Sue, I grow Mary Magdalene and Mystic Beauty. The latter grows much the same as SDLM as it's supposed to be a sport of a sport of SDLM and appears almost identical in bloom form.

Mary Magdalene is one of my favorite Austins and one of his smaller growers. Upright shrub to about 3'.

I couldn't find a bush picture but have several of the blooms.

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Ann Boleyn is cute and a very healthy very good repeat bloomer. But her blooms shatter faster than you can look, a lot faster even than Heritage's, which happens to be Rose-Marie's sport parent. In the heat of the summer, Boleyn's blooms barely last a day (e.g. in NC where I grew her). I think that there are a lot better and more impressive Austins, and this actually includes Heritage whose bloom color, btw, is infinitely better than Rose-Marie's wishy-washy color. If you're into light pinks, take a look at Sharifa Asma. This is a great classic with glorious fragrance. Her blooms stand up well in the heat and the plant is quite healthy, well behaved, and a very good bloomer. If you like something cream-buff, check out Crocus Rose, super bloomer, quite healthy, blooms last well, nice rounded shrub, looks great as a specimen.

Just my two pence.

Andrea

I grow Mystic Beauty and SDLM. Both are clean plants here in my small garden in NC. SDLM is 7yrs in the ground and MB is 3yrs. MB is more robust and is almost the same size of SDLM. Well worth having.

Jim

Kaye, Thank you so much for the pictures. I think this is exactly what I am looking for. I like the form and the growth habit you mentioned. I will definitely keep Mary Mag. on my get list.

frogview and whoopdedeaux - You have given me some great input on Mystic Beauty. Is yours on its own roots, or is it a grafted plant?

Andreageorgia - Wow, I cannot thank you enough for your comments on Anne Boleyn and Crocus. You must have been reading my mind. I had Crocus on my list and crossed it off to get 2 of Anne Boleyn. I think I will remake this list and get the Crocus Rose. I also think I will stay away from Rose Marie. Just don't think it is what I am looking for.

Thanks to all of you. Y'all are TERRIFIC !! (said with a New Orleans accent)
Sue

Sue....Mystic Beauty is own root.

Jim

Yes, own root for Mystic. I'll bet it will be beautiful for you in New Orleans. I lived there for four years and I absolutely loved it. There was a diner near the street car stop in the Garden District ... I think it was called "Camellia Grill" ... still there?

Yes, the Camelia Grill is still there, but it is under new ownership since Katrina.
Come back and visit New Orleans sometime. I can tell you lots of good places to eat. I am an expert at eating. LOL!!
Sue

Mystic Beauty spilling out of a large container is a beautiful thing.

Ronda

Sue, Ronda's statement (and Ronda grows some gorgeous roses) about Mystic Beauty in a pot reminds me, why don't you grow yours in a pot buried in the ground? I have heard several rosegrowers who live in iffy areas who successfully grow roses in pots. You would need a big plastic pot but it seems that might be a prudent to do.

And oh yeah, I know where the Camellia Grill is located also. I need to get back to NOLA and see how and what it looks like now. I was there in June before Katrina and not since.

Good food and beautiful gardens - do we need anything else in life? I don't think so...

Can someone tell me if the blooms on MB are darker than the ones of SDLM.

Thanks,
Carla

Carla -- If there's a difference in the depth of color of the open blooms, it's hardly perceptible. However, it seems to me that the buds on 'Mystic Beauty' consistently show a deeper shade of pink than those on SdlM. I'll have to be more attentive & will report back if I'm not accurate on this . . .

Carla, I grow them together..SDLM and Mystic Beauty, and can't tell any difference in the shading of the blooms. FWIW, I had several blooms of MB come on pure white this spring, maybe harking back to it's parent KpV.

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