Grandmother’s hat vs Bishop’s Castle

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

For those of you who grow or have experience with these two roses, I have them in pots and would like to put one in the ground in an area that gets afternoon sun SW.

I think both are fragrant, but haven’t had enough blooms to really compare the fragrances against one another. I think Grandmother‘s Hat was slightly more sweet and Bishop‘s Castle more heady English rose fragrance.

The area is only 3’ x3’ but sky’s the limit. I don’t want the rose to jut out to much into a path that leads to the raise vegetable bed.

I am concerned about the growth habits for each, Bishop’s Castle in a pot has longish branches that like to grow out in all directions from the center. I don’t know if it would do that in the ground too? And, Grandmother’s Hat suckers will it rampantly grow everywhere? I will be putting in a raised planter for an apricot tree and would not want it to grow under the planter into the apricot plot.

I was supposing that both could better handle the afternoon sun in the intended area.

I would greatly appreciate hearing your thoughts and suggestions! Thank you!

Featured Answer

jerijen

6 years ago

What Roseseek said . . . But also . . . Grandmother's Hat doesn't have Octopus arms. It bells out GENTLY, but it is eventually upright. A slightly rounded urn shape. The canes have good substance, and don't flop about.

As he noted, there are very few thorns. the canes are largely smooth, and easy to work (or walk) around.

As to the suckering ... it happens JUST often enough to provide a recurrent source of new, rooted plants. We've taken advantage of that to share our original rose with many other people over the years, which is an additional joy.

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Comments (6)

roseseek
6 years ago
I don't grow the English rose, but if it's a prickly thing, do you really want those octopus arms with those thorns reaching out to rip you? Grandmother's Hat doesn't sucker vigorously. There is SOME suckering, but not like bamboo or a Gallica or Rugosa (or many species). And, she is very sparsely prickled to completely smooth, AND her new growth is scented, so you have the flower and plant scents to enjoy. If you have to handle her there, she is far less likely to make you bleed. GH seems the better selection for planting along a path. Just my two cents.
jjkOC zone 10a/22, SoCal thanked roseseek
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jjkOC zone 10a/22, SoCal
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks Jeri and Kim! I was leaning toward GH also due to the way that BC was growing in the pot. It seems like BC would be better in a larger field where it has open space all around.

Thanks for making the choice a lot easier!
Lynn-in-TX-Z8b- Austin Area/Hill Country
6 years ago
I have grown both, but if I had to choose, it would be Grandmother's Hat... in a heartbeat. BC has a wonderful fragrance, but so does GH. GH has better-looking leaves and growth habit.

Grandmother's Hat creates a larger bush than Bishop's Castle.
jerijen
6 years ago
If you let it, Lynn ... but it IS possible to keep it smaller.
jacqueline9CA
6 years ago
I have 2 Grandmother's Hats, and Jeri is correct. GH takes very well to pruning, and can be kept short if you like, or taller. It does not spread out sideways much at all. I get one sucker about every 2 years, which is fine with me. The fragrance is delightful, as are the blooms. Here, if we get a really wet Spring, mine sometmes get "damask crud", but I just prune it all off, and the new growth comes immediately, and stays clean for the rest of Spring and all Summer and Fall without any spraying.

Jackie