I bought this rose last spring from Rogue Valley Roses. Not much bloom so far, I didn't expect much in the first year, but it has grown well into a small shrub, and very little, as in no more than 3 or 4 leaflets, blackspot. It has the light green soft foliage of many early HPs, but so far is showing little BS and no leaf browning, in what has been a very bad summer for all kinds of bacterial and fungal disease.
'Commandant Beaurepaire' is related and similar to 'Ferdinand Pichard', they both have slightly pale and pointed leaves. F.P. grows well in my garden but it always gets blackspot very badly and by the end of summer has lost most of its leaves. This does not stop it growing reasonably well and flowering well in midsummer. The longer shoots also respond well to being pegged down.
I have both, as well as Honorine de Brabant, the sport from CB. FP is also in its' first season. The foliage looks OK, but not so good as that of CP. Honorine is a three cane wimp this season. I am hoping for better next year. Not much bloom so far. I hope they are growing roots.
So what am I doing wrong with this rose? It's been in the ground over a year & has sat there doing nothing. All the other roses in the area are doing very well, except this one. Is it a slow starter or just a dud?
No fault of yours. Some of my roses do the same, as if they are blocked in their growth. What helps mostly is to prune them back drastically. It seems they take this as a signal that "it is now or never" and start growing new canes. I gather we are not talking about a large bush.
Thanks, no, it's not large as yet, being still young, & seems to want to put out some branches & leaves but then just sits there & sulks. Winter pruning is approaching here so I shall indeed go at it in July. I did try pinching it during the summer but nothing, so time for more drastic treatment!
