Robert,
I suspect that the commercial growers are selecting the more restrained seedlings, and in doing so are sacrificing good architecture. My best seedlings from L83 are large, arching plants that may eventually mature into climbers, or large somewhat lax shrubs. Weeks doesn’t often select plants of that style for release.
“large, arching plants that may eventually mature into climbers, or large somewhat lax shrubs”
This describes the growth habit of, ‘Cape Diamond’, at least in my climate.
Great in certain situations but too large and unrestrained for most modern gardens.
It could be ‘Cape Diamond’ will fill in and become twiggier as it matures.
This one nearly snuck under my radar but got it on the rebound, it will be interesting to see if it follows the trend for cane hardiness in my garden for explorers and derivatives … non-rugosa erratic and patchy at best with Felix Leclerc and Emily Carr following the same trend. Though lately after 10 years in the garden John Cabots and Wlliam Baffins have started showing very long term cane “toughness” by retaining some in the north gardens - still no taller than 4 to 5 feet - but shaded area now as the trees fill in
riku,
remind us please, you are in Zone 3, yes?
Hi Paul
Yes according to the 2000 Canadian plant hardiness map I am right in zone3A with zones of 2B close, with the foothills of the Rockies about 50 km west of Calgary. The following is verbatim from the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada site for the number of years of data:
“The 2000 map was jointly created by the Canadian Forest Service and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada using the same variables and more recent 30 year normal climate data (1961-90).”
I do notice that on my north side hill location, that for the last 10 years I tend to average about 1 deg C colder winter and in summer than in the Bow River valley (it is surrounded by hills) in my local.