"Gail Futoran" writes:

When we bought our house in 1994, there was
a rose bed next to the house, containing 12
roses. About 15 feet away was a small Bald
Cypress.

The Bald Cypress is now much larger, its roots
are everywhere including, of course, the rose
bed. Only one rose remains and still blooms -
the sole Queen Elizabeth. (Technically
another rose is alive, but it's a non-blooming
reversion.)

Whoever said QE is a true "beginner's" rose
gets my vote!

Anyone else have a rose that survives long
term despite competition from a tree?

We rescued a rose that was cheerfully growing up right into the middle
of a very thick camelia, and blooming there. There was no tag on it,
but I think it's a Belle Story. It also tolerated being transplanted
in the middle of summer with good grace.

-- Patrick
Seattle, USDA zone 8