Two tone rose tree?

[msrisotto]

Hello!

So I would love a small tree in front of my house. Not too big as it will be relatively close (12 feet or so) and I don't want it to block out all light.

Did think about a Magnolia or Cherry blossom tree but got a bit worried about keeping the size down. So thought about a rose tree. I don't know anything really about plants so don't know what it is called, but I saw a tree with two tone roses once - pictures attached. Any clue what that might be called and where I might be able to find something like it?

[JT05]

There is a rose grower specialising in two coloured roses. If you google it you might find what you are looking for.

[NanTheWiser]

That isn't a rose - it's a Camellia, only suitable for acid soils.

[AstrantiaMajor]

There is a lovely rose called Fire and Ice which is very similar. Josephs Coat is another bi-colour Rose which is orange and yellow.

Google Bi-Coloured Roses and I am sure lots will come up.

[msrisotto]

Thank you for your thoughts.

How do you know if you have acid soil or not? Is that why it looked like a proper tree? Would a rose plant ever grow like a tree?

[msrisotto]

I took that photo in central London

[msrisotto]

Is it definitely a Camelia? It was a big tree. Are there other little trees with big lovely flowers like that?

[AstrantiaMajor]

I know they say camelias like acid soil but my mum grew massive ones on London clay. It is too early for roses so definitely Camellia.
if in doubt put some ericasious Compost in the planting hole, if you decide to go with camellia.I have also heard it said, not to plant camellia on an East Facing wall , but she had them everywhere in her garden.

[msrisotto]

Do you think that this is it?

[msrisotto]

or this one?

[msrisotto]

Hang on, this is the one but it says bush and I wanted it to be tree like??

[AstrantiaMajor]

I would say it is the last one. I don't grow camellias so I am not an expert but I know that you can buy tree Camelias. I think they are more expensive as it probably takes a few years to train it into shape. I don't suppose it is difficult to train a shrub into a tree if you have the patience.

I don't grow them because although they are beautiful, the flowers are short lived and you spend 11 months looking at a boring green bush. A rose tree however will give you a whole 5months of flowers from June to November.

[AcrossthePond55]

There's a really beautiful rose called Rio Samba that can be trained into a tree. It's not so much two toned as it changes colour as it opens. You end up with multiple roses ranging from pink to yellow to orange all on the same tree.

[highinthesky]

I'd be very proud of having a magnolia tree that needs taming.

So far all I've managed to do is kill them

[highinthesky]

Just googled Rio Samba rose, it's a fruit salad beauty!

[AcrossthePond55]

Isn't it? A whole bush or tree of them is just a riot of colour.

[msrisotto]

Astrantiamajor - you make a very persuasive point. Ok, help me out here please. I have a rose bush/shrub in the back garden. It is quite ungainly and not what I was hoping for the front of the house. Can you train/prune a rose bush into a tree? Or do you buy a specific breed?


Acrossthepond - that is an absolute beauty! Not sure it's available in the UK though.

[msrisotto]

This might be multi colourful enough

[Mermaidinthesea]

You don't get rose trees as such, but roses grafted onto tree stock, David Austin do the best and they all smell incredible and flower over a long period which is really important. Every plant should really work hard for a place in your garden. They are called standard roses and there are a lot on the website.

www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/lady-of-shalott-standard-rose

Roses need full sun. Camellias will grow in your garden if the surrounding area has rhodedendrons and azaleas. They have to grow in shade or they get badly sun scorched. They do look great this time of year then the roses take over.

[msrisotto]

[AcrossthePond55]

You may be right. But I wonder if there's the same or similar hybrid available in the UK.

[Mermaidinthesea]

That one is lovely across the pond, the UK site does have some two tone standard rose trees.

[msrisotto]

Thank Mermaid, I spotted that beautiful Lady of Shalott rose. It says on the website it is only available as a potted Bare Root Rose. I don't know what this means, is it the right sort?

[AstrantiaMajor]

Depending on the siting you have several options. You can buy a standard rose tree. They are easy to maintain and have a good choice of colours. However you are looking at a bare tree for 7' months of the year.

If you have the budget you could think about putting in an obelisk and growing things for year round interest. Maybe a rambling rose that you can train around the obelisk, clematis and some winter Jasmine for interest when the rose has finished.

My personal choice would be a really interesting all year tree. Alamanchier is wonderful. Robinia Frisia Casque Rogue, a weeping Cherry or a corksrew Hazel. If it is shady then maybe an Acer. Kangu saku has a red bark all through winter followed by lime green leaves, but no flowers.

A rowan such as Sorbus Cashmiriana also has year round interest. Really interesting leaves followed by flowers and berries. Has the added advantage of keeping the witches away.

All of it depends on whether you want a big flash of colour for a short period or something to look at all the time.

[Mermaidinthesea]

If you buy a bare root rose it is much cheaper so I tend to do that. Potted ones can be planted all year round. I think the planting period for bare root roses is late winter/early spring as they are dormant and come without soil so you can get away with it.
Once the ground warms up they start growing like mad. I planted a bare root Lady of Shallott last December and last summer it was incredible, the scent was so strong and so beautiful, I can imagine that by the front door.

[Mermaidinthesea]

They also flower all summer if you deadhead them, a very long flowering period.