Spring flowering roses tend to be more dense, better disease resistant and almost care free. Plus, their foliage is luscious and superb, and here in Oz they're almost evergreen. When mixed together with remotant roses, the result is excellent; you simply can't make the same thing using remotant climbers only. Of course, this is just an idea for you to think about. Not everyone today loves old roses. - Tom

Hi JanineJ9 I got your message re the lamarque rose. It has been a while since I have been on garden web. I have not got Lamarque myself but have always admired it. My mother grows it on the NSW south coast which is a different climate to the ACT. From the little I know it does well and it is supposed to be a generally healthy and thriving rose. The flower is a lovely white colour. I believe it can even cope with a little shade (I stress 'little'). From magazines I have read the most common rose I see mentioned for fences is Zephryn Drouhin (I am sure I have spelt that wrong) which is a pink rose. Good luck with your choices. I am still in the midst of doing up the house so the new roses will have to wait until mid 2006. Eve

Problem with Zepherine and her mate Kathleen (Harrop), they will mildew like the devil. That's why I will always prefer 'Renae', which is a better bloomer anyway.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:2113374}}

Lozza, what do you think about Renae as a pillar rose? .... - Tom

Renae is a modest rambler/climber, not a shrub. Pillar rose is a euphemism for a large shrub that needs support. In other words, Renae is best suited where it can sprawl, over a smaller arch or along a fence. It is not rigid caned, but lax and thornless.

Lozza, that is beautiful, do you know how it would go in, Hot, dry, humid,and sometimes wet summers , but absolutely beautiful winters ? Marion

No idea. You can but try.

Amy Johnson, Blossom Time, Pinkie, Pierre de Ronsard, Summer Snow, Mme Alfred Carriere, Double Delight clmb, Aloha, Manita. A few thorns can keep people, dogs and cats out!

I planted 20 renaes along a 50m metre country wire fence from Lozza' s advice - still babies but they are sprawling now and are always covered in the prettiest pink bloom clusters. I think I am going to LOVE my renae fence. I have also seen a SPECTACULAR fence in this valley in a garden that is now open for inspection at times - a simple wire country fence of about 50 metres long - planted with white banksias every few metres - I don't know there must be about 15 of them - and pruned with an electric hedgetrimmer so they are espaliered - the whole effect is simply unbelievable. I am not sure if I will do the same espaliering to my renae as it is not as big as banksia and I like the way it sprawls.

Lozza - so glad you said that about Zephirine Drouhin and Kathleen Harrop - one has to be ruthless when picking a rose to plant. How does Mme Isaac Perierre do - have read varying reports but never grown it - would a 6 ft high tree stump be suitable and does it get black spot as some say?

MADAME SANCY DE PARABERE (spring flowering, shade tolerant and thornless but only lightly scented), TEA RAMBLER (shade tolerant, tolerant of poorer soils, disease-free), MAY QUEEN (free flowering in summer wtih occasional repeat, shade tolerant, tolerant of poorer soils, disease-free to 30 ft),BLUSH RAMBLER (vigorous spring-flowring rambler almost thornless to 5metres)...just research, not experience, sorry to say...for what it's worth...I too have been looking for some toughies.

Woops, forgot to say these were all pink ones.
As for white: LAMARQUE seems very tough, if you like Noisettes but it gets huge. The other one I have on my list to definitely buy this year is, well, yes, ANOTHER Noisette ! AIMEE VIBERT, which has SO many good qualities...e.g. tolerant of shadier spots and poorer soils, almost evergreen, and almost thornless - only the flowers are "medium", very white and hang pendulously in clusters. Info on fragrance varies: one said "very fragrant", another said "light & sweet". However, I haven't grown it...it's just research (story of my life).

Happy Birthday Janine. Mme.Isaac is best trained on a fence as a climber. A big Bourbon, it will blackspot, but it blooms repeatedly, and has great fragrance. The other pinks you mentioned are worthless for the 6' stump, except for May Queen, which will do the job. One of my least favoured roses, insipid flowers, a mongrel to tidy up, so thorny. Of course any Noisette is great value, but likewise not for a 6' stump.

Here is a link that might be useful:

Lozza: thanks for noticing it was my birthday and info about Mme Isaac (black spot, hate that) and May Queen - don't care for an insipid thorny rose...would China Doll, Climbing, Clair Matin or Felicia (Hybrid Musk)be OK for a tree stump as an alternative to the Mme Isaac/May Queen?

Regarding Clair Jacquier, thought this might not be a toughie - does it compare favourably to Allister Stella Gray, would you know. I'm not really into yellow roses but a touch of it here & there brightens up the yard.

Janine

Geez that Renae of Lozza's on the arch looks great, doesn't it - how old would that one be, Lozza? Please don't tell me 10 years ! Janine

Felicia is outstanding in habit, health and attractiveness of foliage, floriferousness and beauty of blooms. Would cover your stump in glory.

Janine, that image of 'Renae' I suppose would have been 3 years old at most. It's still there. Pic maybe 10 years old. The thing about upright roses clothing a stump, it doesn't work. I have the greatest admiration for Felicia, a lovely rose, but depending from which angle you view the stump, you won't always see it covered. What we need for a 6' stump, is a rose that can be trained up the stump, and then allowed to cascade to the ground. So we're looking for a smaller lax rambler. 'Renae' is ideal. 'Alberic Barbier' would be suitable, and 'Raubritter'. Not much rebloom unfortunately. 'May Queen' will do it, but check my remarks about it. Sorry, but from my experience, 'Renae' it is. 'Crepuscule' is pleasant, but I'd put one plant each side of the stump. It doesn't really weep. Come to think of it, 'Sea Foam' might do it, but repeat bloom is fleeting. Definitely, I prefer something cascading to hide the stump.

