dave weil wrote:


Sombreuil has been an underperformer for me (mainly due to the lack of
afternoon sun I think) but that works well for its location, which is
fairly limited in size anyway.

I like mine okay except for the fact that it ages so ugly. I love the
blushy center. But I am not really attracted to roses with 9,000 itsy
bitsy petals. It is a lot more shallow-cupped than I had thought it
would be.

My problem with Sombreuil stems from the fact that it was a spindly
little thing when I got it (part of the reason that I don't order from
Vintage Gardens any more). It's done surprisingly well in its third
season, and, as I've said, it's probably for the best, although I hope
to eventually create a wall of rose on the porch. I've got 10 foot
canes, but the ends aren't very vigorous.

I also have it own root from Vintage and so far, it is a 5 foot shrub.
You're way ahead if you have 10 foot cane. My budded Sombreuil tends
to throw relatively show basals but then continuing laterals that are
pretty long. I've heard that you should feed it a lot ("push it" is the
expression used).

a vigorous stand of mint.

We call this redundant. ;~)

I guess I'm disappointed that it hasn't been nearly as vigorous as CB,
which was planted at the same time. CB has been really amazing in
terms of coverage. Here's a recent pic:

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/ddweil2/CBJune10.jpg

If you want a tree climber, how about a rambler mixed in there with a
rebloomer? Long John Silver throws 12 to 16 foot canes the first
summer. Ahh, myrrh scent, white white blooms with tons of petals, in
clusters.

Here's a cluster from a distance with a visitor posing:

http://home.earthlink.net/~cbernstei...knLongJohn.jpg

Here's a bunch stuffed in a vase of other other once bloomers:

http://home.earthlink.net/~cbernstei...ges/Oncers.jpg

Closeup actually in focus, unlike the others:

http://www.rosefog.us/imagesJtoZ/LongJohnSilver2.jpg

It's a species hybrid, so it should be hardy for you.