Rose people - a question (or two)

marciaz3 Tropical 3 Northwestern Ontario

20 years ago

I posted here earlier in the spring aboutthe roses my son's ex-gf bought last summer from Walmart roses and never planted. They lay around all winter in their body bags and this spring, two of them were still alive. My son gave them to me and i planted them in containers to see what would happen. Both of them have survived and have bloomed a little. The roses are both 'White Koster', a polyanthus, rated zone 4 according to any information i could find on them. One is fairly vigourous, while the other has really flimsy branches. I'm assuming then that they aren't own root and that the second one is coming from the root rather than the graft. Should i bother planting the second one? I have another rose that this happened to, and the branches are flimsy every year and can barely hold the blooms. I keep it because it's so pretty! I'll plant the first one and try to give it extra protection this winter, but i don't know about the second one - ii may have to be propped up for the rest of its life!

I've also mentioned about the deck dh decided he'd like to build in front of the porch and that there are two roses there that would have to be moved. That was okay last July but of course the deck never happened last summer. I asked him to do it fairly early in the spring because that would be better for the roses but he hasn't even mentioned it again until today. He's totally forgotten what i told him about the roses and it's no use reminding him, so IF anything happens, those two roses will have to be dug out, and i might as well do it now just in case he really does decide to build this deck. One is Miss Sunrise - she's small and won't be much trouble. The other is Simon Fraser, easily four feet high and bushy. He might pose a bit of a problem! I really wanted them to be in front of this deck, so they'll have to be moved twice - now and when/if the deck is built. What do you think are their chances, being moved twice? Of course, the way things go around here, the deck may never be built and the roses will end up staying wherever i decide to plant them now.

So, i guess what it all comes down to is that i'm looking for advice on whether or not to plant a rose that will be flimsy and droopy, and how best to move roses to (possibly) temporary locations.

Thank you!

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Comments (9)

sazzyrose
20 years ago
Marcia, I'd say plant the flimsy rose. What do you have to lose. If it bloomed, was the colour correct? If it was then it might do better in the ground next year.
If you have to move the roses that are planted in the ground, soak them good before you move them. And then I would wait until next spring to move them to their real home. Or if it doesn't take too long to build the deck, then put them in a pot in a shady location. I'd cut back the large one before I moved it though.
Shelley
marciaz3 Tropical 3 Northwestern Ontario
Original Author
20 years ago
Yes, the bloom was white and i think it was similar or the same as the other rose's. Should have checked a little closer, eh?

I was afraid someone would say that Simon had to be cut back. He's so pretty the way he is:
{{gwi:770130}}
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sazzyrose
20 years ago
Oh my gosh, your bush is way larger than mine. And the flowers are much darker. Are you sure that it is Simon Fraser? I'll have to post a picture of mine.
Shelley
Crazy_Gardener
20 years ago
Marcia, looks like you have Hansa there not Simon.

Simon only grows to about 2 1/2 ft, semi-double, medium pink blooms.

This is the only photo I have of Simon Fraser, not a very good photo, but it will give you some idea of the colour of the bloom.

It's always best to do any transplanting in the spring, however if they must be moved, keep them well watered and mulch heavy with straw for extra protection at freeze up time.

Sharon
marciaz3 Tropical 3 Northwestern Ontario
Original Author
20 years ago
Well. This really ticks me off. Here i've been calling him Simon for years.... I have to find out where my daughter got him from, which nursery. I know it was labelled 'Simon Fraser'. Just went out and checked and he doesn't have a medallion like my other roses do. Sheesh.

Well, in spite of everything, the problem may be solved. I talked to dh yesterday and he'll ask his friend with a bobcat to first dig a hole for the bush and then dig it out and transplant it. I'll be able to do Miss Sunrise myself (hopefully with help from my son because the ground is awfully hard).

I'm really upset about this. I've gotten attached to this rose because my daughter gave it to me - not that i'll like it any less, but, well, you know....
sazzyrose
20 years ago
Don't be upset. Hansa is one of the toughest rose bushes around.
This is a picture of my Simon Fraser today. I have 4 and they all look the same.
{{gwi:770133}}
Shelley
marciaz3 Tropical 3 Northwestern Ontario
Original Author
20 years ago
It has never needed any protection, always the first to leaf out and bloom in the spring. I do love it. But it's like all of those who posted in the "mislabeled plants" thread in the Gallery - i feel kind of let down that this isn't the rose i thought it was, and mad because it's like it was misrepresented by the nursery. I forgot to ask my daughter this morning (she was at work and busy anyway), but i'll see her this afternoon and will ask her about it then. And i will mention it at the nursery next time i'm there.
marciaz3 Tropical 3 Northwestern Ontario
Original Author
20 years ago
Here's a picture of the two white roses, for comparison. They look like two different roses, don't they? It might be just the way they've grown. Dunno.
sazzyrose
20 years ago
It's hard to tell Marcia. I usually buy 2 of every rose at the same time. They very seldom grow exactly the same. What I see in your picture is perfectly normal. If the shape of the leaves look the same, then they could possibly be the same rose.
Shelley