If you had a few of them it would work OK.
It works pretty good where I am so I imagine it would grow even bigger where you are. It does have a v shape (like a FB or HT but it gets big. It gets a lot of blooms but not as much as a shrub or bush rose or a knockout.

{{gwi:221632}}

Hi!
I have three of them planted in a row near my entry -- sort of a mini-hedge. They have gotten nice and bushy in the three years I've grown them, and are in near continous bloom. Like the previous poster noted, wider at the top than the bottom. Not too many blooms at one time, but always something between them.
I would think they would do even better in your zone.
Be sure to start with top-quality plants for better success!
Linda

The first time I saw Hot Cocoa in real life, it was in a mass planting in Orangeburg SC in the heat of late summer. It was THE outstanding rose in the garden. Heavily leafed out with about 5percent of the surface area blooms. And enough buds to convince me that the blooms would keep coming.
I would like to see Hot Cocoa interplanted with Verbena bonariensis for the tall yet very small petite purple blue accents that MIGHT look very good with the deep orange reds.

i love that picture. i got my hot cocoa a couple of months ago... its still in its pot waiting for spring. i hear such great things about it... i may have to get more!

Go for it!
Kathy
{{gwi:221633}}

I have an own root in a pot, going to be planted this spring in a bed of mauves, Distant Drums, Distant Thunder, some tans [Spiced Coffee, Cafe]. It looks like it will be quite bushy on own root - got it from Chamblees. From what mine looks like now, in winter in its pot, it is very shrub-looking and I would imagine a row of these planted close together would work well.
Judith

alameda and I have the same idea about planting cominbations....

Anyway, at least in my zone it would do very well as a hedge, particularly if you deadhead. It will respond to shaping well also.

We have it growing as part of a series of 8 varieties in a no-spray garden. It and the Knock Outs are by far the best plants in the bed. Nothing gets deadheaded. We prune the bed in early April, they are blooming by the end of May. Excellent foliage, very good rebloom, very bushy plants. They were probably 5.5' tall by the end of last season. Nice hedge indeed.

Hi Judith!
My Hot Cocoa is planted next to Distant Drums, and yes, they are nice together. It was a suggestion from someone on the Roses forum years ago.
What really surprised me was planting About Face next to Distant Drums. That was a nice combo as well. ( I bought a bag rose I thought was Just Joey, misidentified.) About Face gets so tall though, it might not work out in the long term.
Time will tell!

I think Hot Cocoa's seed parent, 'Livin' Easy', would be better--better disease resistance and heavier bloom. But Hot Cocoa is a lovely rose with unique color.

What a lot of interesting responses. Everytime I see pictures from California, I want to live there just to grow roses. Thanks a bunch, L

A question please about Hot Cocoa. I'm thinking of maybe ordering one or three from Palatine (along with Lucille Ball). I would not be planting those two together:) Maybe 3 HC's together.

Anyway my husband is really hooked on reds. But expressed interest in Hot Cocoa when I showed him some pictures. His only issue was that this rose looks pretty red in some pics but pinkish in others. His statement was we don't need another pink rose which really is true.

So is Hot Cocoa pink? It looks to me like shades of red and pink that I assume and climate and growing condition driven. These would be in all day full sun.

Thank you.

Kate