I grew it for one year as a self standing shrub at the front of my border. It was sent to me as Desdemona and very soon was clearly not! 😅 It was very vigorous in that spot and sent out lots of long flexible canes that mingled with nearby plants.

You can see it here in the fall when everything was overgrown....it's on the far right.

I got the Desdemona replacement this fall and moved WOH to a spot better suited for it's growth pattern.

I didn't get any really good pictures of it...i guess because I kept thinking all summer that it was the wrong rose in that spot.

Well, even if it can't be pruned into a bushy habit, I bet you can peg it into a bush if it's flexible.

Thank you Librarian_gadner. It definitely was throwing very large canes. It still looked lovely in your border. It seems even with the canes being flexible they weren’t limp on the floor, so it may work as self standing with some heavy pruning. I am also going to consider an obelisk.

Yes, Daniela, the canes are flexible but for the most part don't fall to the ground. Mine was in a morning sun only spot. It had continual blooms...but not huge flushes. It was first year own root at was HUGE by the end of the season. Easily the biggest of all my first year roses (grafted or OW). I think it would well with an obelisk or pegging.

Thank you Mishievous and Librarian, I think it will be worth trying it. It looks like a gorgeous rose and those chalice blooms are my absolute favorite

It is one of my favorites! 😊

It really is gorgeous.

Beatiful and romantic ! I love it.

Wow!

Here's that plant that was in the mixed border, last fall, I moved it next to the shed with the ultimate goal of putting a trellis against the shed. A couple of the canes were getting in the way of my walkway...so I just pegged them. They're very flexible and easy to peg. I think it will work out for you, Daniela.

I really love it Librarian. Thank you for taking the time. I am going to move mine from its doomed location to one that will hopefully be better. None of my locations have perfect sun but James Galway is doing ok so I am hopping WoH will also do well. Right now I have the Ancient Mariner and Emily Bronte there but they aren’t loving it. My plan is to shovel prune everything in the area except for James galway and improve the soil some. Then I will plant WoH and teasing Georgia. It is going to be a big project because the area is on a hill with rock hard clay

Do you have a picture of the hilly area? Just curious because my yard is really sloped and I'm still not sure what my final plan for it will be, I need ideas.

here is my eastern side. the pictures don't really show how steep the slope is. the water just runs and never penetrates (the clay is like concrete). I am planning on having a new sidewalk done this spring (fingers crossed) and trying to amend the soil there some to see if the water will soak a bit better. Maybe even raise the lower area some with pavers, something. I apologize i know everything looks extra ugly.

It doesn't look ugly! But I understand, I showed a photo of part of my garden that I took the other day and was like "gosh I hope nobody judges my garden on the way it looks in winter" lol, it's very messy. Thank you for sharing 😊 I can definitely see the slope. The sunniest part of my yard is also the most dramatically sloped and so the top gets VERY dry and the water runs down quickly, plus the south wall of my house just radiates heat and bakes it even more. I'm not sure what to do. I need perennial plants with sturdy root systems that can hold the soil because erosion is such a problem in that spot, I think. I know they generally have a different look and only bloom once, but have you considered some of the tougher rambling roses?

Yes I have considered once bloomers in general since they may do better in partial sun overall and maybe with blackspot also. I am going to try WoH because like James Galway it may be able to cope with the shade better, but if does work out I am actually just going to give up on this area and plant hydrangeas and azaleas to see how they manage. I also have looked in to the roses that spread by suckering which sounds like a great idea, but I don't have any in hand right now.

If your area has full sun tho, I would definitely try to do some sort of tiered garden bed or anything that would help retain water.

Not to be a party pooper but if that area doesn't get much water because of the sloping, I'm not sure hydrangeas are going to be happy there. They need a lot of water. BUT what do I know lol, I'm not an expert.

That definitely is a major concern Magpie, but I am hopping after digging up some of the clay and amending the area with good potting soil and cow manure it will help with the water issue. I will raise the lower side of the hill with pavers to make it an enclosed bed and hold the soil and water. Of course none of these can fix the fact that my neighbors tree shade my spot.

Dianela, we are thinking alike. I planted my WOH to grow as a large shrub. I didn't think it would climb here, but, indeed, it wants to be a climber. I don't want to move it, so I'm plunking an obelisk over it as soon as the snow melts. So far, mine has been a good bloomer, smells great and is healthy. Can't say about shade. Mine is in sun.

I chose it as a substitute for Jude, the rose that mocks me, but I love it for it's own merits.

I know you know this, but my rock hard clay softened up like magic after I covered it with arborist wood chip mulch. I honestly think any kind of mulch or compost will do if thick enough. It even worked on areas first covered in newspaper and cardboard. Takes about a year, but what a difference.

We had a steep slope at our last house. It is definitely a challenge for lots of reasons. I know you'll make it beautiful.

Dianela, using a broadfork on the impervious area will also help it take up water. Maybe your husband or hired help.

Thank you flowers so much for your post. I can’t wait to see your plant. Mine is like a tiny looking single stem and I am hopping moving it will save it. I love obelisks in the garden. I am definitely going to follow your idea and mulch the area.

Sheila thank you! I was not even aware there was such a tool. I am hopping to rent a mini excavator for my project and have my dad help me with it. He is used to working with equipment like that and would do better than we would. I am also going to try this tool as I have many areas that would benefit from this. Thank you.

Nick your WOH looks so great!

Nick yours looks amazing. If my area doesnt work out I will try it in a pot.