Need advice for which rose to plant

9 years ago

I don't have any miniature roses (had some years ago in pots, but fell in love with OGRs...). Anyway, long story short I want to know if there is a micro mini which will be happy in full sun, in a Mediterranean climate (zone 9 - cool WET winters and hot DRY summers). It would get water in our normal 6 months with NO RAIN.

The real question is about where I want to plant it. Think of a 5 inch diameter pot, which is 5 feet tall! No kidding. We had (to my great grief) to take down an 80 ft tall, 80 year old Scarlet oak tree. We left the stump 5 feet high. We got a round metal rose arch which has been installed in front of the stump (see below pic). My plan is to grow climbing roses on the arch.

Turns out that, in addition to other dangerous problems, the tree had a hollow in the main trunk. The stump has a 5 inch in diameter hole in the middle of it, and today we discovered that the hole goes all the way down to the ground! My DH looked with a flashlight, and thinks the diameter stays the same for at least several feet. We filled the hole with potting soil, and it took an amazing amount to fill it up.

I thought a little rose might look good growing out of the top of the stump in that hole, but I know nothing about miniature or micro mini roses. It would have to be one which could live in such a restricted place, and NOT need spraying, ever. I will give it summer water, and food maybe once a year (which is what I do for all of my other roses). Any ideas? The large roses will be soft pinks and yellows, so no harsh colors would work. White, or a dark pink, or a soft peach/coral would be great (if not too bright).

Thanks for any suggestions -

Jackie

Featured Answer

jacqueline9CA
Original Author

9 years ago

Thank you so much - I will look at that rose. The color is certainly perfect to go with the soft colored climbing tea roses I am going to plant on the arch. Here is another pic of the area, after my DH finished building the new raised bed in front of the stump - isn't the new wall pretty?

We filled the new raised bed and the hole in the stump with planting soil 2 days ago - letting it settle. He is thinking of building a tiny raised bed on top of the stump, centered on the hole, about 2 feet wide and 4 inches high. That would give a rose more area to put out roots horizontally.

Jackie

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Comments (12)

Jasminerose, California, USDA 9b/Sunset 18
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Baby Austin is tough as nails in my dry heat, but I don't know about its black spot resistance.

The bush stays small, so it wouldn't spill over the stump. Mine is 1 1/2 feet tall after three years. Is that what you wanted?
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Jasminerose, California, USDA 9b/Sunset 18
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Wow, that's beautiful. Your husband is skilled. Since there is more room for roots, how about something more noticeable, like that Gourmet Popcorn rose? But there is always room for the micro mini, Baby Austin somewhere in the garden. I bought miniature vases, especially for it, because it makes the sweetest bouquets.
jacqueline9CA
Original Author
9 years ago
We have a hedge of Gourmet Popcorn, and here it gets 5 feet tall. Way too big (I am assuming the climbing tea roses will take up a lot of space, above and below their arch).

I just looked up BA on HMF. So funny - in my ignorance I thought BA was an Austin, but it turns out is is a Moore! Makes me happier - long ago I decided if I ever bought miniature roses, they would have to have been hybridized by Ralph Moore. Thanks for the advice.

Jackie
Jasminerose, California, USDA 9b/Sunset 18
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
You are welcome. I really love the Baby Austin rose. I hope it does well in your area. I got it from Rogue Valley Roses, but it is out of stock now. I wonder if Burlington Roses has it since Burling worked with Ralph Moore and has a lot of his roses. Good luck :)
Baboosic z5b NH
9 years ago
Check out Snow Carpet. It has the interesting habit of creeping. I grow it on a rock wall and it wraps itself among the cracks and crevices. It has very pretty foliage, which remains clean here with heavy BS pressure. I'd happily grow it just for the foliage. My rock wall was damaged and I had to move Snow Carpet for repairs, and when I did I discovered it had one very long straight root, like a taproot. Which makes me think it would be suited for your narrow deep hole.
seil zone 6b MI
9 years ago
The problem I see here is that a 5 inch pot will never be large enough to hold any full grow mini-rose. They need more root room than that. All of my minis are in at least 15 inch pots and many are in much larger pots. Some are even in the same size pots as my big HT roses. Even with the addition of a second tier I don't think 4 inches is deep enough.
jacqueline9CA
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks, seil - that was my main concern. Is that also true for "micro-minis"? Sorry I am so ignorant -

Jackie
Jasminerose, California, USDA 9b/Sunset 18
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
What about something that would spill over, like Silver Falls Dichondra? It does great with a small space.

Or could you make the hole wider? I found this on Pinterest and thought it was pretty, but there are many more examples of tree stump planters.
jacqueline9CA
Original Author
9 years ago
SF D looks great! I am a bit concerned about its cold hardiness - one source said zone 10, and the other said not below 40 degrees F.

Jackie
Jasminerose, California, USDA 9b/Sunset 18
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I'm so surprised to hear that, because we get down to 27 degrees Fahrenheit every winter and I've had it for years. Maybe it's somewhat protected by the wall. However, I can't keep succulents alive in the same spot.

I looked at the different sources with high zones listed, like you mentioned. Maybe sellers are playing it safe, because another source I found said it is hardy to 25 degrees Fahrenheit. As per comments on Dave's Garden: Silver Falls Dichondra, Silver Pony-Foot is hardy to zone 9A (20 degrees Fahrenheit). How cold does it get where you are Jacqueline?
jacqueline9CA
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks! We are zone 9, and the last time it got to 20 degrees F was 25 years ago. We lost some small plants, and our 2 gigantic (60+ feet high) eugenia trees, which are evergreen, did not lose their leaves, but all of the leaves died and stuck on the trees - looked horrible - we were sure they were dead. Anyway, the following Spring one of the 3 ft in diameter trunks produced a new leaf - right out of the trunk at eye level! So, we had both trees pruned a LOT, and they both came back fine.

Sorry for digression, but that is how I remember how cold it was (it was 20 degrees every night for 2 weeks - unheard of around here). Our normal weather includes maybe a day or two below freezing at night, and it has gotten to 25 degrees in the last few years. So, I really appreciate your comments about the SF Dichondra - it sounds as if it will be fine here. I am going to try it!

Jackie