In our yard, Veterans' Honor easily has the best exhibition form.

I don't grow Ingrid but do grow the other two. It's hard to choose, but if I could only have one it would probably be Chrysler Imperial. It would need to be grafted. As with most older HTs, it needs the extra oomph of vigor that a graft can give (I've grown it both ways so this is my experience). I find the bush shape on CI to be more shapely then Veteran's Honor; a nice tidy "V" that seldom gets over 5 feet tall here. Perfect for nose to rose smelling. I do find Vet's Honor to be nicely fragrant however, but again the edge must go to Chrysler's deep perfume. As far as bloom form and staying power in the vase however, the edge goes to go to Veteran's Honor. Chrysler does fine in a vase, it just doesn't last as long as Vet's Honor. But in the cooler weather of fall Chrysler Imperial's blooms can deepen to a lusious crimson red color that looks as rich and plush as any velvet on a King's robes. My suggestion is to buy both.........Maryl

Ingrid was wimpy and died out on me. Never bloomed much even when it was new and healthy. As I recall the blooms were pretty dark red but rather small.

Veterans' Honor is big and healthy and blooms a ton but is a brighter clear fire engine red. They're very large in size, last for a very long time both on and off the bush and have beautiful form. It does black spot some but not terribly and it's very winter hardy.

I think Chrysler Imperial is a deeper red but I don't have it so I don't know how it grows. It's an old classic that's been around for a long time for a reason. It's a beautiful rose.

Is Veteran's Honor fragrant? I just bought Ingrid Bergman though Help Me Find says it only grows 2' high.

No, VH has no fragrance.

Yes! VH has a nice fragrance to both DH and myself. Not a light scent either. So the answer is - it depends on whose nose is doing the sniffing and other various environmental factors....Maryl

I have all 3, but of course note I'm in 9b.

Chrysler Imperial - has to-die for fragrance. But, of the 3, blows the fastest. Each bloom lasts on the bush only a few days. To me, it's a rose to have for fragrance alone, but in trying to compare to Ingrid or VH as far as longevity or form - no where close.

Ingrid Bergman - no fragrance for me. Blooms last longer than any rose I have - they'll last weeks on the bush. From a general bush look, I think it's my favorite of over 100 roses. The foliage is super healthy and dark green. Blooms are HUGE, and don't lose color, or fry in the heat. Color is slightly darker/deeper than VH

Veterans Honor - also no fragrance for me. Blooms are the "most perfect" of the three in terms of form. Blood Red, do last a long time on the bush. Bush has more of the - blooms on the top of bush rather than throughout look. Bush is not as healthy for me as Ingrid, but it's still darned healthy.

Size of bushes is all pretty similar - about 4' high. Both Ingrid and VH are wider than CI.

I wouldn't be without any of the three. Each is phenomenal in its own right.

What state do you live in? My Aunt lives in Central IL and Veterans Honor is a beautiful rose and grows well there. I live in hot Sacramento and Veterans Honor grows well here too as does Ingrid Bergman. IB is not very tall, it only get 3' tall. VH gets very large flowers but neither of them smell. Chrysler Imperial only smells good and the flowers are pretty. When not blooming it looks like a rag. I don't like it. I would choose VH if you don't mind it not being frragrant. If you want both fragrance and pretty rose, go for Mister Lincoln

Ah - Kathy, your photo so perfectly depicts the beautiful foliage of Ingrid (as well as her gorgeous blooms of course). I'm so bloom focused I don't normally notice foliage, but Ingrid's is just so perfect it's hard not to notice (in our Zone 9 of course, and not wanting to speak to any other zones).

Picture of my Ingrid:

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Older photo of Chrysler Imperial as a youngster
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