Janine - I have several roses growing up gum trees but they are nourished by a biocyle black and gray water treatment system so there is not a lot of competition. I have planted them right on top of the trunk so they are not near the feeder roots - I presume out where the leaves are the thickest. I would imagine the deciduous tree will be an easier option. Good luck!

Kevarose: do your gum trees shed their bark annually like mine does? Mine is a lemon-scented gum and I would love to train a rose up the trunk, but I've never known what would happen come December when all that bark comes peeling off in large chunks. I'd assumed it just wasn't an option for me. What happens with yours?

Janine - I have lamarque up a gum that sheds like anything - the rose is now about 9 feet high with many canes wrapped around and curling everywhere and I don't know the bark comes off and it is not a big deal - rarely does bark come off in one perfect circle right around the tree - I started lamarque climbing up a bit of rope that went up to the first branch and then she "spread out" and I cut the rope. I would attach a picture if I could..... now that this picture showing is a problem here

I am growing a few roses in to trees, large bushes and a hedge. My greatest success has been with an Alister Clark rose Milkmaid. I am growing her into the apple tree. I planted her about half way between the trunk and the drip line of the tree. She grows up a tripod of hardwood stakes and then into the tree. I planted her on the sunny side of the tree and so she has mostly grown into only the sunniest half of the tree. I should have planted her on the shadier side so she would have had to grow all the way through the tree to reach the sun. I have R.bunonii planted under the Fig next to the apple tree. This rose is only about a metre from the trunk of the fig and has struggled to get started, but is now growing well. It is however being possum pruned, but it is such a huge growing rose that I'm sure it will win in the end. I did plant Cl. Lorraine Lee on the shady side of our huge 40 year old Camellia. LL had grown right throw the bush and reached the top and is now cascading down the sides of the bush. I have been trying to grow Nancy Hayward into the Portwine Magnolia but so far she has been struggling against root competition. I am also having the same problem growing Blackboy into Magnolia stellata. I am growing Veilchenblau on to an archway but it has also escaped into the Banksia next to the arch and I've decided to allow it to do that. I am also growing R. helenae to grow through an old hedge. Most of the roses you are planning to use sound great except R. glauca. You may find it doesn't climb as well as the other. Good luck. Vivienne

Appreciate all the feedback - keep 'em coming ...anyone out there! I am keen now to get Lamarque...but May Queen ???

Hi Janine,

I would totally agree with Lamarque as my two year old specimen is huge and covering the pool pergola. Phyllis Bide may struggle to catch up being more of a pillar rose with a lot of blooms low down. I've always thought I'd love to see Bloomfield Courage in a golden coloured tree with it's reddish growth and thornless and easy to manage as well. I'm trying mine up an elder tree at the moment but the possum keeps knocking it back:(...You have to keep them in mind as well because they love taking out the leaders.

Cheers

Garry

I've been told that to grow a rose up a gumtree is a fire risk and not to be done, as the bark peels off and stays put while the rose grows over the top of the lot. Its a big maintenance job down the track. I agree that Phyllis Bide would be too small, but could act to cover bare canes of a taller variety.

We're experimenting growing Brunonii up a huge cedar and its going very well. We planted the roses out under the drip line with a trellis to take it up to the lower branches. I'm sure it would cling to anything, it sure does connect with ME when I try organising those prickly canes!

Von.

The gum tree is not the type that sheds bark, seems to have very thick rough greyish brown bark that comes off at times, in chunks, about a hand's length (which makes great mulch).
For growing up trees, I have been considering Bobbie James and another rambler, called Seagull. I discovered Seagull in a small reference book I found in the library written by the Royal Horticultural Society of Aust (or something like that) - grows to about 20 feet high, or more. That's big enough - now I just have to decide WHICH ONE ! How to pick - does anyone else have either of these roses?
Bobbie James or Seagull will look fine adjacent to my next door neighbour's beautiful Crepescules hanging off her paling fence. Arent't I lucky to have a neighbour with two 8 foot high Crep's ? sometimes I think I appreciate them more than she does (or maybe covet is the word...?)
Janine

Yes Janine, I grow both, and more - in Silvan. A bit far to walk from Belgrave though. And 1-2 months ago would have been a good time to see them.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:2115500}}

I have three thriving roses climbing large established deciduous trees on my property. One is MERMAID - a cream single and very floriferous. One is WEDDING DAY - onlu flowers in spring but has grown 15metres tall and covers the tree in large white blossoms. The most striking is ALTISSIMO - a popular single pillarbox red, climbing its way through an apple tree - yum.

thanks for info everyone - do you all give these particular climbing roses more water than your other roses because of the competition from the tree it's growing up into?
Lozza - thanks for photo of Seagull - seems a lot like Wedding Day. What's flowering the best mid-summer at Silvan? Gawd, isn't this heat in Melbourne disgusting !
Janine

Come and see, Janine.