I think Pat Henry said the Italian roses did well during her freeze when she lost so much.

In my borderline 6b/7a garden I have had considerable dieback on Paul Neyron every year. This past winter it went from 7 feet to 18 inches. It's really much closer to an HT than an HP given its Safrano parentage through Victor Verdier.

George

I was amazed, but the hybrid perpetuals as a class were the best overall repeat blooming survivors from our wierd winter. They had some killing, but not as bad as the Austins or the modern shrubs. The worst one was Ferdinand Pichard, but Paul Neyron was the best, followed by Reines de Violettes and Baronne Provost. They are also the most tolerant of pruning, like the Austins. There are some OGRs that don't seem to take well to pruning and go "off" for years or forever. The flowers on PN are HUGE and definitely the cabbage rose look and the fragrance is good too. I salvaged mine by moving him after Charles de Milles had covered it up for about two years. It was down to one tiny stick and now it is about 6 ft tall!

I have found Reine des Violettes and La Reine to be reliable and easy to grow.

Thanks for the input, everyone. I would be willing to mound some topsoil around Paul Neyron if it would help.

I have two version of RdV. One is the thorny heirloom imposter from Kedem which is having a dynamite flush right now. The other is some flowerscents thing I picked up at home depot for $12.95 a few weeks ago (we'll see). Molineux's comment about RdV doing well in shade sounds intriguing.

I will consider La Reine. Are you talking about the hybrid perpetual?

I got Baronne Prevost about 4 years ago and it has never performed very well; it seems to be declining.

Rose de Rescht is doing very well.

I picked up Jacques Cartier last summer. It has some buds but none have opened yet. Everyone says it is a great rose but it will take a lot to outdo Rose de Rescht.

Louise Odier is three years old. Winter hardy but I still haven't had any fragrant blooms.

I got Mrs. John Laing, Yolande d'Aragon and Mme Isaac Pereire this spring from Roses Unlimited. I am also considering Gen. Jacqueminot, Indigo, Comte de Chambord and Frau Karl Druschki (not fragrant) along with Paul Neyron.

After being burned on some Buck roses (although they were from Kedem), which Bucks are actually hardy without winter protection?

Yes, the Hybrid Perpetual La Reine was what I had in mind.

But come to think of it, the Bourbon Reine Victoria is cold tolerant.

Paul Neyron can be amazing at times during the year. When he's on, he's really on, and you can't take your eyes off of him. However, he balls badly for me in the spring, and doesn't repeat well in my Texas garden. Reine des Violettes has been my favorite HP.

Randy

Paul Neyron has lived in my garden for 15 years with no special treatment. It's a grafted plant with the bud union planted below ground. It came from Roses of Yesterday and Today. I think it's quite hardy and blooms well in an unfavorable location near a dogwood. This year, it shows no apparent effect of the weird weather, unlike most of my Austins.