I've always found the the Flower Carpet offerings, admittedly at the local Lowes, to be the most stricken with Black Spot of the roses I see for sale.

I was going to purchase a few for my mother a few years ago, but the apparent disease dissuaded me.

Do you grow those yourself Henry? What is your experience with them?

I don't know about zone 5, but here in the south, they are as simple as the article states. Mine are a real joy to me, with no special care given. These are the original appleblossom:

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what a pretty picture---they sound like my kind of rose

I would love to see more pictures

Florence

I bought two flower carpet pink rose bushes last year. Unfortunately, they haven't flowered much for me at all. It could be the location, it is on the edge of a bed, probably doesn't have enough space. Its grown quite bushy, but I must have got a total of 10 flowers from both in the whole season :((
Sanju

I've talked to a few people who grow them around here and have seen them. All gave them a thumbs up for this area.

hoovb, yes, I grow them and I grow their seedlings.

See:

http://www.helpmefind.com/gardening/l.php?l=2.63271.0&tab=1

AND 3 more:

http://home.roadrunner.com/~kuska/flower234carpet.htm

AND:

http://picasaweb.google.com/HAKuska/HenrySRoses#5073716448161664146

AND:

http://picasaweb.google.com/HAKuska/HenrySRoses#5075543454234939026

AND:

http://picasaweb.google.com/HAKuska/HenrySRoses#5075543462824873634

AND:

http://picasaweb.google.com/HAKuska/HenrySRoses#5075967775528947410

AND:

http://picasaweb.google.com/HAKuska/HenrySRoses#5075967818478620434

AND:

http://picasaweb.google.com/HAKuska/HenrySRoses#5077499128938467330

AND:

http://picasaweb.google.com/HAKuska/HenrySRoses#5077499141823369234

AND:

http://picasaweb.google.com/HAKuska/HenrySRoses#5077869788911079650

Here is a link that might be useful: Pink Alzbeta Kuska

Black spot magnets here. I gave away a dozen, mixed varieties.

All three that I planted have black spot...the conditions weren't even favorable this year!

I almost bought more of these lame roses earlier this year. A newer introduction like this shouldn't be this suseptible.

Black spots here too. I tried pink one, but it was 10 years ago. somebody gave it to me as a gift.
Olga

These grow at my favorite nursery in the town of Paradise, CA and they are huge and amazing. I have never seen BS on them but when I walk by them near the nursery entrance all you can see is an explosion of flowers:)

Kate

Thanks Henry. I think Flower Carpet Roses are under appreciated. The name is a bit deceiving because they are not exactly a carpet or ground cover.

I planted two about 5 years ago. They get no fertilizer or spray. They do get a little black spot, the least of any rose I grow, including KO. The plant is bushy and stays wider than tall, maxing out at 5' high. The foliage is very shiny and healthy looking. The blooms repeat quickly and continuously.

Flower Carpet Red:

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Flower Carpet Coral:

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I've been growing Flower Carpet roses in Vermont for about over 10 years and with the exception of White and Red, they all do well for me. I love the new Scarlet ones and they bloom really well, even with only partial day sun. My sister lives in southern CA and grows red there and it does much better - guess it likes the hotter weather.

I'd love to give one a try, but all I ever see around here are the hot pink ones that are the same color as the "red" KOs. Maybe we'll see more colors soon.

harryshoe - thanks for the pics. I've seen flower carpet red but didn't now what is was. I really like it although yours is the largest I've seen. Going on my wish list.

Here's some pictures I took of mine just this morning. These were very small last year when I planted them. So far they're disease resistent. I just water and do a bit of feeding.

I have them as borders in two beds:

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Forget Flower Carpet Roses. The are so 1990. :)
Don't get me wrong, they are decent roses, but really are yet another well-marketed and over-hyped series of roses.

The Vigorosa series of roses from Kordes are significantly better in terms of disease resistance, flower production, repeat and hardiness. Try them.