How tall is your obelisk/support structure bryony?... I would want it to be 5 foot minimum, 6 foot plus is better.. above ground height..

Then I would choose one with a stated height of 4 foot or above, as these can usually be trained as short climbers...

There are just so many to choose from... but you're going to have a lovely rose garden with all those you've listed above there...

I don't have the obelisk yet, but there is a man near me who makes them to order from wood so I could probably choose the height.I was thinking of 'Louise Odier' but it's another pink.

Where are you located, briony? I'm guessing from your choice of roses that it isn't a hot, dry area but in order to advise you it would be very helpful to know your exact location. If you edit your profile you can add your zone or other information to your name.

I am on the south-west coast of England, the average minimum temperature is 4 degrees C (39.2 F) which, rather comically, makes us zone 10 if I am correct. In the summer the average temperature is around 20 degrees (68 F), though, which shows how the zones don't work so very well for the UK. I notice that you are in California and your zone is 9, have I made a mistake?

Wow, impressive lineup!! I know that's not a suggestion, but wow.

Thanks. I chose almost all of those after spending ages reading all the posts on this forum! The only ones that didn't really come from this forum were Graham Thomas and Leverkusen I think :) I just spent *ages* reading posts about people's favourites.

I am also very lucky to live near a specialist rose grower whose prices are very good.

I love your choices too...

In general terms I suppose I'd personally look for something a bit different for a centrepiece/ feature - maybe a stripey or bi- or multi- or changeable-coloured rose, or a single or species rose, or a luscious deep purplish red, or a stunning white or pale yellow or cream. And/or something with plentiful/ interesting hips or unusual foliage. Or some combination of the above...

New Dawn is pinker than I thought. I thought it was virtually white.It's a lovely idea, but I don't believe I have space for it, although it is a rose I wanted to fit in somewhere.

Would Souvenir du Docteur Jamain work on an obelisk?

A lot depends on your general set-up, but I happen to think 'Zephirine Drouhin' would be a nice choice. I have read Agatha Christie, so I know 'ZD' does well in at least some parts of England, and that she is thornless. The HMF photos are quite lovely, and she is supposed to be quite fragrant.

No doubt the others would be good also. I hope you'll post photos of your eventual choice.

Virginia

Bryony, I wasn't suggesting New Dawn for your focal point. I think there are plenty in your list that would work perfectly for your purposes. My New Dawn only blooms once with scattered blooms later in the season if I'm lucky. I was just amazed that you could grow New Dawn as a shrub.

Souvenir du Docteur Jamain would probably work well. It might be a bit stiffer than some climbers, but if you train the canes while they're young, you should be fine. The suggestion to add a clematis would probably work well with SDDJ, since it doesn't have the best repeat bloom, especially while it's young, and some people have reported lots of issues with disease affecting the foliage, but that has not been an issue in the two gardens where I've grown it.

Climbing Etoile de Holland might also work well if you're looking for a fragrant red rose. Mine got off to a slow start but is doing well now in its 4th year - holding its own against Mme Alfred Carrière...and that's saying something!

It also just occurred to me that Gloire de Dijon might do well in your climate...

There are many Austins that can be grown as climbers such as Falstaff, Tess and possibly Brother Cadfael and Leander. I'm trying this with Falstaff and Tess, but they're too new to comment on success. However, CoriAnn is using Falstaff on a smaller obelisk with iceberg and so far, so GOOD! I also love Raspberry Cream Twirl and think that would go well with your others if you'd consider a stripey one.

I don't think you want Mermaid on an obelisk. She's a massive beast! Really pretty though.

I also like Raspberry Cream Twirl. Mine just made it to the top of an 8ft arch. She has flexible canes and an excellent bloomer.

Sorry, everyone, the list is of the ones I already have, so I would probably be looking for something different.

Raspberry Cream Twirl is very pretty.

Just a thought, but how about Nahema? its not an OGR, but would blend ok with the others you have, and it certainly looks and smells gorgeous ( fragrance doesnt seem to waft in my climate, but the scent is powerful enough to entice you to stay for several sniffs as you stop by to admire ). Good manners, so it wont overpower an obelisk. Mines relatively new ; only negative so far is that the leaves can look sort of weird and droopy, but as its one of the few roses that hasn't suffered from mildew or blackspot yet after a full season, its definitely a keeper

Hi Bryony. Would Marlorena's climate be the most similar to yours then? She has so many lovely obelisks... I would definitely look at her photos on other threads and try some that you like the look of. I think the most important thing about a feature rose is that it is particularly generous with blooming and disease free.... but that could depend more on your climate than the rose.

For me, we have really high heat for several months. Very different from your climate. I lucked out in that Falstaff is one of the few that doesn't seem to crisp in high heat and it blooms a lot for me, but for others in colder climates it doesn't bloom that well. I played it safe by also putting Iceberg with it since Iceberg is always in bloom here and handles heat quite well.

Can you go by a rose garden to see which roses do really well in your area? Aren't there quite a few rose gardens that have obelisks in England? If not... I would use Marlorena's obelisk photos from other posts as inspiration since her conditions may be similar to yours. Please post photos once everything is growing!

For such a prominent position I would not choose ZD, which basically only blooms well in the spring, and the flowers are rather shapeless. Abraham Darby is often grown as a climber and is beautiful. Gloire de Dijon would also be a beautiful option.

Gloire de Dijon seems to be a good option. It's good to move away from the emphasis on pink, and the bloom looks very pretty. I'm sur[rised it's a hybrid tea as it looks so old-fashioned.

I have everyone on here to thank ... but especially Marlorena, for inspiring me and encouraging me that I could handle two 8 ft obelisks. Then I went a little nuts and put a bunch of smaller obelisks all over. I love them though!

Falstaff and Iceberg on the obelisk now, after over almost 2 weeks of mostly of 100+F dry heat (a few days of high 80s to 90s). It's just their first spring. They were grafted. I should mention the icebergs on these obelisks are NOT climbers. Things get big here. Please let us know what you decide! :-)

Cori Ann... your obelisks put mine to shame at the moment, but I hope to catch up a bit later on... so colourful and adventurous, I always enjoy your spirited contributions..

I did think that your rose 'Falstaff' would be ideal for Bryony's obelisk, it can be trained to fit... I don't think she would need anything too overpowering...

Bryony would be in zone 9 for winter temps I think.. zone 10 is the Scilly Isles here.. but I would probably get more sunnier and drier weather during the year, but colder in winter..

Where she is, I would be prepared to try something more exotic even, like 'Bon Silene'... which is described as very fragrant and low thorn.. although I don't know this rose personally... I imagine I could train it... otherwise, probably an Austin...

Beales Bon Silene

Gloire de Dijon is a Tea-Noisette hybrid from the 1850's... So it's no surprise it looks old fashioned, because it is!

Obviously this depends upon how big your support can practically be, but a rose I love with a wafty fragrance and health, rebloom and quite pliable canes is Aimée Vibert, a noisette hybrid. I don't see it mentioned much, and I only got it by accident, but I wouldn't be parted from it now. Mine is climbing a cherry tree, and although each bloom is individually not that significant, it is a beautiful sight in full swing.

Aimée Vibert - what a beautiful accident! Some of my best roses were received on accident.

While we're on the topic of Noisette roses, maybe Blush Noisette would work well if you're looking for a more modestly sized climber. I actually grow it as a shrub in my garden, but it might be trained to climb a pillar.

Oh yes Blush Noisette!!!! Blush Noisette is just what you need!