What's your specific idea of "nicely shaped"?

Hi Embothrium, Nothing very specific really - I’d say just one that looks nice when out of bloom as well - maybe rounded, or more upright, or fountain shaped - some uniformity to it instead of something that is sprawling, wayward, or disheveled.

I love my Father Hugo rose both in bloom and out; the leaves are small and lacy and have an enchanting effect. https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.blithewold.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2008%2F05%2Ffather-hugo.jpg&f=1&nofb=1 https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F

%2Ftse2.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.gW2ITrX1JrRVluoJzWuPFgAAAA%26pid%3DApi&f=1

Rosa glauca is another good one, with bluish-red foliage (hard to describe) and cute pink flowers. https://i.pinimg.com/736x/a1/64/e9/a164e9bc01e5344be320c3958b17f4d9--house-landscape-garden-plants.jpg

I think no matter which rose you choose, (a) it is likely to look gangly and uneven until it starts to mature; (b) if you want it to be a nice shape when mature, some pruning is likely to be needed while young.

I think 'F.J. Grootendoorst' is rather nice Dave... it's not in my garden but I'm told it repeats.. just look at the foliage too... being a hybrid rugosa it might be suitable for your location maybe?.. not much scent though.. the blooms are fimbriated..

Blush damask (not my garden)

Gloire de Guilan

Lots of Albas and species roses make beautiful shrubs too.

A rose nursery visit in June really opened my eyes to species roses. No photos though... Inland Denmark, zone 7 (I think).

Marlorena suggested F.J. Grootendorst. In the same vein, unless your conditions are alkaline, you might consider ANY of the Rugosas.

I WISH I could grow them as they grow in the PNW, where they can get quite large. And toward the Fall, their hips are spectacular.

@slumgullion in southern OR - Oh, I really like rosa glauca’s foliage and shape - I need to look into this one more.

@User and @jerijen I hadn’t considered a rugosa for this area but that’s definitely a thought, especially having the hips continue the show. I have never grown a rugosa yet but have two “Sweet Hips” coming in spring. I really like the color of the blooms of F.J. Grootendorst.

@MetteBee_Copenhagen8b - That Blush Damask and Gloire de Guilan look perfect! I have never seen it in person but have also considered Ispahan as I’ve heard of it’s extended bloom period and health. I also need to take the time and look more into species roses more as well for this area.

Slumgullion those are gorgeous! Especially Rosa Glauca!

You might also consider the Portland roses Rose de Rescht (remontant, great fragrance) and Sydonie (also remontant, great fragrance). These are 2 of my favorites; I have them planted near my front door so I can enjoy them.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/stopwatchgardener/4734780027/

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.heirloomroses.com%2Fsydonie.html&psig=AOvVaw1uma3q1UtPUx7koTEPlkSB&ust=1611118254123000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=2ahUKEwink4yrmafuAhWHnJ4KHT6dDuUQjRx6BAgAEAc

I have 8 or 10 albas and my favorite is Alba semi-plena. The flowers are so cheery and the fragrance is great. https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.63E8Pt1K2YztmKnqRQJACgHaFj%26pid%3DApi&f=1

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0250/2157/9343/products/6d9f9d6432a2160cb65b70ed4e3bc52a_e40f8017-b728-4ced-8569-64d0c7495a63_1200x.jpg?v=1595521628

I also have 8 or 10 rugosas but I'm not sure which one I'd say is my favorite. Maybe Hansa or Therese Bugnet. Both are remontant and fragrant...But several of my rugosas are still pretty young so its hard to compare them yet. I read somewhere that Hansa if left to its own devices will grow into a large vase, if I recall correctly. Therese tends to sucker so that may not be what you're looking for.

https://okanaganxeriscape.org/db/plant/235#

https://www.ilonasgarden.com/wp-content/uploads//2009/06/therese.jpg

@Dave5bWY I planted Ispahan last fall and I can't wait to see it in bloom. I don't know how it handles blackspot etc - and anyway it would be different for you, being in the US.

