Tough bush rose?

[sandspider]

Hi boys and girls

I'd like a bit of advice on roses, please. I'm fairly good at growing trees, and adequate(!) at growing chillis, peppers, tomatoes etc. but roses are a new venture for me.

I'd like to put a couple of nice smelling bush roses in the flower bed by our front door. However, I live in South Wales, and also in a deep valley - so the roses aren't likely to get much sun. And it was -10C last winter! Can anyone recommend a nice smelling bush rose that will survive in these conditions? Ideally it would also be happy without too much care, as we've just had a baby girl and time is limited!

Cheers,

Giles

[Martin H]

I've found that "Iceberg" flowers quite well in shade and has a pleasant (although quite light) scent.

I have one at the front of our house, facing North; it only gets sun in early morning and late evening for a couple of months of the year, yet it survives and flowers adequately.

[sandspider]

Thanks Martin

I've already got a white climbing rose, so I'd slightly prefer a different colour! But will look into iceberg anyway

[Thelma Sanders]

David Austin lists 35 roses for flowering in shade, I've chosen roses from the list for along the North fence of my garden
Repeat-Flowering - Popular Searches : Shade

I've got Gertrude Jekyl, which is bright pink and is a really strong grower, Lichfield Angel also strong growing and creamy yellow. Third is Thomas a Becket and bright crimson in colour, it is more slender than the other 2 but grows to about the same height here.
Gertrude has an amazing strong old rose smell, the other 2 also smell nice, but not as strong as Gert

[sandspider]

Ahh, thanks Thelma - some good contenders there, and a useful website.