Yeshwant91, you might want to pay closest attention to testimonials from other rose growers near you/in your region. But here's my 2 cents' worth, anyway. If you are seeking a tall fragrant red, as you say, Mr. Lincoln fits the bill--much taller than Papa Meilland by most accounts. I have not grown PM yet, mine (virus indexed) is due to arrive from Roses Unlimited next week, as is Chrysler Imperial. I HAVE grown Mr. Lincoln, both in cool western Washington State, and in hot and humid Mobile Alabama. Both places this rose grew very tall. In Mobile it was easily 8 feet tall, too tall for my preference. In Washington it had a rich deep red color, did not "blue" nor "blow" so quickly as in Mobile, and the blooms were terrific. It also was respectably productive. It would be my pick for fragrant red in a cool summer climate (along with the much smaller Deep Secret!), but I found Mr. L's quality a little disappointing in the Gulf South. Others on the Gulf Coast I know disagree with me, though. I'm excited about Papa Meilland, largely because of ceterum's long-standing rave reviews of him. But many reviews say his form and fragrance are unsurpassed. (yea!) Chrysler Imperial is a much lighter red. I had a cheap (almost certainly) virused plant of it from Walmart a couple years back. Hey, for $4 I thought I'd try it as a disposable. The plant was runty but the blooms, when they came, were wonderful. I'm quite excited to get a healthy specimen (knock on wood) from Roses Unlimited. Healthy CIs are known to be one of the more prolific bloomers, as well as having the same long cutting stems as Papa M. and Mr. Lincoln, and similar Damask fragrance too. If you haven't already done so, check out the photos and descriptions and comments on both roses at helpmefind.com/roses. Raptorfan, I have grown Ingrid Bergman, but only for a year and a half. As rich a blood red color as they come, but the bloom form is variable, and I detect not even a slight fragrance. Perhaps bloom form is better with a mature bush? IB gets quite variable reviews on fragrance. Veteran's Honor is definitely more fragrant, and consistently excellent form, though the color is not quite so rich. Both are impressively prolific bloomers.

If you are within driving distance, the best source for all your roses except for Papa Meilland and Firefighter [Edmunds] is Robertsons Nursery - see their website by the same name - at 2905 Pasadena Blvd. - Pasadena, TX 713/473-1333. These are the best potted roses you will find anywhere. I have been buying from them for years - quality is superb! I checked - they have all the ones you want except for Pappa and Firefighter. The ones I got from Pete in February all have huge buds, a couple have bloomed, and are ready to take off and grow. They are huge, potted in primo soil, healthy and all in bud. I am going back to see the nursery in full bloom in mid/end of March. You wont find better roses and it is worth the trip! Teas Nursery also has good roses........ Judith

Not at all, Tammy. Weather and/or growing conditions can often produce changes in some blooms. A lot of roses will get much paler in high heat or much deeper in cool weather. I don't know how these 5 plants are located but perhaps the wind hits them differently or something. Or there is something different in the soil where they are located. It could also be what is called a "sport" which is a slight genetic mutation in the rose. That mutation can happen at any point in the plant while it is growing out. So it could affect just one bloom or an entire branch and can be a genetic expression from any rose in the family tree of the rose. So if a pink or mauve rose is in the genetic background those colors could show up. Interesting that you have more than one bush doing this though. There are some roses that tend to throw sports often so it could be that. I'm not that familiar with Papa Meilland so I don't know if it has the tendency or not. Most sports are not stable. That means they don't repeat the new trait in the next bloom. Some, however, are and the branch will continue to produce the new blooms as it grows. If you want to see which you have mark the canes so you can watch the next bloom and see what color those are. If they remain the new color you can propagate them by taking cuttings and rooting them. Then you'll have your very own new variety of rose!