I agree with Rosa Glauca, it is a beauty. Rosa Davidii also has great foliage:

And R. Roxburghii Normalis:

It grows into a small tree :)

None of these are reblooming btw!

I grew Gloire de Guilan for a few years and it was one of the best looking, healthiest roses in my garden. And it flowered for such a long time! It was truly beautiful...everything about it...including the scent. The only reason I removed it was that it came to me as a mislabeled rose from RVR and it was too large for the space it was in.

Hi Dave,
You mention Great Maiden's Blush and Ispahan so here they are as 2nd year plants (from HCR) in my parents' garden, Zone IL. Obviously they will change as they get older, but you can see that they are graceful so far and well leafed. Notably, they are also much larger than most of the more tender Austins that my parents grow, which die back almost completely to the ground every winter. Another fun thing about these, which may or may not hold in future years, is that their bloom cycle beat the Japanese Beetles last year.

@slumgullion in southern OR - Therese Bugnet is actually one I considered but decided I really wanted an OGR in this area. It’s taking a bit if a chance with something that is once blooming because of the possibility that deer could possibly decimate the blooms for a year but hopefully hopefully height will be an advantage as it has elsewhere in the garden. I have a baby RdR I received last year I will be planting out this spring in a different area but hopefully it remains compact where it’s going. Thanks again for the recommendation of rosa glauca - I keep on going back to it.

@Rosylady (PNW zone 8) - That’s good to hear that Gloire de Guilan. Between what you’ve said and that perfect looking one @MetteBee_Copenhagen8b posted, it is definitely high on my list.

@K S 7a Yakima -Thanks for sharing the pictures from your parents garden. I really want to grow both of these and I think they’d both likely be great for the spot. Narrowing down the list may be the hardest thing to do now.

Gorgeous photo!

I have a young KvD...so glad to know what I can look forward to as it matures! Thanks!

How tall would you say it grows, @User? I have a small plant that needs a sunnier spot! Thank you. Btw at the moment I am reading through your (old?) website and enjoying the photos and descriptions of roses. Gallicas are my latest obsession...

@MetteBee_Copenhagen8b My plant of 'Konigin von Danemark' is now 22 years old (grafted, from Pickering) and is about 7 feet tall and maybe 9 feet wide. It has never been pruned hard (it gets sheared on one side to prevent it growing into a narrow pathway) and has a graceful, semi-arching profile. This is one rose I do not recommend be subjected to hard pruning, unless its VERY old and desperately in need of rejuvenation.

Oh my, that is a big shrub! I need to find a place where it can be left alone, then. Thank you for the information. I knew that Alba Maxima and Maiden's Blush grow up to be small trees but had no idea KvD does the same.

@User - That’s beautiful - I appreciate your recommendation, Paul. KvD has been on my shortlist for a long time and I need to go ahead and just get it. I’ve only seen it once in a public garden and it was young and so I have never seen what it could become.

I actually ended up ordering 3 😬 - Rosa Glauca and Ispahan from Greenmantle. I was striking out trying to find Queen if Denmark either own root or on multiflora but Palatine happened to have one small Queen of Denmark left they could sell since they were sokd out on their website and won’t have it next year - very excited.

LOLOLOL If you only ordered 3, you're doing a lot better than I am!!! I thought I would only order a couple this year...but so far I think I'm over a dozen...Not counting the custom propagation from Freedom Gardens that won't be ready till next year....

I came across this interesting website about roses, with a page on R. glauca:

https://elizabethparkroseblog.wordpress.com/2019/05/31/rosa-glauca-or-is-it-rubrifolia/

They also have interesting entries on Father Hugo, Harison's Yellow, and others.

I had forgotten about Greenmantle. A small nursery quietly chugging along offering things it is sometimes difficult to find elsewhere.

I am simply delighted to learn that they are still in business.

@slumgullion in southern OR - Well, that was 3 roses for just this one project and so I’m right there with you (or worse)! Wonderful link - I can only hope r. glauca will look that good for me in time.

@Rosefolly z5 - I know - I’m so grateful for these small nurseries. Greenmantle has limited stock but is so nice to work with and sends larger 2 gallon plants.