All the Noisettes are without problems in Oz. Don't believe what you read in English books. 'Alister Stella Gray' is quite demure compared to 'Claire Jacquier', which is enormous. Neither is cascading. With the Noisettes, blackspot is virtually non-existent. Definitely the best repeat-flowering climbing roses. Climbing 'Pinkie' has potential, but no fragrance. A little thorny and more robust than 'Renae', whose foliage is so good also. 'Nozomi' would do it, in 20 years if you care to wait!

Thanks for info on Renae - have looked at HelpMeFind website for more photo's and Renae will suit admirably.
Lozza, what did you mean about Allister Stella Gray being "quite demure" compared to Claire Jacquier - less vigorous, or needs better growing conditions? You've put me off May Queen for good now I reckon.
So your Renae on the arch is only 3 years old in that picture - well that confirms my choice - amazing.

Thanks "climber" for info on Felicia - been hanging out for personal experience with this one
About Sea Foam rose - I have a 5 year old one doing quite well, in filtered light for most of the day; seems to flower well inspite of being deprived of adequate sunshine (that's why I got it - it was my very first rose!)
JanineJ9

Lozza is spot on as usual.

Lozza, what do you think about Phyllis Bide?

Alister Stella Gray is a smaller grower than Clair Jacquier, which to me is the largest of the Noisettes. Phyllis Bide is an unusual rose. A shrub, it grows like Sea Foam and Crepuscule, seems to always have its variable creamy yellow to soft pink blooms on show. Quite thorny, nearly as bad as May Queen in that regard. This pic barely shows the pink, and the yellow is quite strong. Not the typical look I'd have to say.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:2113482}}

PINKIE, PINKIE, PINKIE - is evergreen here even though we get severe frost. It outshines the crepescule which is saying something. Never out of flower, even in winter. Foliage cant be seen for flowers in the hot months. Not a good cut flower though. I have a 15 year old pinkie weeper also - delicious!

Juat wondering about a climber, thornless or thereabouts (small kids), fragrant and a repeaet flowerer + hardy - is it possible? Oh and not white preferably.
Thanks

tamcat, it might be an idea to post your question as a new message. You are much more likely to get lots of replies than you will in this position.

Tamcat, your nice remotant thornless climbers (not white) are:
Renae, Kathleen Harrop, Zephirine Drouhin. Those are easiest to find around and will grow really, really well.
Pity you don't like white climbers, for there are few (almost thornless) that are even more vigorous, have better foliage, better flowers and are more fragrant than those mentioned.
- Tom

Tom. you are amazing. What climbing rose is more fragrant than a Bourbon?

This is Kevarose who could not log in without getting a new moniker. Oh well ... I will post a pic when I work out how .....

The bed at the back of my house facing onto a pool has 13 roof beams to the ground and I now have a variety of climbers wending their way onwards and upwards. There are 6 Graham Thomas and they are a constant joy to me and I can pretty well always cut enough flowers for a large bowl of yellow smelly roses. Bushy rather than long and climbing up my poles but it is OK as they are getting higher this summer.

The one I absolutely love is Celine Forestier - always always in bloom and such a soft yellow with hints of pink - and it is more "snakelike" in climbing up my pole although there are now lots of - I guess - thick basal canes at the root heading vertically also.

(Mme) Alfred Carry-on is not a success in this position - One lot of beams has vertical boards (like lattice) as a privacy screen and I had hoped she might fill in some of this boring wood work but the Madame has her own mind and well although she is lovely - she will be better up on my new veggie garden walls with a sister.

I removed the 5 Icebergs - who was it on this forum who advised me to use Clgb Mrs H Stevens instead - they were RIGHT! - and replaced them with 3 Penelopes (Pemberton) and one Sutters Gold (and the Celine F). I think I will like the penelope as a white-ish one as the color scheme is yellow/white/yellow .... etc.

In between in this bed are purpley blue things, lavender and herbs (that survive the chooks who hop through the pool fence), a Mikado (I love that yellow buff color) and a few Golden Touch ground cover roses. And a devonisesis. And a Jude the Obscure. Just bought a yellow Delbard on special in Mittagong but it is very bright yellow now in bloom and maybe too bright for this bed - might plant it elsewhere.

Thanks to Deryn I bought 2 Clbg Softies to climb around the pool cabana roof and then could not resist another Clbg Devonisesis. The softies are still bare-rooted just stuck in a pot with the roots exposed a lot above a bit of soil (I get busy here) and so I plan to plant them TODAY.

So I hope this bed will be an even greater source of joy in the years to come. I posted a pic of this bed 6 months ago with massive weeds through it and it is now finally weeded and mulced but looking at it today I will have to round up again as the fine grassey stuff is showing through the mulch or where it is missing. I never have trouble with the way I apply the round up.

Next winter I have plans for even more roses in 2 big new beds on the other side of the pool - I mean the grass is such a pain to mow!

***
Tom. you are amazing. What climbing rose is more fragrant than a Bourbon?
***
Maybe some exceptional Noisette?
I've found that although climbing Bourbons have great fragrance when the flower opens, it disappers quickly after that. Noisette, on the other hand, maybe due to much denser petals and slower openning keep their peculiar fragrances much longer, and when the flower opens fully, their fragrance is thus stronger and lasts longer. Different chemistry altogether.
For your own test, put Zephirine Drouhin and Jaune Desprez in the vase and see which fragrance (and after all, which flower) lasts longer.
- Tom