I need to plant a memorial rose/plant which I can’t easily kill

[Lipity]

Without going into too much detail I’ll be burying something which I’d like to remember by planting a nice rose bush over the top.

I’m horrible at keeping any plants alive and it would be rather morbidly ironic if I killed this plant (gallows humour sorry).

Is there anything really hardy which I can plant at this time of the year?

How about a small tree like a crab apple? You can get small varieties. You don’t have to worry about pruning and you have blossom, fruit and autumn colour sequentially through the year.

What about an evergeeen like honeysuckle, jasmine or clematis. If it is a pet did they have a favourite spot in the garden or a tree to climb.

David Austin are the go-to for roses. Here is their page on rose care and a page on roses recommended as best for health. Another page from RHS.

Now is not the ideal time to plant roses although, based on recent covid waiting times, now might be the time to get your order in. You could mark the spot meanwhile with an arch, column, etc for the rose to grow over.

Be careful of the use of the word 'hardy'. Hardy means that they are resistant to what nature throws at them, not the non-green-fingered.

Sorry for your loss.

As long as the ground isn't literally frozen, winter is an excellent time to plant shrubs and trees. Container trees can be planted all year round, but 'bare roots'are only sold when they are dormant and want to planted ASAP. Bare roots tend to be cheaper although only available from specialist nurseries etc.

Something like a native crab apple as pp said is a lovely idea for year round remembrance. Or a lovely fruit tree to feed you.

My one-of-a-kind grandma was very adamant that she didn't want her ashes collected or scattered anywhere and so we begrudgingly honoured her wishes. But we did carefully choose a rose with a very meaningful name that we carefully nurtured. Can you guess the next bit? Yes, it died.

It's what she would have wanted. Then I planted a twisted Hazel for reasons and that sucker THRIVES

Nb now is also good to plant roses, IMHO !

What type of soil do you have, and how sunny or not is your chosen spot?

My mum planted skimmia for her parents grave because it survives all weather and is evergreen and always looks good.

A rose will need pruning and feeding and care

Garden has full on sunny bits but mostly sun/shade.

I have a lovely old brick wall I’d like it to grow up/along. No idea what kind of soil it is sorry