A more basic question might be, do you know for sure when you buy it that the rose matches the label?
Because from everything I've heard, THAT is the gamble.

Jeri

Hmm... their potted roses do seem to be accurate. I've seen their RdR/Honorine/Reine pots and they look correctly labeled. I would never buy HD bodybags because of everything I've heard. But I guess my other concern is, if I dither and don't buy a band from a mail-order seller, they might get sold out and then HD may not sell Louise anyway :-(

I orded from chamblees years ago.. before I learned that own roots cant hack it in the northeast.. season and conditions are not good for most roses.. well some rogusas and albas and the such do just fine on own root.. alot of other stuff doesnt, anything even half hardy needs to be on rootstock here.

But you are in a different part of the country.. You can get it from chamblees, have you checked pickering? I havent checked either. Wish mine survived.. but alas... Im pretty much given over to growing OGRs and a handful of canadians. Seems better to have them all grow well , bloom once before the jbs and forget about the rest of the hassle!

{{gwi:252748}}

For me (perhaps due to misfortune of location in planting) Louise Odier has not done well.
A couple other bourbons are, however, doing well here (perhaps you'll want to consider?) - Madame Isaac Pereire & Deuil de Dr. Reynaud (not sure there is much difference in the two) both are large & relatively healthy for me, without spraying.

I adore Louise but cannot grow her here. I've found Bourbons in general don't like humidity. I grew her--own root--easily in Santa Fe, Z5. If you go for a band, get it in early and mulch it well for winter.

Also try Hartwood and Rogue Valley. I wouldn't buy OGRs from HD/Lowes, etc. Not only is the identity ofttimes mistaken, but they don't need the business. Please try to support those nurseries who work hard to identify, protect and keep the OGRs in circulation.

Silverkelt: Neither has it :-( I have already checked.

geo: I actually already have Mme Isaac Pereire and I am thinking of growing Louise next to her. I have seen pictures of Louise that are simply mouth-watering!

catsrose: Only 2 nurseries have Louise in stock, and that too in bands. I have tried everyone, including Hartwood and Rogue, everyone is sold out. I hate band roses, they seem to struggle here. I am a big Chamblees fan and their gallon roses do very well for me but alas nobody has Louise in stock this year :(

I think I am going to be forced to buy a band and just cross my fingers :(

buy the band and give it love and attention - it should be OK after a summer in a pot and plant it in the autumn.

Lovemysheltie,
The third time was the charm for me with this rose. I killed it twice, bad rookie planting errors, then bought a band from High Country Roses in Utah last spring. I checked this morning and they won't have it available until June. Hopefully you can find it somewhere closer to you, so a long shipping journey won't be an issue. If you can't find a gallon soon and get it in the ground in the next month or so I would order a band and pot it up for the summer. If you give it loving care you should be able to plant it in the ground this fall. My climate is very dry so I can't comment on how she will do for you in Chicago, but I love this rose.
Barb

I would buy the grafted one and bury the graft. LO should easily own-root itself. Also easy from cuttings.

Roses of yesterday and today might have this in bare root.
I ordered many roses from them and they all do well for me.
Also try high country roses another good vendor.

StanC

Try Hortico. I believe they bud onto multiflora. All their roses that I have purchased have grown huge in just a year. Careful, though, because they sometimes mislabel their roses.

Jeff

Ok I bit the bullet and bought a band from Mark of Excellence Roses. Will pot it up for summer as suggested and plant in fall. Thanks so much for your feedback :)

I wouldnt plant it in the fall..

I would plant it directly now.

If your roses are not in the bed mid summer, they will not survive. Their root system will not have been reached enough growth. Im not sure where the magic cut off is in the country, But I don't think Chicago is it.

You can do this with cane hardy variety's here.. IE planting suckers of albas, gallicas and rogosas and will work most of the time, but not a bourbon.

Either plant it as soon as you get or pot it up and figure how to keep it covered for the winter.

Silverkelt

Jeff, did you really say, sometimes, Hortico mislabels? Sometimes? Try most of the time...

I judge nurseries, to a great degree, by how they deal with their errors (EVERYONE makes mistakes, but how do they deal with them?)

Two nurseries we've dealt with over the years failed this test.
Hortico was one of the two.

Jeri

Silverkelt: I was a bit nervous about planting in Fall, as Fall in Chicago is very windy and rather cold. I only buy gallons and I only plant in Spring so planting a band in Fall was making me anxious. I will do as you say and plant in the bed upon receiving.

One good thing is that the spot I have chosen for Louise is at a south-facing wall which gets good wind protection as well so it may be a slightly warmer microclimate. (this is why I wanted to put my Bourbons Louise and Mme Isaac Periere there)