Certainly a rose that needs spraying in the South and East. I grew one for a while in semi-shade and it was spindly. Does yours get enough sun?

the stems are so weak they can't support the weight of the bloom.

*** This was my major criticism of A.D.
The stem and foliage were almost never in an attractive proportion to the blooms.
I don't at all mind nodding blooms, but these! It was as though the skinny stems and small leaves came from one plant, and the enormous blooms from another.
If I tried putting the blooms in a vase, the weight of the blooms tipped the vase over.
A.D. was the first rose we ever lost to gophers. And I didn't replace it.
I did find though that Austin's 'Emanuel' -- which is in the same color range, had just as much fragrance in a smaller bloom. The blooms were carried in neat sprays on sturdy stems, cut from a smaller, graceful, arching plant.

Jeri

How old is the plant?

AD can become 7-10 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide grown as shrub in your climate.

Mine is about 3 years old. It's still small but seems to be upright. I spray so don't have a bs problem, but don't have a spindly plant. But mine does get full southern exposure sun most of the day.

Mine is about 2 years old, planted on the south side of the house and gets full sun all day long. I haven't pruned it very much which is probably a large part of the problem.

Buford, what do you spray your roses with? I've tried dormant oil without much luck.

Wow Olga, that is impressive. Apart from your TLC, you must have amazing exposure. Oh how lucky!!! I could be wrong with my assumption. Actually, I would like to be wrong, which would mean that I would have a better chance at growing such roses. But sadly, I think I am just stuck with my conditions, but I have to grow roses, ANYWAY!! heehee!
Pauline

I am just not afraid to prune my roses when they need it. Strong frame goes a long way.
Olga

My rescued-from-Lowes for $10 AD is now 2 years old, doesn't get as much sun as it should. It is healthy enough but twiggy and floppy, amazing it puts out the spectacular flowers that is does. I just prop it up with cheap wire fencing in a circle (that I got from the dollar store). Like putting a tomato cage or peony ring around it - I am willing to put up with a lot for those flowers. I was just thinking today that it's a shame my Sharifa Asmas have leaves that remind me so much of poison ivy......

kandam, I use Bayer Advanced Disease Control. I get very bad blackspot in my yard.

I have to say that my AD is looking great and has thick canes that stick straight up. I got mine from J&P before the big sale. I wonder if it depends on where you get it from. I've had some Austins from Wayside that were horribly spindly for a few years before they matured (The Prince and Tamora).

Oh, Olga, I just KNEW you were going to post a heart-stopping picture of your AD. :)

Mine is 10 years old and just isn't making it for me. It rusts badly in my coastal California zone, despite clearing foliage up 2 feet or so. Lately, the bloom quotient has become a crap shoot; if we get hot weather, as we've had for the last two weeks, the blooms burn and crisp -- looks a bit like instant potpourri, without the charm. I feed it, water it (with precious rationed water, I might add), coo to it, pet it; I ignore it, curse at it, pull off its rusted foliage with a snarl. Whether I use the fist or the velvet glove, the result is still disappointing.

Want mine?