It's Blackboy (Clmbr)!!

20 years ago

After moving into my house 2 years ago I transplanted some struggling roses that were in the worst position ever and someone strangled them when they were planted making matters worse!! I recognised one bush as Buff Beauty however two very large,leggy and ugly 'bushes' had few blooms on them. I replanted them ( a foot higher as they have previously covered the graft by at least a foot). This year they started throwing out long shoots which i tied down along the fenceline. (Although not thinking it was a climber at this stage. This year they have thrown flowering shoots all along the long canes and have the most magnificent dark red blooms with a great smell. I brought a vase of it in and when browsing through rose photo's the other night stumbled upon an exact replica. Anyway as you've figured they are Alistair Clark Roses - 'Blackboy' and even though I had heard of it before I never realised it's toughness and beauty. Ones now clambering through the neighbours plum tree. Like a kid in a lolly shop another mystery solved!!!

Garry

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Comments (10)

kevarose
20 years ago
how wonderful Garry! I hear that is a beautiful rose. Where they had covered the graft had it resulted in "own roots" sprouting - ie not from the stock rose? I thought it was good to bury the graft so one ideally could end up with roots from the stock as well as from the graft.
SteveTL
20 years ago
Well done Garry - I've often wondered how your shift to the country gardens have been going. It's big bonus in finding a treasure right in your own backyard. Now how 'bout sharing with us a pic of those black blooms ...
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You don't say whether they are seed grown specimens or ones transplanted from the bush. If they have trunks they'd be transplanted ones, and you should check (by a sticker on the pot you purchased it in) that it was removed by a registered remover - they are protected plants. Those removed from the bush (development site, whatever) should be kept in the pot for 2 years before sale to the public as they can take up to 2 years to die. Also, they are not as tough as the nursery profession would have you believe, like all (or most) natives they hate root disturbance. I had one I bought from Big W and after about 18 months started to die - to do what yours is doing - so I simulated nature and burnt all the leaves off. I did this by wraping newspaper around it and setting that alight. The new growth came on green and lush, as it always does in nature, and it survived for another year or more but eventually succumbed. I suggest you dig it out and go get another to replace it, but maybe test your soil first, they like a well drained, neutral to slightly acid ph. And by the way, I reckon the seed grown look better and are much more reliable.
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Deryn
20 years ago
Steve the rose catalogue put out by Melville's Rose nursery (Perth) says that it is "An excellent climber - possibly the best red available" High praise indeed

Deryn
cimmaron
20 years ago
Great stuff Garry-we NEED to see pics!A lot of the roses sold as Blackboy are NOT and there is a general confusion as to the correct one and the imposter.
Lucky you for having the real one.
regards
sandie
cimmaron
20 years ago
WOOHOO!my post went through!a rare occurence lately.
I have been getting lots of error messages-url not found-between writing a post and trying to post the damned thing.After a few tries I just give up.I have to close my browser and reopen to get past the error message.Had to do that straight after I posted the above reply when I tried to return to 'roses in oz'.
It only happens on this site-I really do wonder why.
regards
sandie
GarryK
Original Author
20 years ago
Hi all,

Pics on the gallery for those interested. Thanks for the comments. Kevarose there was no growth coming off the rose above the graft at all which surprised me a little too. It was in about a foot above the graft but maybe hadn't been in long enough to throw out roots. I'll try and get pic overall of plants if this ...$@xx$$!!! wind would stop!!!Steve there's no turning back now I love it out here in soil that would grow another foot if you put your foot in a hole...Hope your well..Hi Sandie i only think i got the real one don't know for sure...:)

Garry

Garry
cimmaron
20 years ago
Hey Garry-Your pics are wonderful.
Looking at the blooms etc. It certainly looks like Blackboy from the descriptions I have read.
The fact that the blooms are semi-double and come in sprays
does sound like Blackboy.
Well done!I think you DO have the correct one.
Am green with envy.:)
regards
sandie
SteveTL
20 years ago
Thanks Garry - the shots look fantastic. I can imagine the dark red hue in real life would be breathtaking. I'm fine and hoping one day to retire one day to rose-heaven-land too!
gardengirlWA
20 years ago
Ooohhhh goody!
I just checked out your pic too Garry - I have had one for the last 2 years, growing strongly - and am pleased to see my flowers look just like yours too - I really do hope I have the real one too.
cheers - Rach
climber
20 years ago
Looks great Garry. Very exciting if it is the 'real' Blackboy. Any chance of a cutting?
Gavan

It's Blackboy (Clmbr)!!

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It's Blackboy (Clmbr)!!

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