What kind of roses should I plant?

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bogie

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When I finally get a house purchase sorted out, I plan on making the areas around windows, back yard, etc., sort of "interesting."

Since most homeowner associations and zoning committees frown on razor wire, punji sticks and concrete pillboxes, I'm planning on a few strategically placed "plants'o'pain" with which to welcome prowlers (and trip 'em up if I hear nasties, and flip on the outside lights).

Which are the thorniest? Doesn't necessarily have to be pretty, altho it'd be nice to be able to "train" the things...
 
I don't know how it grows in your area, but holly bushes can be quite painful. Also, stinging nettles grow naturally as weeds around my house. Now if I could just concentrate them into particular spots.
 
Plant some poison ivy in with them (if you don't plan on working with them too much :eek: ). That way when someone gets scratched up the oil from the ivy gets beneath the skin :evil: .

Greg
 
Dang...

It's right on the tip of my tongue...

There's an old-style variety that is absolutely beautiful, very hardy, produces lovely, fragrant blooms, and is just a living hell of thorns...

Austrian Lace?

I'll check my books when I get home this evening.
 
Roses -- use an antique rose called "Old Blush", climbing variety. Otherwise known as "Old Reliable". They will grow 10 feet tall, very dense, and have thorns that are formidable. Pink blooms, remonant (means they re-bloom over and over again during the growing season). Makes a very pretty, but impassable hedge.

If you can't find a local source, go here:

http://www.antiqueroseemporium.com/
 
anyone NOT living in a region that gets below freezing should take a look at Bougainvillea.
Grows fast, grows big. Attractive. Thorns like leather-stitching needles, go through damned-near anything.
 
The previous owner of my house had a couple firethorn bushes that he let get out of hand. I have never seen thorns like this -- a half inch to an inch long and they'd go right through a leather glove like I was barehanded.

If you plant something like this DON'T let it get out of control or you'll have a heck of a time pruning it back.
 
I know about Bougainvillea; I have to trim them in my yard, and they will go right through my shoes and leather gloves.

I had a house in Texas with holly outside one of the windows, and I'd give it the nod over Bougainvillea because it's much denser (as I recall).

If you're in the Sonoran Desert, consider ocotillo cactus. This plant is so tough folks used to plant it in a row and then string barbed wire from plant to plant, using the plant as a post.

http://www.desertusa.com/nov96/du_ocotillo.html

I doubt if it is better than holly for planting outside your windows, though. Ocotillo grows fairly tall, and I'd hate to try and trim it.
 
Pyracantha bushes get my vote. I once stepped on a limb on the ground, and a thorn went through my shoe, and into my foot!:what:

They are difficult to cut down, and it would take many shotgun blasts to harm the plant.

A few rounds from a 1911 fired into the pyracantha might keep this thread on topic.

Weimadog
 
Pyracantha is good....

Plain old Hawthorn (Crataegus) makes a thorny barrier when pruned.

Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) grows into a big tree, but pruned down and out would be good.

Have you got enough room for Raspberry/Blackberry canes?

Let those roses tangle together...it'll offend the purists in the neighborhood, but what a pain to crawl through.:D
 
Some of the legacy climbing varietys have wicked thorns . . .

Check the Jackson/Perkins web site . . . .

St Louis . . . . . not sure what the climate is there but you probably get a winter. Roses don't like winter, like plenty of sun and can be a bit picky (fungus, mites, aphids etc.) especially in colder climates.

Full time job keeping my roses going!
 
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