If shade tolerant and vigorous are your two main criteria, look at some Explorer climbers. Quadra and John Cabot are two of the best. My Captain Samuel Holland is in a great deal of shade, and does fine.

Hi there. Thanks so much for the suggestions. I have not seen quadra before. I will look into all 3 of these!

Mad - do you think it's too late in the summer to plant Quadra. I just found a great deal on an arbor from craigslist and I'm thinking about doing it this summer now.

No, so long as it isn't a bareroot plant, but potted and growing, and you understand its watering needs over the summer.

Given the truly marginal roses that are described as 'hardy', it is easy to run out of words to describe Explorers. If you would do it with a lilac, or any other hardy shrub, you can do it with these roses.

I have a lot of young roses, hydrangeas and clematis so I water regularly. That wouldn't be a problem. I was looking at high country roses, they have an own root quadra on there for a good price.

Thanks so much for the advice. I think I will go w/ quadra for my arbor. :o)