The latest trend when it comes to roses is a move away from the cottage garden towards free flowering, fragrant roses which can be used for privacy and screening. These types of roses often have climbing or semi-climbing growth habits, and they add a wonderful, romantic charm to the garden. However, don't forget that roses are deciduous so you won't have that privacy all year round. If Don's favourites (listed below) won't grow in your area, you'll find suitable varieties at a specialist rose nursery such as Ross Roses, where our segment was filmed.

'Pierre de Ronsard' is an 'old-world' style of rose, with masses of large, scented, creamy pink double blooms, deepening dramatically into the centre. It has a shrub-climbing habit to over 2m (6') in height. The foliage is matt, and held on almost thornless stems.

'Iceberg' Climbing Form was introduced in 1968. It has pointed buds opening to semi-double, fragrant white blooms. This rose is almost constantly in flower. The plant is vigorous, and features lush, glossy foliage.

'China Doll' Climbing Form also blooms continuously, with large clusters of semi-double, rosy pink flowers. The stems are almost thornless.

'Carabella' was bred by Frank Riethmuller of Sydney and introduced in 1960. It is a free flowering, vigorous plant. It has large, single, pale pink flowers, tinted more deeply towards the edges of the petals.

Prices:

Around $11-$12 for bare rooted plants. Look for these varieties at specialist rose nurseries, such as:

NSW
Swane's Nursery
490 Galston Road
Dural, 2156
Phone: (02) 9651 1322 Fax: (02) 9651 2146.

SA
Ross Roses
St Andrews Terrace
Willunga, 5172
Phone: (08) 8556 2555

VIC
Bleak House Rose Nursery
Calder Highway (PO Box 43)
Malmsbury, 3446.
Phone: (03) 5423 2427 fax: (03) 5423 2738.

Brundrett's
Brundrett Road
Narre Warren North, 3804
Phone: (03) 9796 8305

Further reading:

Growing Roses by Valerie Swane, published by Kangaroo Press, 1992. (ISBN 0 86417 481 0) The Ross Guide to Rose Growing by Deane Ross, published by Lothian Publishing, 1990. (ISBN 0 85091 395 0)

Copyright CTC Productions 2000