Hi Nola,

I live in North Idaho Zone 4/5 . Abraham Darby is gorgeous, smells divine, and stays rather small in our colder climate. To quote Goldilocks , it will probably stay " just right " for you. It may get as wide as it is tall, but you can cut lots of wonderful blooms that will keep Abe mannerly.

My AD started out as a little band from Northland Rosarium. Come to think of it, the location was pretty crummy ground and not much sun. I bet rich dirt and more sun would make a big difference.

Thank you both! Peoples experiences in similar zones gives me a much better idea what mine will do. It will have full sun and I’ll amend the soil so not sure if I’ll put AD there or Evelyn or wait for Eustacia Vye. I like to give new roses a few years so I can hear how it does for others. . I’d like something with a strong fragrance that blooms a lot!

Nola,

If your Abraham Darby wants to grow very long canes as it does for so many, and in varying zones too, rather than continually shorten them, and thereby reduce flower production and the number of cycles of bloom, as Nipstress wrote that could happen, grow your AD as a climber, and see how it rises (pun intended!), to the challenge.

My niece has a number of Abraham Darbys, and she is smitten with them, and for good reason. It's quite a lovely rose, one of Austin's best, if not his best rose.

Moses

Excellent suggestion Moses! I have learned from previous experiences that I had better take the full mature height into account or just cause more work for myself! Thank you! I have noticed that The Lark Ascending sent out a 7' thick cane last summer, I can't decide what I think of that rose. Do any of you grow it and how does it do for you? I don't notice any fragrance from it.

I agree with Moses, grow it as a climber if it gets to big for your liking. I have seen AD as a climber and it was beautiful. I have been considering this rose as well.

In response to your second question, I have The Lark Ascending and I'm becoming quite fond of it, even though I'm not usually a singles fan. It does want to be tall and narrow I think, but last year was only its second year so I can't judge. It has been rock solid hardy and is starting at a healthy 4' for me, but no more than about 2' wide at the outside limits. It puts out a pretty regular series of sunset colored graceful blooms and it plays nicely with just about any other types or colors of roses. I wouldn't call it a favorite, but it's definitely a keeper. The 7' cane doesn't sound too unexpected, but you can always peg it sideways to encourage it to put up laterals if the vertical height is too much where it is. I have some roses at the front of a garden bed that I train the canes along a low scruffy fence in front of them to keep them from blocking the whole fence. In a good year it can be stunning.

No help on the fragrance - I have a poor nose for most roses.

Cynthia

Thank you Lala and Cynthia! The Lark Ascending - everytime I see a picture of it my heart strings tug! In person, it's pretty, just unremarkable for me. I go back and forth on digging it out and putting something else there, which is sad.