Large (unused) pergola

4 years ago

So I'm pretty sure I've posted about this spot before but it is a prime location for something! And because it's such a prime location, I've really been paralyzed what to put there since I want it to be perfect. Sorry for the poor photos, to get an accurate view but I really had to dig to find any (too dark and rainy right now). This area is South facing and gets full sun from sunrise to sunset. The pergola is about 30-35ft long (it extends another 20- 25 feet to the left of the picture). One the inside (north side of fence) I have star jasmine and clematis Duchess of Edinburgh training to climb up so I know at one point whatever I plant on the other side of the fence (south side) with compete with the jasmine.
My thoughts, I'm leaning towards rose mme. Alfred Carrierre but I'd also love to have espadrilled pears on that south side. I also have a clematis Montana sitting around needing home but I know all of that will be too much, especially because it gets huge. Can you guys help me work thru this. You can see the set back from the sidewalk is small (less than a foot). Even though I live in the city I want this space to feel like a courtyard and I'd really love to at one point block the view of those cars. The other picture is the south side of the fence where aforementioned plant would actually be planted.

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4 years ago

Hutchae, one of the problems with rose growing is indeed the size a plant will obtain-as Sheila says, you never can tell. Remember that climate/culture make a big difference. In my garden in Tuscany,I have no running water, and the summers are far too long, hot, and dry. The soil is also "bad"; that is, I'm the first person to cultivate it, learning as I go. Instead, fellow forum member Jackie, out in hot, dry California,DOES have running water, and has -as far as I understand-great soil, that's been cultivated lovingly for generations. Her roses get huge,apparently; instead, I think many of mine will remain on the smaller size. So you can't even make the simple statement that "a rose will get larger in a warm climate", because too many other factors are involved. In other words, you're just going to have to "take the plunge"-plant what you think will look and do what you are dreaming of. Sheila's idea sounds wonderful. But maybe you could start with just one MAC; if you find it's too small, you can add another rose or clematis to fill in.

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Comments (7)

Hutchae84 Zone 8b/PNW
Original Author
4 years ago
Pictures...I'm unsure why Houzz isn't letting me post in original.
Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
4 years ago
I think MAC would be wonderful there. The montana clematis could stroll on the fence. This would block a car view and be gorgeous.
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Hutchae84 Zone 8b/PNW
Original Author
4 years ago
Thanks, I worry the Montana clematis could be too much with the rose. Do you find that MAC gets as big as DA states (25ft) or more similar to Heirlooms prediction. I find it odd both of their descriptions are so different, even down to the color.

If I did one Clematis,would you do onekr two MAC? I just measured the pergola and it is 33ft long.
Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
My MAC is 15 ft or so. I might use one. I have seen montana clematis on fences in Victoria, B.C. looking great, but not overwhelming.

You never can tell on size. We just cut down a Leyland Cypress near our MAC and I wonder if it will explode with growth due to the tree being gone.
Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
4 years ago
My roses are showing me the "good" spots to grow on my property and the bad. I plant and wait and see in time. I am also still refining my irrigation methods. I supplement the soil when I plant but over time some plants stall. My trees exploded when I irrigated. Some spots are so extremely hot. Some areas are all sand. My recent arborist's visit might make a difference to some roses.

Your lack of water, Bart, and Melissa's (also Italy) make a huge difference I realize.

Hutchae might have more Jackie like conditions. Hopefully.

I bet Jackie would have great roses without irrigation too because of her usually high rainfall during the Winter. I'm sure her irrigation helps enormously.

Others of us could not make it at all without irrigation.

I wish Ingrid and Lisa and Melissa would pitch back in.
slumgullion in southern OR
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
I love the idea of espaliered pears! I've wanted to do a Belgian fence of pears for years...the problem is that I already have a half-dozen pear trees and they already make WAY too many pears for me to handle, even though they're planted close together and I keep them pruned short. But it looks like your property is tighter than mine, so espalier would be perfect, and there's nothing like being able to grow wonderful fruit that you can't get at the grocery. (FWIW, my favorite pears so far are B.P. Moretini and Harrow Delight, both from Trees of Antiquity I believe....some of my other trees don't measure up and I plan to replace them....)

As for MAC, I have her growing up into a purple ornamental plum and so far she's still only around 10-12 feet after ca. 5 years in the ground. Of course she's in quite a bit of shade; I'm hoping once she gets to the top of the tree canopy she'll take off, which should be any year now. So I can't comment on how she might do for you, but for me so far she's a very manageable climber.