I love the fragrance. Also it repeats well compared to some of the other bigger Austins. It is highly susceptible to blackspot, very thorny as you say, and fairly unruly, throwing some long canes. Could be grown as a climber, but I prune mine.

It has begun behaving better after a few years--as canes and branches proliferate, you get fewer of those 6-8' shoots. Cut long shoots back to 3', or pinch the tips out of basals when they are 1' long, or self-peg (bend shoots around or over the plant, but be careful, I've broken off some trying to do this). Anything to get more branches.

Get rid of it. I personally think it is one of the better English Roses but you should grow what YOU like. Madame de la Shovel is your friend and demands satisfaction. If I may make a suggestion. Try EVELYN as a replacement. She is not as thorny as RT and the apricot-pink coloring will provide a nice progression from Heritage's shell pink to Jude's soft apricot-yellow.

Newbie here,
If you decide to trash it, I'd like some cuttings. Let me know the cost for shipping and processing.

Newbie here,
If you decide to trash it, I'd like some cuttings. Let me know the cost for shipping and processing.

This has been dropped from the UK list in his catalogue. If the original breeder doesn't rate it I don't know what to add!!

I have the same issue with mine- however I do love the blooms. I like it a bunch better when I prune it waayyy back, and can keep it to a smaller size.

I do have Evelyn, I have to think about what to replace RT with. Its going to between Heritage and Jude, next to Jude is James Galway, next to it is Yolande. Maybe Julia Child? Crocus Rose? The Alnwick Rose? I am ordering Crocus and Alnwick from Coolro ses, i want them on fortuniana.

RT has the worst thorny branches in my garden and could be used as a weapon against an intruder. Forget the gun or the machete, just brandish a long stem of RT (while wearing several pairs of tough gloves).

I certainly don't grow RT for the look of the bush, but so far I've enjoyed the flowers enough to keep it. It's one of my most prolific bloomers with great fragrance. Plus, last year it came through our extreme drought unscathed. Still, I wonder how long I'll tolerate those bristles.

BTW, don't you wish the published rose descriptions included a rating for thorniness like they do for fragrance? Of course fragrance sells roses and thorns don't. I guess the only selling point of thorns is when there aren't any.