Memorial Rose to Remember a Pet...Advice Please

[Helgalush]

Hi all

Not been posting the last few days as we lost one of our beloved rabbits on Wednesday night. Please don't post anything if you are not sentimental about pets, I cannot deal with any negative comments right now.

So I want to plant a rose bush in the garden to remember her by, and have found one with the ideal name and flowers. Its called English Miss and has delicately pink flowers and a good scent. It is a low growing bush rose, ranging from 1.8ft - 2.5ft.

Does this mean that it will always be a very small rose, or can it get any bigger? Does it depend on what rootstock they grew it on? (Sorry if this is not the right question, I don't know very much about roses).

If I buy it as a potted plant now (or within the next month) rather than as a bareroot, will it be an ok time of year to plant it in the ground?

I want it to last a long time for obvious reasons and I want to be 100% happy with my choice too.

Here are some links from places where it is for sale:

English Miss Rose : Floribunda / Cluster Flowering - Less 100cm : Roses Uk
English Miss Rose (£8.75) : Floribundas (cluster roses)
Rose English Miss (Floribunda)
English Miss rose: Bush Roses
ENGLISH MISS ROSE, £8.15; Buy Floribunda Roses for the Garden and Home

I dont know any of these companies except the last one where I bought two climbing white roses last year, so if you can recommend the quality of any of these companies please let me know.

Thanks for any help.

[mothhawk]

Sorry about your bunny - I'm not really the sentimental sort, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate the feelings of those who are (and I cried buckets when my cat died)

The size of roses is really controlled by pruning them. Pruned bushes stay sturdy, strong and healthy, and live a long time. Bush or floribunda roses, if left unpruned, yes, they will grow taller, but the growth will get spindly and weak, and the flowers will be poorer for it. Bush roses are usually pruned down to about a foot high in late winter or early spring, and flowers are carried on the new season's growth, which will generally be 2 - 3 feet high.

If you want a rose that will grow bigger, you need to go for a shrub rose (it's a bit confusing 'cos you'd think shrub and bush mean the same thing - they do, but not when it comes to roses). These are only lightly pruned back by about a third of the year's growth because they flower on older wood, and will grow into large bushes. On the down side they are generally more thorny. HTH

Edit for spelling - wood has two 'o's

[pauco]

Sorry to hear of the lossof your Rabbit, but you will never lose the memory of Her.


paul.

[mothhawk]

Forgot to add - yes you can plant a pot-grown rose any time of year as long as the ground isn't waterlogged or frozen. Spread its roots out a bit so they don't keep going round and round in the "pot" shape, and keep well watered until it is well settled in and growing well.

[Helgalush]

Thank you for the kind thoughts and for your advice. The information you have given us will be really helpful for when we come to make our decision about which rose to go for. I presume that the English Miss is only available as a bush rose then, rather than a shrub rose. We'll have a good think.

Thank you.

[VirginVegGrower]

Hi Helgalush, I don't know what the rose you've picked is like - am sorry to about your loss - its never easy with pets, as they wind their way into our hearts so easily. I've shed many tears, I am sure you will too. We won't be the last either
How about a nice Rosemary to go with a pretty pink rose - for remembrance xxx
Hugs!

[donnakebab]

Pets are family as far as I'm concerned. I think it's a lovely idea. We have lived in our house for nearly 28 years and have 3 beloved pets buried in the garden. No memorials as such, I just know where they are. Still think about them and miss them even though still have 3 living beloved pets.

[Helgalush]

Thank you for the kind words, they are like family to us, and we are very very sad.
I love the idea of planting some rosemary for her for remembrance as well, I just looked up the meanings of herbs and flowers, there are some lovely meanings. She loved to eat all and any herbs and rose petals. We are going to plant an additional mint plant in a large pot in the garden too, it was her favourite thing to eat in the garden, but the plant we have is only small. It will be nice to grow things in her memory that the other bunnies can also eat and enjoy.

Thanks for the thoughts.

[donnakebab]

Enjoy the good dreams Helgalush. My pets always feature in my good dreams. X