Renae!

How large is large? In my mind, it is 20+ ft, but I think others tend to have smaller larges.

@mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY), I was thinking of anything over 10+ feet. It would be nice if it had striking color to perk up the garden which is all currently blue.

How about Westerland? Comes as a climber (up to 12') as well as a shrub form. Good disease resistance and great fragrance. And the apricot orange color would look great with blue and lavender.

What sort of tree? Are you satisfied with the once bloomer ?

I’m in Seattle (was zone 8b now 9a but vastly different than any other 8b/9a in the country) and after trying ZD three times I give up in my no spray garden 😄

Crepescule has been very good for me after getting established - it takes a few years of mildew and poky growth but then looks great and performs great.

Madam Alfred Carrier is amazing here for me and I will always have her.

Ghislane de la Feligonde and Phyllis Bide have been lovely for me in the past and would climb a small tree I think. I think any hybrid musk climbers would be a good option. I am trying Buff Beuty and Cornelia but they are babies and so I cannot speak to them much beyond hersay.

I also really love David Austins Lady of the Lake for a smaller rambler.

@heather RR, we seem to have had similar experiences. I had a zephirine drouhin that I babied for 4 years. Just too much black spot. I have seen it look amazing elsewhere. I finally gave up and replaced it with crepuscule. Now, crepuscule has had very little growth since I planted in March this year. I don't know what to think of it.

My David Austins are going nuts this year. Lady of shalott, boscobel, princess anne, etc. Even my earth angel is doing fine.

I too have a madame alfred carriere! it is supposed to grown over the arch leading to our backyard. I have had it for 3 years in that spot. It had 10 flowers in May and nothing after that... So glad to hear you have had great success.

@gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9) and @erasmus_gw, westerland looks lovely!!

@erasmus_gw, amazing photos. Thanks for sharing and the great list of options. I absolutely love hot pink and would to plant a hot pink one as I have a couple in my front yard. (gertrude jekyll et el). The other neighbor has a westerland type so I am running out of colors :( I am not particularly fond of deep red roses and I have a few white and blush pink ones. I need permission to plant a pink or a orange climber.

@Vaporvac Z6-OhioRiverValley, it is a very large golden chain tree. I think it is now at its full mature size. Just compared it to the ones we have in the arboretum.

Erasmus, I think over time you'll find that John Cabot is able to have some fall repeat. Not like the spring flush, but still.

You got it, Dorian, permission granted. You're welcome.

I don't grow it but I wonder how Wm Allen Richardson would do. I've tried Cl. Royal Sunset but think it might be best grafted. See pics on hmf. Some are just gorgeous..it fades beautifully.

Another in the warm family that gets big is Cl. mini Golden Century. See Paul Barden's photo on hmf. I bought one , hasn't been in the ground long but has good vigor.

Magpie, a little rebloom would be delightful.

Blushing Lucy. It repeats in your area.

Dorian, I’m on my second Crepescule and both times for me were a classic example of ’first year sleep, second year creep, third year leap” 😊 I almost pulled the first one but I had other garden projects so I put it off and I’m so glad I did! My second one is still slow but moving a bit faster and I think it’s because this time I’m also feeding it regularly with liquid fish emulsion.

I agree with Magpie on John Cabot - I had twin plants of John Cabot and Alexander Mackenzie that started to do a reasonable rebloom after 4-5 years of building height. Being Canadian bred, they might be happier and rebloom better with the kind of cold winters Magpie and I get. Still, give them time and see what they do a year or two after they get to full height.

Cynthia