gophers and roses--need replacement help

18 years ago

Now that I have finished crying I can post this. We have had a terrible gopher problem, they have eaten a largish Eucalyptus, numerous roses, Japanese Maples, bamboo, etc. We have set traps to no avail (I have been told it is an art); we have (very reluctantly) tried poison, which worked for a week or two. Tomorrow we are having a professional trapper come over to help. Today I came home and noticed the new leaves of my wonderful, healthy Ginger Syllabub were wilted and dead looking. I tugged on the main stem and it came right out of the ground. All roots had been eaten off and rodent marks covered the tough large main stem, the only thing left. I then looked at the Scent from Above not far away and pulled on it. Same thing. What it did not eat was a Cl. Blaze nearby (which I might have gladly replaced with a more black spot resistant rose), nor a cl.Golden Showers, which has never done well.

My question is: what wonderful, disease resistant, FAST growing, repeat blooming climber would you suggest to replace these against the south wall of my garden shed? I don't care about which color (tho not white), but would prefer some scent? I will post this in the rose forum as well.

I am USDA zone 8, tho 1600 ft above the Willamette Valley, so a little colder and windier than they.

thank you for your kind suggestions.

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Comments (3)

John (PNW zone 8)
18 years ago
Sorry to hear about your roses...especially Ginger Syllabub, since I've been admiring the shiny spring growth on my own and know how I would feel to see it destroyed like that.

I've had good luck with Awakening in terms of very quick growth, reliable repeat and health. The scent isn't strong, but it's not scentless. New Dawn would probably perform just as well, since it's just a sport of the same rose.

It's too bad you're not looking for a white rose, because the other climbers that have done well for me are all white: Madame Alfred Carriere, Sombrieul and Sally Holmes.

If I had the space, I would try the climbing version of Clotilde Soupert...it sounds like a great rose
pacnwgrdngirl
18 years ago
Hi pdx. So sorry to hear about your roses! We had lots of gophers in CA. They are a serious pain. Now we have lots of moles, another serious pain! :o(

I have heard that Clotilde Soupert is not a very good one for our climate. It tends to ball in regular climates so it would most likely be a big-time baller in ours. It is a spectacular rose that I would really like to get, but I haven't because of the balling issue. If anyone does have it in our area, I would love to hear how it does!

Awakening, New Dawn and Sombrieul are great ones, I have them. Try Westerland as a climber too, it does very well here. I also have the 'everblooming' CL Cecile Brunner from Heirloom Roses, very nice. My parent's grow Viking Queen (also from Heirloom Roses in Oregon) and it is an amazing climber, highly recommended. They live in Stafford, OR. Darlow's Enigma (not a repeat bloomer) does incredibly well here and it's one bloom is a spectacular sight.

Good luck with your roses!
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hemnancy
18 years ago
My favorite climber, Zepherine Drouhin, is first and last to bloom in my garden, and thornless too. Something I do that helps somewhat with rodents is putting lava rock in the bottom and sides of my planting holes to make it unpleasant for them to dig. I've lost fewer plants this way.