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Climbing red rose for shade

Ok. I’m really new to liking red roses in my garden and the shade I’m really falling in love with is the cool, very dark red purple.

I will be pairing it with Darlow’s Enigma, white hydrangea, white kalmia, hosta and Duchess de Montebello in the background.

This area has limited sun but DE is doing great if that helps in your factorings. The ones I am currently considering (because I also forgot to mention fragrance is huge) are

Souv du Dr Jamain

Night Owl

cl Cramoisi Superior

Crysler Imperial


Thoughts?


Comments (7)

  • 2 years ago

    I had Night Owl in my last garden and while I liked it for its space and if grew tall it was quite stiff and awkward. I tried pegging it and that helped but it never really behaved like a classic climber for me. It also had zero scent to my nose but I’m apparently a bit deficient with some scents.


    I’ve not grown the others on your list but my neighbor has Chrysler Imperial and I have a hard time imagining it as a climber though it certainly does get tall!


    Souv du Dr Jamain is on my shortlist at several places as a red climber that might work in shade so I'm interested to hear what others say about that rose as well.


    I’ve heard that the DA Tess of D’Ubervilles is a bit shade tolerant but have no personal experience to speak of yet as she is brand new in my garden and also in the sun

  • 2 years ago

    I still haven’t chosen one, Souv du Dr Jamain is probably at the top of my list. I could also move an unconfirmed Falstaff (it was supposed to be Eglantyne) to that spot. Hopefully we’ll get some more thoughts!

  • 2 years ago

    'Souvenir du Dr Jamain' handles shade very well, as the sources say. I've found it to be somewhat reluctant to rebloom, so I'd count on a spring flush and scattered repeat.


    Another option might be 'Souvenir de Brod', though it's closer to purple than dark red -- it's hardier and more vigorous, despite being in heavier shade where I have it. No rebloom, though...

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    SOUVENIR DU DOCTEUR JAMAIN (SdDJ) has a tendency to burn in all day sun and is recommended for areas that are shaded from afternoon sun. Keep in mind SdDJ is not going to bloom as much as Darlow's Enigma (DE). It is also going to take longer to reach a comparable size.

    If CLIMBING CRAMOISI SUPERIEUR (CCS) is like other China roses then it is going to suffer in shade. As a rule, China roses like full sun. The color actually deepens with exposure from deep pink to red (it "suntans"). Alas, CCS has a reputation as a poor repeater. I grew the shrub version for years and I can confidently say it DOES NOT have this problem. It is actually my absolute favorite red rose because of the superior vigor (on its own roots), disease resistance, fragrance, and non-stop clusters of petite globular roses that look like cherries. It is my top suggestion for gardens with mild winters and hot/humid summers. Just not for shade.

    CHRYSLER IMPERIAL is not particularly shade tolerant either in my experience. I had it full sun in a formal rose garden when I grew it thirty years ago. It is also going to be a runt compared to DE and the foliage will require spraying to control black spot disease in the PNW. On the plus side, that dark cool red color is very striking and the intense fragrance will knock your socks off.

    In my opinion, the best shade tolerant red rose for growing with DE is NUR MAHAL. It is another shade tolerant Hybrid Musk with a good fragrance, and on the plus side, does not have Darlow's Enigma's evil thorns (it is actually thornless). Just a suggestion of course.

  • 2 years ago

    There are several different clones of CRAMOISI SUPERIEUR. It is also notoriously misidentified with other red Chinas (especially Louis Philippe). Some are fragrant and some are not. The one I grew in my late mother's Virginia garden was most definitely fragrant. It had a strong fruity scent. Sometimes it would even intensify and I swear smelled more Damask-like. That rose came from Countryside Roses, which sadly does not exist anymore. I believe the Antique Rose Emporium carries the same clone.