Longtime readers of this blog will know roses struggle to grow in Tiger Gardens. This is in mostly due to the great deal of shade found here in Tiger Gardens. As a rule I don't add new roses to the gardens simply because I know that most roses don't do well. There are some exceptions such as 'The Fairy', a David Austin rose 'Falstaff' and a couple of unknown floribunda roses that somehow manage to survive here in the shade and still look good. When I was perusing garden catalogs last year it was with great interest I found a thornless, shade tolerant climbing rose. The price was right so I ordered it. Jung's shipped me my rose just in time for planting last spring and in the ground it went. The rose is called 'Zephirine Droughn' and it was listed as being fragrant. Bonus!
I planted the rose right by the gate leading to the backyard. There is a metal arbor over the gate and I currently had clematis growing on the arbor. The clematis are still there but even though clematis are pretty in bloom and have pretty seed heads their presence is not at all that substantial. I wanted a rose to grow over the arbor and felt the Zephirine would be a good fit.
All summer long last year that little rose grew and grew and was hardly ever watered. The Zephirine kept its foliage all winter and looked so good once things warmed up a bit that I was beginning to get most excited about blooms. Right on time the blooms came and are pleasing me so much that I am wondering what took me so long to buy this rose? It has actually more than quadrupled in size in the one year it has been growing here and is putting out so much new growth and blooms that I have been able to guide the rose not only over the arbor but along the top of the chain link fence. And about that fragrance, does anyone remember Avon's rose cream from the 1970s? It is the exact same smell as that; which is of course a true rose scent. I can hardly walk by the pretty pink blooms without sniffing the flowers.
Another rose that works well here in Tiger Gardens is an unknown. It is a fairly common rose because I see it in many front yards around town. This rose has no discernible scent but what a nice dark color it has. I have trained mine to grow on a split rail fence and for about two glorious weeks in the spring it really shines despite not receiving much sun....
in the garden....
Any favorite roses you'd like to share?
Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden
Tina ~ I love both of your roses. The unknown growing on the split rail looks fantastic there.
ReplyDeleteI love my roses, all of them. I need to go out and take some cuttings to see if I can root them to have more to plant.
The one I have right now with a most wonderful scent is my Maman Cochet climber.
Have a great week there with your roses and all the rest of your wonderful bloomers.
FlowerLady
I wish I could smell your Maman cochet climber!
DeleteThe unknown looks like the roses that were planted here at my house when I bought it. I did buy to yellow climbing roses to grow over the arbor I put in last year. I was worried they wouldn't make it through the winter but they did!!
ReplyDeleteYeah for roses that survive the winter. Sometimes that can be scary if they are newly planted.
DeleteI have that one lone Knockout in pink that I picked up last year. It has survived the drought and mild winter and has been putting on a show for me. Although, the surrounding lilies are taking it over so I must dig some of them out to give her room.... I like the idea of a Thornless Rose.... I dont like things that bite back so this would be awesome...
ReplyDeleteYour tiger lilies popped up! I just noticed them not too long ago. Can't wait to see how they do and they are near roses too. Knockout roses are some of my favorites!
DeleteWe have a 'Zephirine' in our section of the Idea Garden, and it has done so well in a few short years. In fact, I was so impressed that I ordered one for my arbor bench last year, but unfortunately, it died soon after I planted it. I ordered a replacement, but they were all out of 'Zephirines' so I had to choose another. Later, it started putting out some growth after all, but my friend told me that was probably just the root stock. I don't know much about roses, but does that mean it will never bloom?
ReplyDelete'Zephirine' is supposed to tolerate some shade, so it should be perfect for Tiger Gardens!
I remember that you had ordered a Z last year and it did not do well Rose. I will check my Z and see if there is a graft. Usually the graft is noticeable but I am not so sure all of the Z's are grafted. I'll let you know what I find out with mine but you might check your rose and see if you can find a joined spot where there is a graft. If the new growth is from below that point it is rootstock. If you don't see a graft it is possible it was own root stock and will come true. Either way you will know soon enough with the new growth if it has thorns and does not look like Zephirine is supposed to look.
DeleteTina,
ReplyDeleteI grew this rose when I lived in Clayton, NC. Can not express how much I liked this rose, the aroma a knock out. Plus no thorns and easy to grow, hardly any care at all.
I'm not familiar with this rose, but your accolades are convincing! I may have to grow this when I rip out the jasmine that is threatening to take over the world. I love that it is thornless as I just hate weeding around thorns!
ReplyDeleteLove your roses. Brother brought me one from his yard & it is in full bloom now. I don't know the name but it has a wonderful smell. It is pink. There are 4/5 blooms in one place. I still have a piece of the other rose that I got rid of as it was taking over & it had no smell. It also was pink. It was supposed to be an old rose. A plant will emerge from a piece of root.
ReplyDeleteJust don't like plants that attack me. lol
This is wonderful news! You see, I planted one of these last year also! It has grown considerably, and even has a few buds. I hope I am rewarded with many more flowers in the years to come.
ReplyDeleteTina,
ReplyDeleteLet me know how Zephrine does for you. Mine suffers from Black Spot horribly. Phillip says he has never had any problems with his.
What a great rose...I am more of the Knockout rose type due to clay here...they take a licking and keep on blooming
ReplyDelete