I don't grow Firefighter but have heard good things about it. I did have Mr Lincoln and loved it. My first plant was a standard (it was already in the garden when we bought this house) and it bloomed amazingly well, all you had to do was walk past the rose to smell it - it was that fragrant. Unfortunately my standard died a few years back and I replaced it with another Mr Lincoln - this time a regular plant from Home Depot, that plant was never really healthy and did not take off so after 3 years I took it out - though I probably will replace it from a better source if I ever find more room in our yard! One thing though, we get rust around here and mine always got rust pretty bad.

here's a picture from last spring
{{gwi:217092}}

Aprille

Um, Veterans' Honor (not one of your choices, but I think it is a better bloomer). But, it looks like you want highly fragrant. Harry has Firefighter, I hope he weighs in. If Pickering or Palatine has Mr. Lincoln on multiflora rootstock, would be worth a try. Neither of mine (on Dr. Huey) were vigorous. Both will need regular treatment for blackspot.

Veterans' Honor is nice too!! I like them all not sure which one I want now!!!

We have 4 Veterans Honors (one is own-root), and love them. To me, they are VERY fragrant, but, it's funny...I can't smell Tiffany at all! (Everyone says Tiffany is fragrant).
We have a Mr. Lincoln coming this spring from Pickering. Looking forward to growing him. :0) Phyl

Jess:

I was going to suggest Veteran's Honor but I see that will not be necessary! I would also like to try Mr. Lincoln but I've heard that VH is much more reliable. I have one coming from Jackson and Perkins this spring. I suspect eventually I will try them both.

Hope this helps.

Kate

Although Firefighter has a fragrance to die for and repeats well for me I think both Mr Lincoln and Veteran's Honor have better shaped blooms. I don't grow the latter two but have seen them repeatedly at rose shows.

I have Firefighter and Mr. Lincoln next to each other. I like them both.

Color is similar although ML is a bit darker. FF does not blue as much. Both have great fragrance with a slight edge to ML. ML produces bigger blooms and has better form. FF produces many more blooms and was producing heavily by the second year. ML took a few years to get established.

Both seem hardy here without winter protection. Both are tall but ML is a true giant. I think he would reach 10 feet if I didn't prune him 3 times per season. ML has big, flesh gouging thorns!

i have Mr Linc, Veteran's Honor, and Chrysler Imp. all planted in the same bed.

For just the bloom VH always gets the most compliments from visitors at my house. IMHO the VH is more "blood" red than ML. also the VH blooms last up to 2 weeks if there is no wind or rain. Mr L seems to fade faster.

however Mr L sure does have that unbeatable fragrance.
i have had great success propagating MR L from rooted cuttings. i probably have about 20 growing now.

you should probably just get both. both are must haves IMHO.

Ok any photo's of firefighter and VH?? Do they hold up well in heat?? i have a white vynal fence that they would be in front of in full sun. I might get one of each but not sure how they would look together.

I have a Chrysler Imperial on order. I was advised by Regan that it could tolerate some shade. How does it compare to the others mentioned.

I like Liebeszauber aka Love's Magic better than any of the ones mentioned so far. I also have Vet's Honor and Mr. Lincoln. They're both decent roses.

Here is a link that might be useful: Lieb at HelpMeFind

I have looked everywhere for a Firefighter to buy after seeing it at our local rose garden. CAn anyone tell me a source? The flower shapes were not that great but even my young son was taken with the sheer exhuberence and fragrance of this rose! I think it used to be an Edmunds rose but who sells it now?

Edmunds spring 2008 catalog lists it on page 5. They are now owned buy Jungs but I've received good roses from Jungs. Aka Hacienda, you might find it listed elsewhere under that name as the name "Firefighter" is an Edmund's exclusive.

Here is a link that might be useful: Firefighter at Edmund's

Alecs Red or Chrysler Imperial. Hehehe

Rosenut, thanks for the link. I Ordered a pair of them today after wanting them for 3 years. I hope Jungs can get them here in good health!

I had Mr. Lincoln in zone 4/5 for almost 10 years before Old Man Winter did it in. :-( I replaced it with another when I was gardening up in Wisconsin! I don't have it here because I choose not to grow roses that do not need spraying regularly for blackspot and powdery mildew. Now I grow mostly old teas and chinas.

you can get firefighter from witherspoon roses