You might have put your finger on the problem, Alana. I would guess that Kazanlik originated in a much dried area, along with Autumn Damask, and humidity in the summer is probably opposite to what this rose is used to. Perhaps extra water is not doing it any favors at this time of the year. As much as you love this rose, it may sadly not appreciate your conditions.

Alana, I lost mine to what I call "failure to thrive". It just slowly grew backwards, inches at a time, until there was nothing to sprout the next year. I never suspected humidity as being the problem, but it's a reasonable hypothesis; the humidity is soup-like here in the summer. Like you, I loved this rose and mourned its loss. I hope you can find a way to make it happier, but some roses just won't grow in some places and we have to be content (not!) with growing what we can. (Heck, if I thought there was a 1/1000 of a chance in Hades that I could grow Belle Portugaise here, I'd have a dozen...and I'll always begrudge the fact I can't).

Fig did yours die back in the summer then send up new shoots in the fall as well? I wonder if filtered shade would help any at all? Autumn Damask is actually the biggest it's ever been, I watered it more, it helped it to "stay green and alive" in the summer humidity, so I wonder why Kazanlik is being so difficult?

Thanks Ingrid, I'm gonna see if I can make it happy, try at least...It died down worst this year than last, so not sure if I can , but I have to try..

Alana, I honestly don't recall if my K sent up late growth. It's possible it did, but it wouldn't survive our winters here if it didn't have time to fully harden off. I regularly see 5-10F, and it's not rare to see 0F. But the best I remember, it grew passably well for 3 years, and about the time it should have started blooming well, it started dying back instead. I think I got maybe ten blooms, but what blooms they were...their scent is to die for.

Thank You Fig. I've had mine for about 5 or so years , But it's given me lot's of bloom. It really just started this dieing back last year if I'm remembering correctly. Maybe I should dig it up? I'm not sure what I'll do yet...I'm hoping it will throw me up some pretty canes and take the decision out of my hands.

Alana, I'm not sure why the dieback is happening, but maybe the Mississippi State extension program can help. That website mentions that Kazanlik is the only Damask grown in the Veteran's Memorial Rose Garden. It lists roses by class and offers a photo of Kazanlik. I've seen Kazanlik grown in TX, too, but I'm guessing the conditions weren't as humid as those near MS State. Keep us updated on your Damask treasure's condition if you get a chance. Carol

I tried researching, to see if I could find anywhere or anyone with similar problems and found only two things. One was in a humid environment and one- all it said was zone 4, so not sure where or in what conditions..

I wonder if Virginia grows Kazanlik. She's in your neck of the woods, I think?

The Kazanlik on the MS State website and the ones I've seen in TX look(ed) pretty healthy. If I remember correctly the Ft. Worth Botanical Garden grows this Damask. So, I'm thinking there's a good chance it could survive and thrive in your area. Blooming regularly is another topic.

It is my understanding that Damask roses grown for oil are cultivated in areas of the world with very cool wet winters (30s to 40s typically) and hot dry summers (high 80s-low 90s typically). I'm no expert, but I'm guessing that Damasks fail to thrive in humid summer climates for the opposite reason that Mediterranean plants fail in my garden. Here the combo of cold AND wet kills lavender plants and in your area hot AND humid kills Damask roses. Damasks are okay with humidity or heat, but in mutually exclusive seasons. Since you can't reduce the stagnant humidity (except by placing the rose in an area with a bit of breeze), I'd try to reduce the heat (with shade). OGRs also prefer that period of chill in winter, of course, but they're not-so-much getting it in Ft. Worth, TX, or Mississippi and seem to tolerate the fact.

Please DO note, I'm no expert and lack the scientific expertise of the breeders, professors and well-read horticulturalists on this forum. I'm offering what I have gleaned through bits and pieces of OGR research. Aqua Eyes, have you grown this rose? I think his climate is hot and humid in summer, too.

If your plant is own root and returning from the roots after the canes die back, I'd remove the dead ones and provide shade and regular water. I'd lean toward climate issues as a diagnosis instead of disease but you might want to sterilize pruners just in case.

All fingers crossed! Carol

I'm checking the root's tomorrow- as someone on HMF advised. It's always bloomed great, no problem there. I was wondering if some shade might help, so I may give that a try. I'm thinking humidity is the culprit as well, and was wondering if shade would help.. It has great drainage. Virginia and I are in the same state, but I think our climate is very different.. Yes the plant is own root, so now I'm just going to cross my fingers for the root check tomorrow. The person on HMF did post a link to where it usually grows, and their summers are not as hot, and get more rain.

I love OGR's, but my summers are just as bad as Alana's, and I figure if she's struggling with them, I'm not likely to do any better. So far, I'm trying to steer clear of anything that isn't known to be heat tolerant (or do I mean mild-winter-tolerant?). I'm on the "cusp" of 8b/9a here, so a zone or half a zone less wintry than Alana's garden.

Alana, your Kazanlik has been good until the last year or two? Then I would wonder what has changed in its environment. If that space is getting more light for any reason, then I would definitely think shade would be a good thing to try. If not, do you think rejuvenation pruning might help?

I really don't know what I'm talking about, so I hope that someone who has had success with damasks in general- or Kazanlik in particular- will join the conversation.

Virginia

The only thing I can think of that's been different is the last two summer's felt hotter than usual with less rain. However last summer was hotter and drier than this summer IMO and it died back worse this year. I'm checking the roots tomorrow and see what that says about it, if anything. Maybe I didn't water it this year as much as last year, would be a might...this year has been a hard year for me, with alot going on..Maybe I thought I watered it, and Autumn Damask got it twice in a row, instead of Kazanlik, because I alternated those, and HDB, when I watered the chickens..

My sister in Dallas has felt the same, and this Portland summer is racking up to become one of the hottest on record. I think you might be onto the answer, Alana. Carol

Well I checked the roots and they looked fine and seemed strong, had lots of earth worms..so I watered deeply and mulched it with some composted chicken manure from my chickens, and am gonna hope for some new growth soon, and let ya'll know when I see some.

Well I'm hoping that it puts out new canes...if it doesn't I most likely won't replace it...since it most likely will do the same thing again. At least I have some very beautiful pictures..(hopefully) somewhere to remember it by...I can still smell it's scent. Such a beautiful rose. If I ever do get to move somewhere less humid, I will definitely try growing it again.

I have a 7 year old Kazanlik that has had virtually no blooms since being planted. There were 3 flowers last year but zilch all before and so far this year as well. The foliage is luxuriant and disease free. Neighboring 2 bushes are also Damascus variants and give off adequate blooms. I use Miracle-Grow For Roses on all of them, planted all at the same time and with same soil prep but this one is the only problem. Any ideas, anyone ?

I might skip fertilizer, Vlad. Sometimes it promotes growth at the expense of blooms.