Roses for banks (for Abbi)

'I've only just got 'Violette' Abbi so I can't comment on how good it would be as a ground cover type rambler. Roses don't mind a bit of clay so I reckon you could get away with planting some varieties straight in the clay with normal mulching and manures as a cover. There are a lot of different ground cover roses coming out lately. I'm raising a few 'Red Flower Carpet' seedlings myself this year (about 3 are up so far) and hope to do some more deliberate crosses with them this year to try for blends and stripes in the groundcover range. I've got a new one for me called 'Summer Evening' that is a rich red semi-double that I'm growing in a pot for now (I was thinking large hanging basket type pot at some stage). I've got groundcover roses in white (double), yellow (very double), orange (double), fire engine red (double), deep dark red (single), candy pink (double), light pink (double), baby pink (single), pink with a white eye (single taller shrub-like rose).... the only 'Flower Carpet' ground cover rose I haven't got is the coral pink one because I find the colour insipid... so if you are looking for something like these you are welcome to try some cuttings (they strike really easily) of each to spread out and make a bank of colour. Groundcover is a bit of an stretch in terminology as far as I am concerned for a lot of these 'groundcover' roses. Some will stay very low but the 'Flower Carpet' type 'groundcovers' will, if allowed, reach small shrub proportions. I like to keep mine quite small an mounded, no more than 3ft tall but every year they throw out long rambler type leaders that are VERY thorny.

Oh Yes please, Simon.

I'd love to try some cuttings. the thorny leaders are not a problem as its not a bank that will be walked on, and thorny growth may even slow up the furry nocturnal visitors!