I grow Autumn Damask. It is own-root and has been in the ground for 2 years. So far, it has been quite slow-growing but is hardy. I get very little winter dieback. I must have gotten a total of 5-6 blooms since it was planted so I am guessing it takes a while to get established. It is usually the second bush in my garden to bloom, right after the rugosas. The blooms are pretty, ruffled and fragrant. The plant is healthy. The only drawback to this rose is that it seems slow-growing, that's all. Here's a picture from last Spring. I find its history very fascinating!

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I grow Duchesse de Rohan, and it's a beautiful rose. Fragrance is very strong Damask. It did take it five years to start repeat blooming, so patience is required.

It's about 4 feet tall now, and about 2 feeet wide. I think it might grow wider as it matures.

Lovemysheltie that is beautiful!!! The history is what intrigues me :) How big is it now?

Krista_4 how old is your rose? Is the color about what Vintage Gardens has

Here is a link that might be useful: Vintage Garden link

My Duchesse de Rohan is six years old.

The Vintage pics look like faded blooms to me.

Here are a few pics:

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Even in Southern California, we can grow Autumn Damask -- and I wouldn't be without this rose from before the birth of Christ.
I don't get as much bloom as folks who have a winter, but I wouldn't be without it. It WILL take a while to establish, but once rooted in well, it will be there for your grandchildren to visit. Don't be without it.

Jeri

Thank you so much for your input! Now I want them more then ever :) I am off to find cuttings yay!! Or a nursery that has them available.....

What about Souvenir de la Malmaison is that a good rose?

Souvenir de la Malmaison is a great rose for me, excellent repeat bloom. It's a happy bloomer all summer long, likes to bloom in the warm summer weather.

Krista you live in NY close to me central OH. I just looked at your list of roses and wow you have an amazing collections :)

Thank you, Jessica. I've sought out some very fragrant roses for my collection; they are so much fun to grow!

I am trying to do fragrant roses to. I love them. My neighbor has a Queen Elizabeth and I love to walk over and smell it. :) I love antique roses not to modern ones they just don't have the history or fragrance like old ones. Unaltered (ish) roses

The antiques do have interesting history, and outstanding fragrance. I think you'll really enjoy growing them.

I used to grow Autumn Damask and liked it. It did well for about 8-10 years then declined, possibly due to our lack of winter chill, though there are other possible factors. I tend to think it is the other factors that were at fault, given that Jeri says she can grow it in southern California.

You will not have to worry about lack of winter chill, though. Even your milder winters are much colder than mine. In your climate I would expect the main spring/early summer bloom, to be followed by a repeat in fall. Here it cycled in and out of bloom several time over the summer, but according to what I've read, that is a product of my climate. I never grew it when I lived in your part of the world years ago, so I can't say from personal experience.

Fragrant and pretty as it is, be prepared for a plant that looks a bit shaggy and uncouth, fine for a back yard or a wild border, but not a well-groomed plant for a sophisticated border. It is well worth growing, but best paced where its strengths, not its weaknesses, are revealed.

Are you familiar with the old rose exhibition garden in Ohio? It is called the Garden of Roses of Legend and Romance, and it is affiliated with Ohio State University. It would be a great advantage to you to see these roses growing in conditions similar to your own before making your selections. They hold an Open Garden in June, and I believe they generally sell roses at that event.

Rosefolly

Here is a link that might be useful: Garden of Roses of Legend and Romance

You asked about the damask Leda - one of my very favorite roses! Mine is 4 years old and about 4x3'. It is very fragrant and so beautiful, it makes my heart go pit a pat. :-)
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Rosefolly no I didn't know about that! There is also a rose garden in Columbus called Columbus Park of Roses..

annececilia holly mollie that is a beautiful bloom!!! You are so lucky!

Here is a link that might be useful: Columbus Park of Roses

Ok I was looking on Vintage Gardens and I came across Comtesse de Barbantane and I went to help me find and looked at it but it doesn't say how big it gets..

Does any one have this rose??

Here is a link that might be useful: Comtesse de Barbantane

I was volunteering at Vintage Gardens a few years ago and took notice of a rose they grow called if I remember correctly; California 'Autumn Damask' and it caught my eye because the petals appeared wider, and less messy than the more common clones of Autumn Damask' producing a rather more shapely blossom. It reminded me of a rose I saw in an ancient mural, that I looked at when in college studying Anthropology a million years ago.

A dozen or so common clones of 'Autumn Damask' I've seen have many narrow to medium wide petals that appear almost to be stacked, in a round shape that reminds me of the shape of a clock dial.

Luxrosa

Ok I was looking on Vintage Gardens and I came across Comtesse de Barbantane and I went to help me find and looked at it but it doesn't say how big it gets..

Does any one have this rose??

Annececilia, Thank you for that beautiful picture of Leda. I really enjoyed seeing it.

Isn't it beautiful, all of these are :)