Considering a rose
 

I've selected 'Don Juan', a climber in Vesey's catalog.

http://www.veseys.com/store.cfm?product=3019

The height and colour is perfect for what I need but I have never
grown a climbing rose before. The description says hardy to zone 4
but does that mean only if I take it down and cover it for the winter?
If anyone has grown this rose, is it as fragrant as the description?
My garden is west facing bedding and well drained

I am in USDA zone 5, Ontario, Canada. Thank you in advance for all
replies. :)

On Sun, 26 Dec 2004 14:47:53 -0500 (EST), "Shiva"
wrote, speaking of Don Juan:

a medium, very clear red that does not blue into magenta
over time,

I WILL say that mine seems to go toward black as it ages (and when it
first starts to unfold).

http://www.pbase.com/teleburst/image/20165861

It's a very cool velvety black though.

Pen wrote:

I've selected 'Don Juan', a climber in Vesey's catalog.


The description says hardy to zone 4
but does that mean only if I take it down and cover it for the winter?


Don Juan is a very nice rose. It is so nice that some grow it as
an annual. It is definitely not cane hardy in zone 4. I have
seen it grown as a bush or very short pillar here in MN z4a. In
some locations it will freeze to the snow or mulch line and in
others it will just die.

If you want a climber that you do not have to take down and will
get bigger from year to year in zone 4, you should look at the
"climbers" from AG Canada. John Cabot is a good one. If Powdery
Mildew is not a problem for roses in your area, then John Davis
is another very good climber. The catalog from Pickering Roses
used to have the very hardy climbers marked in the listing.
Almost all were the AG Canada Explorers and a few others. The
others were mainly once blooming.

Regards,

Charles
--
Charles Perry
Reply to:

** A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand **

Pen wrote:

I've selected 'Don Juan', a climber in Vesey's catalog.


The description says hardy to zone 4
but does that mean only if I take it down and cover it for the winter?


Don Juan is a very nice rose. It is so nice that some grow it as
an annual. It is definitely not cane hardy in zone 4. I have
seen it grown as a bush or very short pillar here in MN z4a. In
some locations it will freeze to the snow or mulch line and in
others it will just die.

If you want a climber that you do not have to take down and will
get bigger from year to year in zone 4, you should look at the
"climbers" from AG Canada. John Cabot is a good one. If Powdery
Mildew is not a problem for roses in your area, then John Davis
is another very good climber. The catalog from Pickering Roses
used to have the very hardy climbers marked in the listing.
Almost all were the AG Canada Explorers and a few others. The
others were mainly once blooming.

Regards,

Charles
--
Charles Perry
Reply to:

** A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand **

Charles Perry wrote:

Pen wrote:

The description says hardy to zone 4
but does that mean only if I take it down and cover it for the winter?


Sorry, I need to wear my stronger glasses. I went right by where
you said that you were in zone 5. Still Don Juan is not likely
to be cane hardy in zone 5 and will need extensive winter
protection considering how badly it fares in zone 4 winters.

--
Charles Perry
Reply to:

** A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand **

Charles Perry wrote:

Pen wrote:

The description says hardy to zone 4
but does that mean only if I take it down and cover it for the winter?


Sorry, I need to wear my stronger glasses. I went right by where
you said that you were in zone 5. Still Don Juan is not likely
to be cane hardy in zone 5 and will need extensive winter
protection considering how badly it fares in zone 4 winters.

--
Charles Perry
Reply to:

** A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand **