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Is it possible that some varieties of roses have thorns that are more willing to stab you and then break off in the wound?

Or is it just me. I was looking at climbing roses today and a number had fallen over. So I was righting them as I looked around. Then I came to the Don Juan climbing rose. It is a fantastic red but talk about aggressive. As I was righting the pot it tore into me in three seperate places and broke the thorns off in the wounds. One bleed so badly it stained my jeans. Needless to say it stayed at the market rather than comming home with me. I may like roses but not that much.

Was I just having a bad day? Or are thorns different depending on the rose.

Ouch...they are very different. I have a rambler that should have came with a 'Beware' sign

Don Juan was the first climbing rose I ever had...they are very beautiful Tammy. It broke when the fencing it was on fell, but it was well worth it's thorns.

Are you sure? I'm thinking I'd never be able to weed around it or tie it up with it's aggressive thorns and my clutzy behavior. But your right it is a beautiful rose.

they wanted 18.00 bucks for it so I don't think I'll get it there. I can go for a much less mature plant for cheaper I think.

You just need to get a pair of heavy gloves to work with roses. I use a pair of womens work gloves from an equipment store. They have a heavy suede/leather lining inside.

Gee, you can get the same rose in a bag from Wal-mart for $4. It's bare root but alot cheaper.

I guess I'm going to have to go to wal-mart. They are pretty roses. Thanks for the heads up about the gardening gloves. I where mens because my hands are so big so I should be able to get a good pair.

My next door neighbor has a Don Juan rose. I have some pics I'll have to dig out (done with a one-time use camera)that I took this year. It's a beautiful rose but if it's suppose to be a climber, it's not very good at it. My neighbor built a nice sort of pergola thing over an outside swing just to plant that rose for his wife and train it over it. Never happened. It got about as tall as the end of the pergola and stopped. Just sort of went all gangly and didn't grow anymore. They had tons of roses where they use to live many years ago so I feel like they know what they're doing as far as the "care and feeding" of same. He cut it all the way back a couple of years ago and it came back full steam ahead as far as blooms but it never 'climbed' as such.

I checked on those pics of the Don Juan next door. Now I remember why I didn't keep them out or give them to my neighbor. They're all blurry. I'm so glad I treated myself to a digital.

I'm not sure if it's just me but I find that climbing roses have thorns that are pointed down while shrub roses have thorns that point straight out...I'm thinking the curved thorns help it climb

hmmmm, what a thought.

Thankyou for the information about the Don Juan rose. That could have been a costly mistake.

Kenny that's a very keen insight on the thorns. Way to pay attention.

Ok here in the situation. I have to trellises that are about 5 feet high after they are sunk in the ground. They are infront of my white house with black shutters. Which climbing roses or even other climbing perennials might you suggest for them?

I found these roses from the canadian rose society, favourite climbers:
zones 1-2 Iceberg
zones 3-4 William Baffin, John Cabot, Blaze Improved
zones 5-6 New Dawn, America, Blaze, John Cabot, William Baffin, Altissimo
zones 7-8 Altissimo, Compassion, Dublin Bay, Golden Showers

I love roses, but if not roses, maybe honeysuckle (though it may be invasive for your zone) or a clematis or passiflora. I think the most important thing (at least to me in the front of a house) is something that is reliable to come back every year, and can stay in continous bloom or at least have lush enough foliage to cover the trellis. I woudl say if a clematis, maybe something with a white center to bring out the white? And something that stands out from the black.

And I forgot to add, if you don't mind copying others, maybe look aroudn the neighbourhood to see what people are using as climbers so you know what will do well in your zone, more specifically your local area

that's a good suggestion. I haven't seen anyone with climbing roses around here yet but I'll keep my eyes peeled. thanks for the suggestions on the roses.

tk, my favorite trellis rose of all time is a lady banks rose. it is a small multi yellow with a heavenly scent and the blooms last quite a while. the blooms are about 1-2 inches across. our cracker barrel had them for years, they are gone now, not sure why

I love the idea of a scented rose for the trellises since they are right on the sidewalk. I'll definitely look those up. thanks for the suggestion Jiffymouse.