CLARIFICATION ABOUT CLIMBING ROSES …
I received this email after an article presented in Rose Rambler last week:
“Hi Diana, I bought a fragrant dark red climbing rose from you called DON JUAN. It is probably in too exposed a position to have grown to its best potential, but it is slowly filling a wire obelisk I gave it for support. I didn’t realise it was a climber when I bought it and I would have chosen a different location if I had noticed it was a climber on the tag before I planted it, but I didn’t want to move it once it was in. It is on the end of a row of red roses.
Eventually, I hope it is a spectacular pillar. The scent is gorgeous. Just thought I would remind you of it since you didn’t mention it as an alternative to MR LINCOLN, CLB. Kind Regards, Sarah”
MY RESPONSE: “Hi Sarah … how lovely to read this email … you know, DON JUAN is still one of Graham’s most favourite CLIMBING RED roses and I’m almost 100% sure that he sent budwoodso that we will have DON JUAN plants later this winter … confirming: WE WILL HAVE 20 plants available in July this year and you MUST CALL THE NURSERY on 03 5787 1123 if you wish to order!
Yes, it is a climber … sometimes, when a rose is ONLY grown as a climber, we name the rose exactly as is … for example, DON JUAN – RENAE – CREPUSCULE – ALTISSIMO – lots more climbing roses which are ONLY CLIMBING ROSES! When a rose such as BLUE MOON orICEBERG (and lots of others) have a CLIMBING derivative (called a ‘sport’ usually) then we refer to the rose by its name and add the word CLIMBING on the plant tag.
Sorry for the confusion and I’m so glad you are pleased with DON JUAN in your garden! Best wishes and Happy Easter … DIANA” |
