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Wm Shakespeare vs Falstaff

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Posted by sunnysideuphill 5 (My Page) on
Thu, Nov 14, 13 at 8:22

Which should I choose, given zone 5, and wanting maximum fragrance, rebloom?

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RE: Wm Shakespeare vs Falstaff

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not Falstaff- whatever zone you are in - a dreadful, spindly rose which will not be coming with me when I leave my allotment.

It is unhealthy, nearly always lacking foliage, has an ugly, graceless upright stance but without enough vigour or generosity to call it a climber (although Austin does). I suspect it requires more care than I am prepared to offer - although roses mere feet away perform wonderfully), it is quite mean with blooms but it does have a reliable late flush and, to be fair, it was never a rose I would have chose for myself so was predisposed not to like it.....and it has lived up to its poor expectations.
WmS....well, I wouldn't grow this one either but I would pick it over Falstaff as I have seen it looking considerably more fulsome and bloomy.

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RE: Wm Shakespeare vs Falstaff

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I don't grow WS and have ever seen it in person. I do grow Falstaff and agree with the spindly stingy bloomer criticism, but the IMHO the flowers are so exquisite, it's worth it. Mine have been vigorous and very hardy. I moved mine to the back of the garden so those bare knees are hidden and other things are in are bloom while Falstaff rests. Blossoms last a good long time, though fade to a deep pink and even when newly opened have never been the deep crimson as DAs photos would suggest.

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RE: Wm Shakespeare vs Falstaff

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now I have the opposite problem with falstaff. It insists on throwing up huge thick stems, thicker than your thumb, about 7 feet I'm the air. I have it on my shovel list. I have the same issue with tess. WS2000 is a bit better behaved although I prefer the blooms on falstaff. I think l d Braithwaite is a better rose than both.

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RE: Wm Shakespeare vs Falstaff

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  • Posted by hoovb z9 Southern CA (My Page) on
    Thu, Nov 14, 13 at 17:10

It insists on throwing up huge thick stems, thicker than your thumb, about 7 feet in the air. Interesting. It does that here as well, with one lone flower on the end of that big cane. When it feels like blooming again, it produces another one of those canes.

As to the question...neither. 'Munstead Wood'.

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RE: Wm Shakespeare vs Falstaff

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This is a pic taken a couple of years ago, when most of that bed was immature but it still does this now, only less forthcoming with the blooms.

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RE: Wm Shakespeare vs Falstaff

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I have both WS2000 and Munstead Wood. While the colors of the blooms are somewhat similar, the shapes and heights of the plants are very different. WS2000 is taller--maybe 3.5 - 4 ft and very wide--sprawls outward with big, heavy canes that sometimes need some support when the bush is in bloom. Some gardeners report it attains widths of 5-6 ft. MW is about 3 ft tall and maybe 2.5 - 3 ft wide.

They both have gorgeous blooms, although at the moment I am more enamored of the bloom of MW, my newest rose.

Don't know anything about Falstaff.

You could get both WS2000 and MW like I did. : )

Kate

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RE: Wm Shakespeare vs Falstaff

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I've never grown Falstaff. I've had WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE 2000 for some years now and it is a garden favorite. I like the spreading growth habit because it looks more like an Old Garden Rose (Gallica) and is more attractive in mixed borders than the typical upright Floribunda or Hybrid Tea. WS2000 is also a reliable bloomer all season long and the flowers are exquisitely shaped. Nicely fragrant as well.

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RE: Wm Shakespeare vs Falstaff

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caldonbeck, please tell a little more about Braithwaite. Seems it's supposed be cold hardy, what is the shrub like?

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