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Family: Rosaceae (ro-ZAY-see-ee) (Info) Genus: Rosa (RO-zuh) (Info) Cultivar: Darlow's Enigma Registered or introduced: 1993
Height: 6-8 ft. (1.8-2.4 m) 8-10 ft. (2.4-3 m) 10-12 ft. (3-3.6 m)
Spacing: 4-6 ft. (1.2-1.8 m) 6-8 ft. (1.8-2.4 m)
Hardiness: USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F) USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F) USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F) USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F) USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F) USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F) USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F) USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F) USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F) USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F) USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F) USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
Bloom Color: White (w)
Bloom Shape: Single
Flower Fragrance: Very Fragrant
Bloom Time: Late Spring/Early Summer Blooms repeatedly
Habit: Shrub Trained to climb Trained on pillar
Patent Information: Non-patented
Other Details: Shade-tolerant Resistant to black spot Resistant to mildew Resistant to rust
The Enigma is a bit tougher than zone 5 if it has just a bit of mulch around the roots. I'm growing it in zone 3-4 at 6,000 feet. This is a very good white rose that I grow as a big shrub since it only grows about 4-5 feet here. I does seem to like a bit more acid than other shrub roses and, with my alkaline soil and water, it likes a couple shots of Copperas every year.
On May 26, 2009, flora_p from Champaign, IL (Zone 5b) wrote:
This is my first and still best rose. It blooms in shade and sun alike with beautful dogwood-style blooms (popping them out affably through fall after the first big show), wafts a gorgeous scent, ignores disease, and tolerates all manner of abuse. I also think the plant itself is quite beautiful, with masses of small, glossy dark leaves, and I freely hack bits off for use in vases inside. I do nothing to it beyond tethering it to my wall trellis and chopping down chunks that want to cover a window, and it thrives and flourishes. This is the rose to win over rose skeptics.
On May 15, 2009, Ficurinia from Portland, OR wrote:
This is the best rose in my garden. Grows on the north side of my house and blooms all summer long with NO disease problems whatsoever. Cannot say enough about this plant.
On Aug 20, 2007, vossner from Richmond, TX (Zone 9a) wrote:
Some also classify it as a found shrub and/or as a moderate climber. I grow it as a climber. Extremely fragrant, very shade tolerant and very disease resistant.
2 vendors have this plant for sale.
