I am planning to place one of the two roses near the divide between my home and the neighboring property. It will be near the sidewalk (12" away) and street, therefore it has to be a low growing rose.

I like them both, and probably prefer C.S. As I have read that it can show pink in the right weather. I would prefer a white rose that has a more spreading habit.

My concerns are :

1. Heat tolerance
2. Mature size no taller than 30"
3. Remontancy ( very... Hopefully)
4. Overall good health
5. Doesn't mind alkaline soil 7.6

Those of you who are familiar with these roses, your input will be greatly appreciated and I am open to any other suggestions you may have.

Lynn

:-)

~Christopher

Little White Pet is one of my most favorite roses in our garden - I have 3 of them now, and what a work horse! One of ours is planted in a corner of a bed about 12 inches from the gutter along our busy street and also 12 inches from the driveway on the other side. Another one is planted in a corner of a different bed between the sidewalk and a cement path leading up to our front garden gate, and the third is planted within 12 inches of our driveway further down.

So, although I am guessing that our climate is wetter than yours (we have totally dry summers for at least 6 moths, but there is some marine influence, and we get way more rain in the Winter), I would definitely recommend this rose for the place you mentioned. Mine are always completely clean without any spraying, bloom almost continuously for most of the year, and the blooms are so perfect - they are amazing. All of mine are under 24 inches tall. I have a vague recollection that my CS got way taller than that.

Jackie

No such problem with LWP. I ultimately removed LWP--great performer but I found it a little coarse. Replaced it with the shrub version of 'Aimee Vibert', which I like better.

I have never experienced rose balling, which could be due to the lack of humidity. The mature size of C.S. is disconcerting as I could push the size to 30" but 3 ft. would be too tall. Little White Pet seems to have the proper mature height and I like the disease resistance you report. With the exception of home-made insecticidal soap my garden is no-spray.

Are you in a section of CA that is more arid or do you get moisture in the air? I had favored Clotilde because of the pink, but if it balls in a dry climate, in addition to becoming tall then it is a no-go for sure.

Lynn

Little White Pet is new to me & a heck of a performer--always blooming. Flowers are little white frilly things with lots of petals.Very similar to the polys Anne Marie de Montraval & Flocon de Neige. Whole plant has a daintiness to it that belies how tough & carefree it is even in my deserty climate.

Get both. How's that for being unhelpful?

Adjacent to, but separated from the rose will be 3 Marie Pavie rose bushes. I also have SDLM, a Bishop's Castle and Reine des Violettes in the area. The area is not formal, but it is not free flowing like many of the cottage gardens and some of the informal gardens I have seen. I am a stickler for measured spacing and symmetry, but like roses that nod or exude charm and fragrance. The rose will be at the end of a row of roses running from the front to back of the front yard.

I was looking for something that was wider than it is tall. Which of the two would grow wider vs. tall?

It is amazing that I believe I have my choice narrowed down to two roses, and am having such a difficult time....

LWP seems to have more spreading bushier growth so far. Its flowers are like big baby's breath flowers--scores of tiny petals, clouds of flowers in sprays over healthy leaves.

Clotilde's flowers remind me of Victorian pictures of roses--fat balls of thin white petals with a touch of pink in the center.

Maybe get both, grow them out in pots for a year & plant the one in the ground that best suits your taste for the area :-p

I am contemplating what you suggested. My dilemma stems from being at the very tail end of my plantings with not much space left. Also, I am a slave to symmetry in certain areas so it will be off-set it with plantings of the same thing on the opposite side of the yard; it has to match. Which ever plant isn't chosen I will likely have to gift it to one of my sister-in-laws or my mother-in-law, but it is important that it receive a good home.

Clotilde is in a bed.

ah, decisions, decisions...

You know, I figured out what the "real" underlying problem is, I prefer Clotilde, but question how it will fare during the summer. LWP, is pretty, and I do not have as much worry regarding it surviving through my summers. I am leaning toward taking a chance on one Clotilde, and if it survives my summer, creating the balance bed for it next fall.

I had Clothide Soupert several years ago and she was big and beautiful. If I remember correctly, she grew to about 5 or 6 feet, but not too wide. I loved her but regrettably had to remove her because she was not in a good location. I planted another plant a few years later in another, not ideal location and she is doing ok (not great though but I think it's the location). I think she took 2-3 years to get established but once she did, she was wonderful. She was one of my favorite roses.

Ingrid

Be sure to amend the pH with sulfur before planting any polyantha.

Because this rose will receive full southern exposure, and filtered western exposure sunlight for a couple of hours, I must go with LWP as it is described as being "heat tolerant", and will remain on the smaller side.

Thank you all for assisting me with this decision.

Lynn

Randy

:-)

~Christopher

Pink Soupert is gorgeous, but I am staying away from the Souperts. If there was a good chance that Clotilde liked my conditions, I would definitely have my eye on that one too.

Lynn

Ingrid