Brighid, I know this post is ancient by now and that you've probably ordered already and moved on, but I loves red roses, too, and so have to chime in. (WARNING: I'm on holiday break, so I expect to ramble here) Regarding Papa Meilland, it is certainly variable in its performance, depending on where you are growing it. But the fragrance is on par with the very best rose fragrances you'll encounter. And at its best, the blooms are also terrific. For me on the Gulf Coast, it has been disappointing in the garden, primarily because its blooms don't last at all on the bush and have inconsisten form, and because it is a quite gangly grower, which in the compact garden dimensions I work with is not ideal. But if you've got a space where the bush is not prominently displayed, perhaps behind other roses, its definitely worth trying as a source for cut flowers. As unappealing as mine has been in the garden--we're hot and humid here--the cut flowers last quite respectably long in a vase in my air conditioned office. And the color is wonderful, starting out a deep red and aging to a deeper purple-red, but an intriguing almost blackberry color, not the ugly bluing-magenta mess that some crimson roses suffer from. Despite its reputation for disease, Mine from Heirloom has had no particular problems. Powdery Mildew is hardly a problem here, but blackspot is, if anything, even worse here than in the Pacific Northwest --yes, I know, hard to believe. I spray preventively all my roses, and Papa M. has stayed clean for me. I've never grown Janice K., so can't comment. But Ingrid was just so-so for me. Again, climate probably matters a lot. Mine had intensely red blooms, very lovely, but never had the impeccable exhibition form that others rave about. And no scent at all, but maybe that's my nose's deficiency. My wife tells me that even roses like Olympiad and Vino Rosso are very fragrant to her. Go figure! Anyway, you're growing conditions are quite different, so I'm glad you've ordered it. I really like S&W as a nursery source, btw. I did not notice you mention what other reds you have. I just feel compelled to make a few plugs. I grew up growing roses as a kid in the Puget Sound, WA area --Olympia specifically. This was in the late 70s to mid-80s. Mr. Lincoln was hands-down my best red then. You Must get it if you haven't and if you don't mind a tall 7ft+ bush. Intensely fragrant, big fat, rich red blooms. Wonderful! Another one to grow for sure in your climate is Deep Secret. Its fragrance is on par with Papa M. and Mr. L., a much shorter bush, only about 3ft tall, but very bushy and nicely shaped. Blooms only measure up to 4 inches, but are nevertheless very pretty; one of the deeper reds, nearly black outer petals with intensely red centers. It starts with decent exhibition form then opens out into an old-fashioned quartered look. Anyway, mine suffers through our summers here but in early spring and mid- and late-fall it is spectacular. I know it will like your climate. Heirloom sells it. got mine from Just Joey's, which I think no longer operates? Veteran's Honor is superb, I believe wherever it is grown. Consistently superior form, big blooms on thick stems. A very robust, spreading grower, and even has a very pleasant raspberry fragrance. True red, if not the most intense color. Opening Night thrives in modest tempts, too, and its color rivals Ingrid in intensity. Its the offspring of Ingrid B and Olympiad. Unfortunately its got virtually no fragrance, like Olympiad. But its beautiful and healthy. I haven't (yet) grown Pride of England, which you can find from Heirloom Roses, their "English Legend" section, a beautiful rose that reportedly loves that climate. My most beautiful red has to be Vino Rosso, aka Vino Rossi, which I've only had a year so expect to get even better. It's from Steve at Wisconsin Roses (an online source). He has great prices. You just have to email him to get on the list for this one. Rich, rich, wine red blend of shades, with stunning form, and blooms that last easily 2 weeks. It looks like a beautiful sculpture and holds its pinpoint exhibition form, seemingly forever. I forgive it is lack of scent (this is one my wife considers fragrant), : ) It has been a great bloomer. Steve says it takes its time getting established, then is a powerhouse prolific bloomer. Mine's done great even its first year. Now toward the end of that year I'm starting to see the blooms get bigger on thicker, longer, straight stems, wonderful for cutting. This is a winner. Red Intuition --also from Wisconsin Roses, has just ok form, but terrific prolific bloom performance, healthy, trouble-free. This is really a red-blend, a red-on-red striped rose; it is absolutely unique in coloring, but the overall effect is medium red. Blooms last a long time for me. No scent at all. Alec's Red --a Scottish rose, I think. Should love your climate. Really only starts out true red, then finishes deep deep pink. But the blooms are big, very full, and intensely, sweetly fragrant. Only average disease resistance; needs protection from blackspot. Others I've grown: Dame de coeur --just ok, but healthy and easy. I could not detect any scent, though others do Erotika --deep, rich red, quite variable form, which was frustrating to me, but terrific intense raspberry fragrance Black Magic --gorgeous, scentless, very tall but bushy, not gangly. Needs protection from blackspot for sure. Proud Land --a bland, shapeless mess for me, but that might have been just an aversion to the Gulf Coast. Chrysler Imperial --still have it, a consisten performer for me, very fragrant, parent of Papa M. and Mr. L. Average height, a lighter red than either of those. Its reputation is that it prefers warmer climates, so I don't necessarily recommend it to you. Certainly get Mr. Lincoln before Chrysler. Olympiad --a fine red rose, healthy, good production of blooms, true red that doesn't fade. But scentless, and not the richest of reds. I am not excited by this rose, but it is good and trouble-free. Someone mentioned Europeana above. That floribunda has classic ruffly floribunda form, not the newer pseudo-hybrid tea form of some. Terriful bright red color and very prolific, but mine was one of the worst blackspot magnets I've every grown! Watch out for that. Beloved, aka Cesar Chavez, deep deep, intense red, sparkles in the garden here. Slight fragrance, tall and bushy. I don't know how it will do in the Pacific Northwest. I'm sure I'll think of others after I hit "send" but that's enough rambling for now, especially since you probably finished ordering months ago. ; ) Mike