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Has anyone grown Sombreuil as a large shrub?

Posted by Tuderte 9 (My Page) on
Sat, Aug 2, 14 at 14:06

I was wondering if it might be possible? I bought a Sombreuil in a 2.5 litre pot in May this year and it is already growing very well and, at the moment, is covered in big, healthy buds.

It is now in a 30 x 30 cm (= roughly 5 gallon) pot, where it will stay until the Autumn. I would then like to plant it into the ground in the area where I'm planning a rose garden of old garden roses. However, I really don't want to have Sombreuil on the pyramid which will be the focal point of the new garden and I don't know whether it really needs to have a structure to climb on or not.

As you can see from the photo it's quite erect at this early stage.

Any advice would be very much appreciated.

Tricia


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: Has anyone grown Sombreuil as a large shrub?

This is a very very large climbing rose in warm climates. It may be possible to keep it as a shrub, but I think it would require constant pruning, and might not like it. Also, you might not like having to do that, given its amazingly grabby strong prickles and its very stiff canes.

In this pic you can see climbing 3 stories up our house after eating its arch my DH built for it.

Good Luck!

Jackie


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RE: Has anyone grown Sombreuil as a large shrub?

I have done so.

In my mild climate, it became a HUGE fountaining shrub, easily 12 ft. across, and a good 8 ft. high. Remember that it is liberally endowed with rather vicious prickles, so such a shrub should be sited where visitors can avoid being too close to it. Particularly ladies in billowing skirts.


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RE: Has anyone grown Sombreuil as a large shrub?

  • Posted by hoovb z9 Southern CA (My Page) on
    Sat, Aug 2, 14 at 18:53

As it starts to mature it will produce 2-4 meter canes, and those canes will have secondary canes coming off of them that can get 1-3 meters.

looks great, jackie!

After a hard pruning:
 photo a-31-3195_zps14aedd12.jpg

three months later
Rosa 'Sombreuil' photo 4-8-5293_zps54b13899.jpg


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RE: Has anyone grown Sombreuil as a large shrub?

Not only does it put out long canes, and secondary canes, but it can be stiff and yes, has very sharp and numerous prickles. I have mine against a fence and have to keep trimming it back. I can't imagine keeping it in a pot or free standing without a 10 ft wide spot to let it go. I think it could be dangerous :)


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RE: Has anyone grown Sombreuil as a large shrub?

In fact, Buford, that's why we removed it. It "bit" once too often.


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RE: Has anyone grown Sombreuil as a large shrub?

tuderte, the background scenery in your photo looks spectacular. It would be great to see more of your roses and your property in the future.

hoovb, what a superb pruning job on your Sombreuil. It looks like a painstaking and arduous (and prickly) task.

Ingrid


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RE: Has anyone grown Sombreuil as a large shrub?

I should not have read this thread last night before falling asleep. I planted my baby where you don't really have to get super close but it already seems too close. This is what happens when you add to your walk way after planting. I had seen the ones at Descanso that are on a tall gazebo but stay fairly mannerly. My plan in to make rebar arches so it can climb a couple of them and leap over the seat that is now way to close.

But I am still scared.


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RE: Has anyone grown Sombreuil as a large shrub?

Thank you everyone …. obviously I'm going to need to re-think my strategy - I do have plenty of room but I'm already doing battle with St. Swithun (which has reached 4 metres in two years) and MAC (whoever said she doesn't have prickles hasn't met mine). St. Swithun's prickles are the most vicious I've ever encountered - I think they're worse than Mermaid. What is it in its pedigree that gave it those prickles?

Back to the drawing board ….

Thank you Ingrid for the comment regarding the background - we do have a wonderful view towards Todi and its very beautiful 'Tempio della Consolazione'. My garden is still very much in its infancy - but I'm working on having something worthwhile - eventually ….

Cheers
Tricia


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RE: Has anyone grown Sombreuil as a large shrub?

I think Kippy's strategy is good.

Kippy, WE have it over arbors, with no problems. HAVE had, for years. It's never been a problem.

It is as a free-growing shrub that I think it could be overwhelming and rather dangerous. I got too close to this 'Alba Odorata' in an old cemetery, while wearing a skirt. It took two people to disentangle me.


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