Due to purchasing issues I ended up with five mermaids. I put two in pots and three in the soil. I would say the ones in the pots didn’...Read Moret grow as much as I want them to, but the ones in the soil have taken off like nobody’s business! I put two of them side-by-side and they completely covered the wall of the two-story house, it’s actually my garage. Completely covered the wall. I did put it on the trellis which was a very good move and I’m glad I did that. Then I planted the other one in the soil along the fence and that one’s going gangbusters to. I completely agree about the Thorns they’re crazy, gauntlett gloves required! The three in soil bloom constantly and bees LOVE Mermaid. I am zone 9, northern calif and right on the bay. I get a little mildew but nothing bad. This rose is a beast!
Greenville, SC (Zone 8a) | October 2018 | positive
Have been growing a Mermaid rose for at least 15 years. Initially I thought it might be tender in my zone 7a garden, but this year I'm ...Read Morein zone 8 ....hey, who changed my zone?
Mermaid spent it's first decade growing into a tall, old Japanese Holly shrub, then when it could reach into an oak tree about 6 years ago, it started pulling down on the oak tree limbs, so I removed Mermaid from the oak tree and built a huge sturdy trellis, 4 posts made from 4x6 lumber, braced with 4x4 lumber and 2x4 lumber rungs across the top. It looks over-built for Mermaid now, but I think that's because Mermaid seems not to have grown at all during the last 5 years.
Seven years ago I lost my China rose and Tea roses (all were Heirlooms) to Rose Rosette disease, but Mermaid and a Rugosa rose "Roseraie de l'Hay" seem to be resistant and they are my only surviving roses. I will never plant another rose because of this disease.
Last fall and this fall, I noticed new dark red growth on Mermaid, but no fuzzy thorns nor witches broom. This year it had the typical gorgeous initial spring bloom but did not bloom during summer and fall like it usually does. Drought last year, but it rained every day this year.
Am wondering if I'm losing Mermaid to Rose Rosette disease? It's difficult to identify based only on the red color of new growth.
I bought this plant about 3 years ago and have moved it three times! Poor plant! :( ... Yet she is still alive, even after our big free...Read Moreze this late winter when temps got down to -24 F. Mermaid froze to the ground where she was growing, a hot hillside. She had problems there due to boxelder bugs from the a maple tree in the BY. They were devouring 'Mermaid.' So I promised myself to move her this spring--and I did--to a sunny spot in the BY, a NW corner. She's growing well there, along with rosa banksiae 'Purezza'. I figured they could just grow together and spill over the corner walls. They are both quite happy with the move and I think the southern, protected exposure in winter will bring them through just fine. I have no plans to even do any formal pruning of them.
I just got this rose a few months ago from a mail order rose nursery... it is still a juvenile but that doesn't stop it from blooming! I ...Read Morecan't wait until it gets a bit bigger so I can see more blooms because they are very beautiful!
As for thorns... yeah, they are tiny, yeah they are pretty brutal but not as bad as my Cherokee Rose. I merely glance at the Cherokee and it stabs me. This one isn't as bad but, then again, there is less plant.
I haven't had any problems with black spot (since it is so humid here, black spot is a real problem) with it at all so far. I spray Neem often, so I guess it is keeping it away. I am afraid to test it's limits because it is so small, I don't want to lose it.
It is getting ready to bloom again! Saw another bud on it yesterday... can't wait! If you are looking for a repeat blooming climber, this is a good one for sure!
Fast grower, can cover a small structure in one year. Very thorny, but BREATHTAKING!! Plant on a fence where you need added security and ...Read Morehave plenty of room for it to ramble. First year : single bloosms, second year large clusters of blooms. Color fads in heat.
Mermaid grows on my back fence--in fact, it dominates the fence. The rose grows vigorously with no fertilizing and puts out huge amounts...Read More of new growth and blooms. It is unapproachable, however, with nasty thorns, making it difficult to prune and try to control its growth. Put it in an area where people do not pass by. A truly impressive plant.
On the south side of my Z8b garden it is consistantly green throughout th...Read Moree winter. My fence on that side is ugly chain link and the traffic on the road is heavy with people, some polite, some whom I'de rather not have as yard guests...enter the Mermaid!
I made an extensive effort to find a climbing rose with 3 things: 1) Evergreen (or as close as roses get to evergreen) 2) large white blooms (I have a Kousa dogwood and wanted a flower that would echo that look, my Mermaid's blooms are only barley tinted with yellow) 3) Excessive thornyness...
I haven't met a nastier rose than the Mermaid (nasty in a good way) and though the thorns aren't huge like Hybrid-t's they are set at a wickedly acute angle to the stems and prolifically scattered--sometimes even overlapping each other (think shark's teeth)...when you brush agienst the Mermaid she hangs on!!! Basically if you want a beautiful climber to add a lil' security to your chain link this is the rose for you :)
Other options: the Cherokee rose is another climber that has similar qualities to the Mermaid
P.S. All my roses were from Uncommon Rose...they've done well by me.
I thought I've lost her during the harsh winter 2002/2003...but she 's growing back again with relative big single blooms (12 cm across I...Read More've measured). She has a mild perfume...very nice. She was also one of Monet's favourite roses in his garden at Giverny. He grew her near his bedroom window. I'll try to let her kreep through my garden instead of climbing. Let's see if she can find her way.
1918 15-25' Repeat Bloom Zones 4-10
This is one of the outstanding "characters" in rosedom. It is in constant demand - thou...Read Moregh considered cantankerous by commercial growers. Grows beautifully spilling over at the top of a mound or on a fence or over a building. Easily established. Covers a trellis usually the first year.
It's 5" soft yellow, single flowers continue all season - wild rose fragrance.
Due to purchasing issues I ended up with five mermaids. I put two in pots and three in the soil. I would say the ones in the pots didn’...Read More
Have been growing a Mermaid rose for at least 15 years. Initially I thought it might be tender in my zone 7a garden, but this year I'm ...Read More
I bought this plant about 3 years ago and have moved it three times! Poor plant! :( ... Yet she is still alive, even after our big free...Read More
I just got this rose a few months ago from a mail order rose nursery... it is still a juvenile but that doesn't stop it from blooming! I ...Read More
Fast grower, can cover a small structure in one year. Very thorny, but BREATHTAKING!! Plant on a fence where you need added security and ...Read More
Mermaid grows on my back fence--in fact, it dominates the fence. The rose grows vigorously with no fertilizing and puts out huge amounts...Read More
Ahh the Mermaid, this has to be my favorite rose
On the south side of my Z8b garden it is consistantly green throughout th...Read More
Ive had her planted for 5 years and she is only 8 ft. absolutley heavenly flowers. I also have two starts on own root
Dev
I thought I've lost her during the harsh winter 2002/2003...but she 's growing back again with relative big single blooms (12 cm across I...Read More
1918 15-25' Repeat Bloom Zones 4-10
This is one of the outstanding "characters" in rosedom. It is in constant demand - thou...Read More