Plant it on the side from which most significant winds blow so that it tends to be blown into the tree instead of out of it. Use something sufficiently substantial like rope to make the connection between the shrub and the tree. Be sure this variety (I don't know it) is large growing and vigorous enough to get up into an established conifer and make a display that is in scale with the size of the tree.

Other than that the tree does look a bit thin. The two things about this that matter in this context is it will not make a good solid background for the rose. And if it is in a decline it might go brown after the rose has become established and of some size, resulting in the planting combination being lost.

And the rose then having to be grown as a mounding shrub in that spot or moved to where there is another source of support.

I think I'll stop by our county extension office and ask what an arborist consult would cost. I have a couple other trees I could have them look at too, make it worth the time. I'm not seeing broken stubs of branches at least, so it looks like the previous homeowner did take care of the tree. Still, I'll get a pro's opinion.

I'll admit, the fact that it wouldn't be such a solid background is what made me think of a rose. That's an excellent point about the wind - in this case it would also put it where it would get the most sun. HMF has 'Viking Queen' going to 12', but I'd swear I saw a thread here that had her getting bigger.

I'll get an arborist's opinion first though. I can always put her majesty on an obelisk or something.

Wow Jackie! And that's already 10ft off the ground?! I knew Noisettes got tall, but that's tall!

Personally, I wouldn't put a tree-climbing rose there. It's very close to the street and sidewalk, as well as power lines, and roses capable of climbing trees will also be capable of growing into those areas and getting in the way. If you really want something to go in that tree, I'd suggest something else -- perhaps climbing Hydrangea, or its look-alike Schizophragma. Maybe you could do a Clematis montana cultivar if they're hardy in your zone. If you really want a rose there, perhaps dig out a bed around the tree -- the area seems to get plenty of light, judging by the grass.

:-)

~Christopher

I've had a 'Carriere' go about that high up a tree also. And a few years ago I noticed a 'Brunner' near here that had made it to the top of a utility pole and was growing along the lines. Clematis montana is rampant also.

Not that either of these two comparatively lightweight roses is in the rampant category, as far as it goes. There are musk ramblers that grow twice as big as these. And produce solid curtains of growth, in the manner of the clematis.

So even if the arborist would say the tree would be fine, musk rambler/climbers are out. Eek that's a huge rose! I'm close enough to z5 I don't think much could get that big (but from the road I've seen wild multiflora growing well into trees).

Definitely going with a verified-small-in-my-zone climber if I don't scrap this plan. Originally I was just going to do a ring of daylilies. That plus a Jap. Maple and a shrub rose instead may be what I go with.

I would think with a bit effort, it is doable. Here is my Eden growing into a nolty spruce (sorry, I forgot the name)

You've got such lovely roses, Farmerduck! How much sun does Eden get there? My 'spruce' is one of only two places I have for a climber to get full sun.

Thanks, Eden is a lovely rose! It gets afternoon sun from 1 p.m. onward.

That would be about what a climber planted at this site would get. Good to know - thanks Farmerduck! Still have to get an arborist's opinion before anything happens though.

What did you finally decide?

I haven't put anything there yet, been focused on getting the obelisk beds done. And I'm nearly there, just need to start tying up a few of those climbers, and decide on some companion plants. I'm going to get those beds finished before I tackle another project, especially one so visible.

I've already lost one rose on the north side of my house (not my obelisks) to what I suspect is RRD - couldn't find a lab that will test for it when it was questionable, then it threw some pretty definite symptoms (hyperthorniness). It's made me rethink putting a rose in this place, honestly. It would be more exposed than any other rose in my yard.

The tree hasn't declined any (more?) so hopefully I won't lose it anytime soon. I need to replace my roof, and after all the rain this year I've found some hairline cracks in my basement walls that need fixed. Always something to drain the pocketbook!