A superb climber, Rosa 'Maigold' is from the Kordes stable in Germany and was bred in 1953, a hybrid of Rosa 'Poulson's Pink' and Rosa 'Truhlingstag'. It is one of the first roses to flower, which makes it especially desirable. While it is not recurrent, an occasional flower may appear in autumn. Its flowers are semi-double cups, up to four inches in diameter, in a rich bronze yellow flushed with orange. Sweetly scented, they grow on strong, arching stems covered with brown red thorns. The leaves, which are leathery and glossy in a rich dark green, provide a perfect background for the blooms. When mature, 'Maigold' will cover a wall about eight feet by eight feet. It may be grown into a tree or on a north facing wall and will tolerate a less than ideal soil.
Propagation: Root hardwood cuttings in autumn. Bud in summer. |
Rosa 'Leverkusen' is an exremely reliable rose, an enchanting but sturdy rose. It has rosette shaped, sweet scented, lemon yellow flowers which appear reliably all summer. Its foliage is also pleasing: healthy, glossy leaves in a rich dark green with serrated edges. The flower clusters are carried on stems that grow vigorously so that a mature plant may be as tall as ten feet with a seven feet spread. As it is robust, leverkusen' may be grown as a shrub or a climber. Roses prefer to be grown in an open site in full sun, but this one will tolerate being grown against a north facing wall or in a shady position and is not too choosy about soil. But it will thrive best in moderately fertile, humus rich, moist but well drained soil.
Propagation: Root hardwood cuttings in autumn. Bud in summer. |
If you like your roses spectacular rather than understated, then 'Mme. Gregoire Staechelin' will appeal. It is a vigorous climber that grows quickly, with stems that will easily cover a wall up to 20 feet by twelve feet. Its flowers are fully double, packed with petals in a clear pink flushed with red. They are up to five inches across, and blowsy with ruffled edges. Appearing in large numbers in early summer and, if not deadheaded, they are followed by large orange red hips in autumn. This rose has attractive foliage, too, producing large dark green leaves as it grows. It will grow best in moderately fertile, humus rich, moist but well drained soil but will tolerate a less nutritious soil and a position on a north wall.
Propagation: Root hardwood cuttings in autumn. Bud in summer. |
