The Rugosas sucker on their own roots, don't they? Roots spread out & throw up new canes in an ever-expanding patch over time. Might want to find a grafted one if this wouldn't work in your space. Thorniest rose I grow is Aloha Hawaii, a shortish climber whose main canes are literally studded with thick long sharp thorns. Can be grown as a stocky shrub with pruning or allowed to frame the window for a double deterrent. Blooming laterals not as bad as the main canes, but no one could wade through it without a suit of armor. Fragrant double blooms in a range of sunset hues that repeat well & often from early to late here. Lovely fat hips if not deadheaded. HelpMeFind says occasional bloom after the first flush, but Member Ratings average out to Good- from 11 feedback reports. Bloom frequency increased with age here to 4-5 flushes at 4 years old. Nippstress grows this in zone 5b Nebraska. http://www.helpmefind.com/gardening/l.php?l=2.39802.4&tab=1  Keep in mind that it would be a barrier if you ever needed to exit through that window, though. Sue

I am making further progress with the project. Thank you each one of you for all the kind help! I posted the following in the other thread about Purple Skyliner. Thought would be good to list them here as well to align with the original intention and for future reference. My goal is to cover two long stretch of fence in about 3-4 years. I am in NorthernCA zone 9b. The Northwest facing fence (about 50 ft horizontal) gets some afternoon sun in the summer (no sun right now in winter), then blocked by nearby trees and the shadow from the house. The row of climbers I plan to plant at the same time for this Northwest facing fence are: Mme Alfred Carriere (let it spread to the right and climb onto a nearby tree to the left) Blossomtime (let it spread left - right ) pink Veilchenblau (let it spread left - right ) summer will be green with no flower New Dawn (let it spread left - right ) light pink The Southeast facing fence (80-90ft horizontal) gets most of the morning sun, then blocked by the oak trees and the shadow from the house after 2pm. The row of climbers I plan to plant at the same time for this Southeast facing fence are: Climbing Cécile Brunner (some shade from a nearby oak) light pink Peggy Martin - pink Crépuscule - Salmon yellow Climbing Westerland - apricot orange Excellenz von Schubert - carmine pink Mel's Heritage (Burling won't have it until summer time) peachy pink I know some of them get big. I think they may be smaller in the shade and hope some can climb onto the nearby trees. Please let me know if these 10 are good choices for my 9b zone. I am a new learner gardener, I studied HMF + various websites to hopefully plant the ones that are easy to maintain with good outcome. With all your rose experience, what would you do differently to reach the goal of covering "two long stretch of fence in about 3-4 years", or if there are any areas of special considerations before I place the order. Thanks a ton! Really appreciate your feedback!

This is a really interesting discussion! When I planted my first roses after buying my house I didn't do much research at all--and they all lost every leaf from blackspot. I considered spraying but I'm too lazy; luckily, I found the book "Roses without Chemicals" and was able to start learning about what roses would be more resilient for my area. (I'm in North Carolina zone 7.) Since then I've replaced them all with disease-resistant varieties and if they don't perform I shovel pruned them. One of them I gave to a friend a 40 minute drive away and it's thriving for her. So weird. But I don't have to worry about cold-hardiness at all! Or provide winter protection. So there's a whole bunch of advice I can ignore. You're lucky to live so close to the Antique Rose Emporium! Or at least give them a call for advice, I heard the owner interviewed on the "Rose Chat Podcast" and he seemed 100% cool and knowledgeable. I have no idea if you have to deal with blackspot or thrips or what in Austin. My brother moved to Austin and his wife said she can't do vegetable gardening in high summer as the plants melt (or something). So maybe you need afternoon shade or your roses will burn? I have no idea!

sautesmom Sacramento There are many mislabeled Evelyn, such as one that looks like Charles Austin, and another one that looks like the Wedgewood Rose. The real Evelyn cannot take partial shade (very stingy and ball up). I had to move mine from partial shade to full sun. The real Evelyn does best in full sun and can take 100 F hot summer. The best identification of Evelyn is is LARGE and RED thorns & intense peach scent, plus it's the only Austin that can take full sun at 100 F. Below is my 12th-year own-root Evelyn, note the large & red thorns on upper branches. On lower branches, the thorns are big & sharp & dense, but less red. Pic. taken spring 2022.