Re: Roses

I must admit I am not really a fan of roses,
especially when it comes to having to prune them, as
it seems I am always getting snagged, and rose thorn
pricks are the worst, in my opinion.  However, the
list you have started with contains several that I
also find above average in year round appearance and
long bloom.  The chinensis mutabilis is one of my
favorites for subtle charm and year round vigor, and
this one is also a good candidate for desert
conditions with high heat, where it was blooming year
round in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Mermaid is especially
beautiful when in full bloom. I would second that
Graham Thomas is a proven rose for the East Bay,
although it does want to get 8 foot tall by across. 
Sombreuil is also a spectacular climber, and can
simply cover itself with large fragrant blooms. 
Iceberg is probably one of the most prolific and long
blooming white roses, and looks good enough as a shrub
to use in landscapes. 'Joseph's Coat' is a personal
favorite for the variable color, but the disease
resistance of this one is not all that great in less
ideal planting situations,(without full sun the
foliage is very problematic).

Other roses that I have occasionally used, (under
duress for those clients that must have some roses):

'Altissimo'-a classic single petal deep red climber,
with good foliage
'Francis Lester'-another good climber with very large
fragrant flowers
'Gourmet Popcorn'-a virtually everblooming mini white
bloomer
'Happenstance'- another good climber with large
fragrant blooms
'Pink Mermaid' and 'Cecile Brunner'- both nearly
indestructible here, and survivors in long term
untended gardens.  I have an inherited Cecile Brunner
that must be at least 40 years old with 6 inch
diameter trunks and it has climbed 30 feet up into
surrounding trees.
'Sally Holmes'-another great, easy climber with large
fragrant pink flowers

Some classic roses for great cut flowers, but the
typical awkward, ungraceful garden form:

Queen Elizabeth
Stirling Silver
Just Joey
Rio Samba

All in all, I would prefer to use a climbing rose over
a shrub rose almost any day, but have been swayed
occasionally by the beauty of a 'Graham Thomas' in
full bloom, or the changing soft colors of chinensis
mutabilis, the outrageous hot orange and yellow of
'Rio Samba' or  'Joseph's Coat', and the classic
elegance of 'Iceberg' or 'Altissima'.

I have found that most any rose can be really pruned
back hard at almost any time of year here in the SF
Bay Area, and it will be blooming again heavily within
6 weeks if given water and fertilizer.  This is
reliable enough to use when planning for a party where
you want things to be in peak bloom, although maybe
one should allow 8 weeks under cooler late fall
conditions...




		
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