Any ideas for a good scented climber?

25 Apr '08 7:07 am

Hubby built an arbor close to a pre-existing climbing Queen Elizabeth that was in dire need of support, the canes were already long enough to start over the top. Now it is in full bloom and upon close inspection, (nose actually in the rose) no scent, not even a faint one. It is pretty and very vigourous but right outside my bedroom window and there will be no rose scent wafting in on the breeze? I have been careful to plant pleasantly scented flowers like phlox, coneflowers, lily's, and hyacinth in this bed, so I could have sweet smells drifting thru the windows. Poor Queen Elizabeth has to go, I need a fragrant rose to join in with the rest of this planting, any ideas?

25 Apr '08 9:23 am

I've been disappointed with Queen Elizabeth (the rose) too - she seems rather out of date for me, and nothing about her to even reminisce about. Agree with you about wanting fragrance.

Can you grow the David Austin English roses? Some of the 'tall' ones will climb well enough over an arbor, and he definitely has bred them for scent and health. Also you get the old-fashioned look.

But you know, our ideas change with the season in which we're writing. Right now it's autumn, and I'd choose a rose which had good strong late flowering tendencies. In spring, before flowering, I'd choose a rose with 'nice' foliage colour. Hmm...

Good luck! Hope that others will have ideas, too.

25 Apr '08 11:48 am

would be wonderful, always have admired them but never tried them. I am in zone 7b, so I will have to check their hardiness zones. Off hand I think they may do well, as alot of the plants that do well here are commonly grown in English cottage gardens. Summer heat can sometimes be a problem here but the area for the rose gets a bit of afternoon shade and is in a fairly protected area of the yard (from the winds which seem to always be blowing on this hill). Off to the J&P website to check on the English roses...I seem to remember getting an email recently about some sort of rose tag sale, that included some David Austin roses. If they are good for my area and truly a bargain, I may find other places to use them. Funny thing, I had such trouble convincing Adam to build me an arbor, he had never built one. Now he seems so pleased with his work, he is suggesting he build a larger one and put a garden bench beneath it. Quite a breakthrough for a man who has had no interest in the garden previously.

25 Apr '08 6:28 pm

Moosey, thanks for suggesting English roses, I found the David Austin American garden website. I have found several possibilities for the climbing rose, however I have fallen in love with a medium shrub and darn, it is out of stock. I must have it, so if I cannot find it elsewhere I will preorder it for next spring, so long to wait... The name is Lady Emma Hamilton, it is gorgeous. If you havn't seen this one, here is the link, http://www.davidaustinroses.com/american/
just type the name in the search box.

1 May '08 2:46 am

Hi Faerisweet,

One of my favorite sources for roses is www.heirloomroses.com. All their roses are rooted cuttings and guaranteed disease free. They are tiny cuttings when they first arrive, but very quickly (I mean in the first season) grow into full size bushes. They do carry some Austins along with many of their own cultivars. You might want to check them out for a scented climber. I posted a picture of one of mine on my Gardens Through the Season thread just this morning. This one is called Bridge of Sighs and has a smaller bloom, but soft peach color and wonderful fragrance. They're a little on the pricey side ($16 to $17 for full size, $7.00 for miniature), but I have been very pleased with almost everything I have gotten from them. The one exception was a rose I ordered because of it's name, Amazing Grace. It has not performed that well for me and the blossoms are very small. Sometimes pictures can be deceiving, so read the descriptions carefully because they do list the bloom size.

4 May '08 2:16 am

In warmer climates many of the Austin roses tend to be creepers not bushes. I spent three years fighting Graham Stuart Thomas, a glorious yellow - in fact the most popular yellow currently in the UK; this year I built him a trellis and treated him like a climber and he has been magnificent...

Once blooming only, but wonderful in a hot climate, is Lamarque, an old rose which is just on the yellow side of cream and beautifully scented.

However the creme de la creme as far as I'm concerned is Mme Isaac Pereire, a repeat-flowering bourbon (ie 19th century) of richest magenta-crimson and considered to be one of the most scented of all roses. She doesn't grow very tall, so perhaps on the other side you could plant her sport, Mme Ernst Calvat, flesh pink and equally scented. They like rich soil, but are easy to grow and also strike easily from cuttings.

And whilst looking at Austin roses - still to me the greatest is Sharifa. Take a look at it!

4 May '08 2:40 am

Hi Faerisweet. I grow several climbers and pillar roses, most of which wouldn't get my recommendation for scent. The two which do, are 'Autumn Sunset' and 'Royal Sunset', but I'd only recommend the first one to you because it seems 'Royal Sunset' only does well in cooler summer conditions. Of course, I don't really know how well 'Autumn Sunset' will do either under any other conditions than the ones I have.

I'll go take a picture of 'Autumn Sunset' for you but you'll have to ignor the clutter as I'm gearing up for big garden party in a week and I'm in the mode of leaving piles of cuttings and weeds and tools and ammendments all around where they'll be handy. Rats, it is over cast. Check that, it's just 7:30 am so the sun isn't up yet. No matter.

Happy shopping.

4 May '08 3:10 am

I looked it up and it is listed for zones 5-9, I am between a 7 and 8, 7b on some maps, 8a on others, so being around the mid range it should do well here. I wonder how it would look with the orchid masterpiece, that is planted on the other side?

12 May '08 9:14 am

Don Juan is a dark red climber and smells pretty nice. Also some Hybrid Teas come in climbing forms, like climbing Angel face (lavender flowers).I believe Double delight (Red and white) has a climbing form too.

12 May '08 5:07 pm

Am suffering from rose envy. It's late autumn and a few stalwarts like silly old Graham Thomas are still blooming here, but they're oh so tired looking! I suspect that USA gardeners have a much much bigger selection of roses to choose from. I've love to meet a Don Juan rose, hee hee.

Anyway, you lucky things preparing for summer, enjoy!!!!!!!!!

Any ideas for a good scented climber?

Any ideas for a good scented climber?

Rosy Choices

English roses...

English roses...

Source for roses

Austin roses

very nice,

more suggestions!