Gallicas are not repeat bloomers. If you like the look of the rook and want repeat bloomers, take a look at some of the David Austin roses. The Prince comes to mind, but there are others. There is a David Austin sight or go to helpmefind.com/roses and do a search for English roses.

Yes, The Rook is a once bloomer. To answer your other question, "shade tolerant" means exactly that: *tolerates* some shade. That means this particular rose will still bloom in a less than ideal sunny location. The word tolerates infers that while it will do OK, it may not be its possible best. Sometimes a very dark rose can do with a spot that gives shade in late afternoon, helping to keep those dark petals from crisping and blackening in the hot afternoon sun - but it would still want 6 hours or more of morning sun. Don't worry about your spot; it should be fine for roses.
(May I ask what you don't like about your Burgundy Iceberg?)

Look at the Portland class of OGRS--they do repeat (some better than others) and may be hardier for you than BI.

Thank you all for the suggestions! The Prince is a great color; I didn't realize Austin had so many that color. Does anyone grow Tradescant? It looks lovely, but seems like it might be a bit of a monster! I only have one other Austin - Graham Thomas - which stays between 4 and 5 feet for me. Can anyone compare the two in growth habits for me?

Regarding my Burgundy Iceberg - I love the color. However, its blossoms fricassee in July here. Even when it's not that hot the blossoms blow quickly. Also, I don't like its growth form. It's bushy at the bottom (with some branches laying along the ground), but insists on putting it's flowers atop tall, mostly leafless candelabras. When dead heading a cluster of blossoms I was taking a foot of cane off at a time in order to cut it back to useful leaves. Maybe I'm not doing something right for it? It's been growing like this for the last couple years. I don't fertilize much, except with compost, though I did have to give it iron last spring.
Anyway, the bottom line is that I would like something prettier bush wise, and longer lasting flower wise.

I will check out the Portlands tonight, too! A lot of my problem with getting into the OGRs is not really knowing which are hardy for me.

Thanks!
Lara

I grow Tradescant in my yard just north of Houston, Texas. Here it will grow quite large - I think it is one of those that have what people call octopus like growth. Mine is an own root plant, and after the first year when it had gained some size, I have cut it back quite hard after each bloom cycle. This controls the growth for me. It grows in only about 4 hours of full sun daily, and the rest dappled shade. Because I live so far south, this much sun is sufficient. In the spring after pruning, it is about 4.5' tall and 5' wide. I would imagine that further north it would not be as vigorous.

I don't currently grow Graham Thomas, but I did grow it when I lived in Dallas, Texas (zone 8). Mine was also an own root plant there and grew in full all day sun. It grew more upright, with lighter canes. It stayed about 5-6 feet tall for me, and probably about 4-5 foot wide. I did cut it back slightly after each bloom cycle. I have heard people say that an own root Graham Thomas will not grow as large as a grafted plant.

I also grew The Prince when I lived in Dallas. It grew in full sun and was own root. It stayed much shorter, being more narrow and upright. It probably was about 3-4 foot tall. If my memory is right, I think that The Prince has more of a purple tone than Tradescant does. Both are very fragrant, but since it has been 9 years since I grew The Prince, I couldn't really say which was the most fragrant.

Thanks, Kat! The Prince is a lovely color on HMF, and it's good to know that it's more purple. Size wise I think it would do nicely. Also, I am starting to get used to the old rose flower form...we'll see if I can get an ok on this one from my husband!

Lara, I grow a few OGR's and they always come through winter with plenty of green cane. Most only need a little trimming of dead tips. These have been very hardy for me:

Gallica: Empress Josephine

Hybrid Perpetual: Mrs. John Laing,
Reines des Violettes

Portland: Jacques Cartier,
Rose de Resch

Alba: Felicite Parmentier,
Chloris

Bourbon: Louise Odier

Hardiness should not be an issue with most OGR's.

Good luck.

Judith