The usual suggestion for a North Wall is Alberic Barbiere. I've had success with New Dawn, which is a nice pink with a bit of scent.

I've had success with the climbing bourbon Zéphirine Drouhin on a north wall in a previous garden and with less than ideal conditions generally. I am in cold Sweden so it should do even better for you. It's thornless which is a bonus.

I agree with ZD. I moved from the mild south-west of England to somewhat chillier central Finland three years ago; and I've got a lot to learn! Tell me mariannese, why do Scandinavians grow so many red roses and seem to eschew other colours?

I am into old garden roses as are all my Finnish rosarian friends so few of us grow many, or any, red roses! I grow a few myself, Alain and Flammentanz that both came with the house, the bourbon Gruss an Teplitz and Futtaker Schlingrose a Geschwind multiflora which is probably my brightest red rose. The rest are all pink, pink, pink, old rose, white and lately, apricot and yellow. I also have some of the dark maroon and purple old roses like Tuscany and Nuits de Young as do most of my friends. More spinossissimas grow in Finland than anywhere else in the world and they are all pink or white and occasionally, yellow. So I don't agree with you!

I've combed the streets of Seinajoki looking for a yellow or orange rose! I've seen a few whites and pinks; but 95% reds. I've asked local gardeners. They just look blank and say "roses should be red". The local garden centre here in Nurmo had Golden Showers and Allgold; but only one of each among a mass of reds. Maybe its a peculiarity of Pohjanmaa (one of many).

The most stunning rose for a north wall is the almost black flowered heavily scented perpetual 'Souvenir du Dr. Jamain'

I grow both Compassion and golden Showers in a North facing garden. Compassion is a lovely rose and very healthy. I used to grow Schoolgirl which has apple-scented flowers but not as strong as compassion

We have Mme Alfred Carriere on an exposed north wall in North Yorkshire and it is very healthy (no black spot etc), thriving and has two good seasons, June and September.
Flowers are white from pink buds and scented and it is readily available - recommended.

mariannese - if you are still there, can you give me an idea of how large f schlingrose is and if it repeats at all for you?

thanks in advance, christie (z5+, nystate, usa)

Hi Christie, I haven't checked here for many months as this forum is so inactive. I am usually at the Antique Roses Forum.

I am very disappointed in Futtaker Schlingrose. It bloomed wonderfully in its second season, in 2002, then froze to the ground and has been puny ever since. I should have removed it long ago but I am a collector of Geschwind roses so I hung on to it. It looks better this summer and may even flower next year. It didn't repeat the only time it flowered well.

My next Geschwind climber will be Erinnerung an Brod. My husband saw a beautiful specimen in a Swedish rosarium and he says that we must have it.