Hardiness depends upon the inherent genetic cold resistance of the particular rose, combined with the condition of the individual plant. If it's a budded plant, you also have to take into consideration the hardiness of the root stock. Yes, you can mitigate that a bit by how deeply you plant the rose, but if your freezes extend deeply enough into the soil it kills the root stock, it doesn't matter how hardy the scion (variety budded to the stock) is. If the only roots the plant has are killed, the plant dies. Very often, a two year, budded plant is going to be more "mature" than a band. The roots of the budded plant are two years old. The budded plant on them is at least one year old. A band is frequently much younger and smaller. Not always, because it depends upon how recently the particular band was propagated. Sometimes, you may find individual bands which have spent a season or longer at the sending nursery. If the variety isn't as popular as some, or the nursery had many of them and didn't sell them as quickly, the plant you receive may be pretty mature and developed. If it sells quickly and there is a rapid rate of turn over, it may be young, immature and small. That's the luck of the draw. If you buy a Grade 1 budded bare root, it is likely to be larger, more developed and mature than most bands. That doesn't necessarily mean it will be hardier than the band, just older and more mature. Then, you have to take how the bare root was stored into consideration. If it was held in proper storage and hasn't dried out before you receive it, you should have pretty good chances of success as long as you plant and care for it properly. Just as you have to take into consideration how the band was cared for, shipped and handled prior to receipt. All things considered, I would expect a budded bare root to be easier to bring into growth and held safely over winter. Your mileage will vary. Kim

Thank you, Lance and Andrea, for your input and advice. I put a call into DA (after hours there), so I will call again tomorrow. I agree that these did not arrive looking like grade 1 (grade A?) roses. Andrea, your comments about too wet were something I checked for after I read your post because we have had a great deal of rain here, and I have clay soil. (I did create this bed last year "lasagna style," so it is draining well, but when I dug the holes, I did get down into the clay.) However, there is no sulphur smell, and it is suggested for my zone to bury the bud union 3-4" for winter protection. (We usually have two or three weeks with -10, -20 F, and I credit burying the bud union for the survival of my Heritage and Tradescant, as well as Honor and Melody Perfume for 6+ years.) I will keep calling DA. I really would like these roses, and they were listed as "very hardy," so I thought they would have a good chance in my zone. I have enjoyed my two Austins so much, and I was looking forward to the color of Emma and Charles Mackintosh's ability to complement other colors in the garden, especially because I designed this bed, in part, with these roses in mind. I guess I will have to wait another year (at least) for these roses. Onward! Thank you for your help! cheers, Nora

Nancy, William Morris is Apricot/Pink, it depends on the weather here, when it's hot, he's more apricot, when it's cooler he's more pink. Grows about 4 feet tall (sometimes taller) with arching canes, not very busy - mine is 3 year old Own root and very healthy. I don't spray. Very fragrant - and it's got vicious thorns! The Generous Gardner is a pale pink, almost white. Healthy plant, another 3 year old own-root, but not as vigorous as William Morris - the blooms blow really fast. Lady Emma Hamilton is new to me and I have her in a pot - I love her colour and the fragrance is amazing. She seems to hold up pretty well, but if it gets really hot all of these austins don't do so well. William Morris The Generous Gardner - I'd be really lucky if the blooms lasted 2 days! they blow very very fast. Aprille

I actually have all four of these varieties. This is the first year for Boscobel; it is trying to establish itself although it has bloomed a few times. I'm not sure what the verdict will be on it yet. Lady Emma Hamilton is a nice variety. It blooms regularly although not in large numbers of flowers. It has more of a semi-constant trickle of beautifully colored, blended orange flowers with a very nice smell. It sprawls sideways rather than get tall. Lady of Shalott is a heavy flowering variety when it gets established. It also gets quite large, tall and wide. It has the most flowers of any in the Austin orange group. Summer Song does not care for the heat. Mine have done a bit better this year than usual, but that is not saying much. Our weather last May included a freeze that clobbered everything. Summer Song's flowers were not all that nice this year although rebloom happened, and the flowers were quite small compared to what they are normally like in spring. The bush gets lanky with some long canes. The flowers are a pretty color and have a nice fragrance, but I would not recommend this one for my climate. If you are leaning a bit towards apricots and want an Austin variety, I would suggest also looking at Carding Mill. That one is a nice one. I hope this helps.