Your conditions sound like what Viru is breeding for.

Jeri

I grow Faith Whittlesey and am pleased with it. It blooms frequently for being a young plant. It will be two years in the ground this year. Krishna's Peach is supposed to be a lovely rose too.

Carla

TIPU'S FLAME is a nice one. But it tends to grow like a climber. Gets very tall (over 5ft) and sprawly. I wish I had known that before I planted it in the front of the bed it's in! Blooms fairly well, and decent repeat.

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I have 2 Coffee Country - like them very much, that tan/mauve color is lovely. Dont recall ever seeing blackspot on them. Have Krishna's Peach coming in April.
Judith

I'm in coastal NC and, 3 or 4 years ago, purchased several VV roses for the same reasons you mention. Your experience with his roses may vary depending on which varieties you select -- the modern ones, or his 'new' OGRs. I have grown 4 of his HTs and 3 of his Teas.

I would encourage you to try one or two to see how they perform in your conditions. For me, their BS resistance has been a bit better than average. If you're interested in HTs, I'd recommend the ones with H. gigantea breeding -- 'Naga Belle' and 'Ahimsa'.

One of VV's more popular introductions, 'Southern Sunset', is something of a mystery to me because the flower looks nothing like the breeders' photos of it (one at HMF, one on RU's website). The scentless blooms do NOT have high centers but remain cupshaped, never fully open, & aren't very good as cut flowers. (The 2 most recent photos at HMF are accurate depictions of SS.) In my garden (and in others I've visited) the blossoms develop those small pinkish spots (from moisture?) that resemble the beginning stage botrytis blight. I've moved this one to a distant corner where it provides a lovely splash of vibrant color among plantings of deep blue salvia.

The only other VV HT I tried was 'Incense Indigo'. Total dud. Altho it remains on RU's alphabetical list, I note that they no longer offer it for sale -- & with good reason. Perhaps II is one of those roses that needs to be grafted to perform . . .

Since this is not the Antique Rose Forum, I'm assuming that you may not be interested in my experience with VV Teas -- which, so far, I'm more enthusiastic about.

I second Beth's comments about Tipu's Flame although I would add that it takes to pruning well. I also have Faith Whittlesey, but so far it has produced no bloom. Of course, my climate tends to be hot and dry rather than temperate.

JimD

Thanks for all the responses. I now have some food for thought. :) I do not grow many hybrid teas. I like the health and old-fashioned look of antique roses. Really hate blackspot and don't have time to spray even if I wanted to. I have about 30 varieties, but some are babes yet so don't know how they will do. I am interested in "Coffee Country"--love that color. Thanks again. :)

Windeaux, I'm giving my Incense Indigo away if anyone wants it. HT's have to be really special for me to put up with their maintenance, I did order a couple old ones for spring.

Carla

Judith,

How is the BS resistance on Coffee Country? Do you spray?

Thanks.

Robert

rjlinva - here in NYC it's not great. But the rose is only going into its third year, so we'll have to see.

My Incense Indigo is doing fine in California in its second year. I wouldn't say that it is vigorous, but the blooms are very fragrant and beautiful.

My Faith Whittlesey is in its second year and doing so well that I've ordered another Viru tea, Krishna's Peach. I also like my Silver Dawn.

Colleen

My experience with Incense Indigo is that the heavy fragrance quickly burns off as temperatures warm. In late spring its blooms are fragrant until early afternoon; by midsummer in my climate they have no fragrance whatsoever. I find the flowers to be small and nondescript. And they're NOT mauve. Magenta maybe, but not mauve.

Robert, here in hot humid Tidewater area, Coffee Country has been susceptible to blackspot. I'll give it three years to establish-- Pat said it builds to a big full bush but mine has been slow to establish. The color is unique, and yet blends well with other colors. I like it and am hoping it will outgrow the BS tendency. I don't have a "better spot" to move it to so it needs to thrive where it is.