The idea of Tea roses being strong and resilent has always intrigued me. This one 'Francis Dubreuil' has shown those amazing Tea strengths and I have to thank Paul Zimmerman at Ashdown for sending them in place of some older climbing roses. I protect my roses in a fashion that keeps them like zone 5b or 6a not at all like the zone 4a I live in. In warmer winters, the protection can be similar to zone 7. I would not hesitate in those actual zones to increase my share of Teas with the choice of plants available so early in the season from the growers (my fear in Minnesota is that by the time the Teas can be shipped here in spring, they have pretty much been picked over). As you can see, the new growth on the Tea comes directly behind the last bloom and require little or no pruning. Also the rate at which they regenerate their bloom is so very impressive.

Most of the 36 roses in my DA garden are on their own roots ... now that I think of it, I'm pretty sure they all are. Anyway, as of yesterday, there are some pretty stellar performers that aren't talked about much. The star of the show is 'Sir Clough'. It reminds me of 'Carefree Beauty' somewhat, but the foliage is better, the habit is better, and the flowers are a warmer, more pleasing shade of hot pink. Visitors rarely fail to mention that "wonderful dark pink rose in your Austin Garden." 'Comte de Champagne' is beside 'Sir Clough'. It's a soft yellow (similar to Buff Beauty's color), low petal count, cupped flowers, very disease resistant. 'Bow Bells' was planted directly into the garden as a band in October 2011. It is now 5' tall, dense, and super vigorous and healthy. 'Marinette' was planted in 2012, also as a band without nursing it in a pot. Rooted it myself from a cutting. It is doing beautifully. Those are the ones that I can remember off the top of my head. Sometimes, the only way to know that a rose will work for you in your garden under your growing conditions is to just buy it and see what happens. This is how some of my most favorite lucky accidents have happened. Congratulations on your new home!

Bob, my comment about Noisette being a proper name was partially prompted by some old references where the writer actually tried to say the class was so called because of its hazelnut-shaped buds. I'm not saying you would ever make that mistake, but since I can pull up GW threads using Google, I guess people who don't know what a Noisette is could also. Nik, that's interesting that the family name could mean 'noisy'. The only member of the family I've met had a fairly loud voice. An extremely nice person with a nice voice, but it did carry... And a good gardener, of course... Virginia

Lol! I have pink drift, that came from a grower, but pulled out the coral drift because it was competing with roses I liked better. I am practical about my garden. If it works, I keep it, I really don't care about its "common-ness." I have a Prosperity "tree" that I have espaliered to the north side my wall, and I wanted a tiered effect, so I have Pink Drift, Golden Buddha, International Herald tribune, and Natchitoches Noisette under the tree for filler. It works. I suspect you are in good company Sheri. In the heat of summer Drift keeps going. It is like an Ever-ready bunny! My pink drift is quite short and is three years old about 18" x 24" But I know what you mean about its lack of perceived value. I feel that way about a lot of my roses. Many of my roses are earthkind OGRs, which makes them the common roses of the OGR world. But they are beautiful and reliable. Like Pink drift. Only more special.