Skip to main content

Featured

A Visit to Cistus Nursery

I rarely go to nurseries anymore since I work part-time at one and another reason being that I don't have much room for additional plants. When a garden fanatic runs out of room, the brain goes into overdrive, dreaming up ingenious ways to incorporate more plants. And another thing happens - a burning desire to obtain rare and unique plants. I've been moving plants around, a tricky process that has a domino effect. A plant is unhappy - it is getting too much shade or perhaps too much sun. There is a plant that did not get as large as you thought it would or it is just a slow grower and now it is hopelessly hidden behind a taller plant. Sometimes a plant is just a dud for reasons unknown (Rhododendron 'Golden Gate' anyone?). I find the plant in question a better home, but it means that another plant will have to be moved. And the merry-go-round continues to turn... However, for those plants that are to be discarded, a space opens up for a new one! I decided to move a Mou...
6 comments
Read more
Labels

Rose 'Swany'



'Swany' is a rose that you don't hear much about. It was introduced by Meilland in 1977 and advertised as a groundcover rose. When I purchased it from Joy Creek Nursery in 2018, I envisioned it as a good choice to go in a concrete trough that borders the driveway. It has succeeded for that purpose although it now wants to climb the fence behind it and continues to reach skyward.


The small double blooms appear in heavy clusters and are snow-white, turning to pink as they age. In the past, this pink shift has been slight but this year, much more dramatic. Cooler weather? Probably. 

Disease resistance is quite good. I don't spray harsh chemicals on my roses. I have used Neem oil for powdery mildew and aphids. Safer Garden Fungicide is also a good product and has worked against blackspot when it rears its ugly head. That said, I've not seen any mildew or blackspot on 'Swany'.

This rose has a long bloom period, almost non-stop. It is very thorny.


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
Email Post
Labels:

Comments

  1. tz_gardenAugust 2, 2023 at 9:23 AM

    Such a beauty, and so dependable with blooms. I'm tempted to replace one of my fussier David Austin roses with a more reliable gal like yours.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kris PetersonAugust 2, 2023 at 9:53 AM

    I don't think I'd mind the ample thorns if I could get a robust display like that!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hoover BooAugust 3, 2023 at 11:26 AM

    Very nice--looks like a great bloomer. 'Groundcover' roses can make good small climbers; I've got one grown on a short trellis that functions quite well. Not as good as yours, though!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts