Almost no HT in our area is disease resistant (it is said that Elina is the most resistant). You will have to treat it regularly with a fungicide for blackspot, starting now.

Yes, it will do much better if sprayed regularly.

Some characteristics that may or may not be faults:

It puts out single blooms (usually) on long stems. So the bush can get tall, but you have great cut flowers. When removing spent blooms cut down a lot of the remaining cane unless you want to be left with an 8ft bush.

The blooms appear blood red at first, but open to a more purple-ish bloom.

Still, the scent is incredible and it's a reliable bloomer.

Hi Sam,
I have 5 Mr Lincolns so that I can get enough blooms. I would recommend getting as many as 15 if $ allows.
Mr Lincoln is my favorite Rose. It is Tall and Gangly. One out of 35 of the petals always has a white line on it. I am trying to get ahead of the BS by not allowing leaves to collide, to keep a good air flow through , keeping the leaves dry, Picking BS leaves off as soon as possible. And I am spraying with safer sulfur and a fungicide.
Good Luck
Samuel
I am in the Adirondacks. If I can grow it then Mr Lincoln should do well for you.
How is the color of Electron? (I have only seen it in pictures)

For me, it is not reliably hardy in zone 5 (like just about any HT).

But I did replace one killed over winter last spring, and that one is now growing gangbusters.

Mr. Lincoln is a big, gangly HT rose here. Now established, ML has little winter die back. Instead, I have to remove many feet of viable cane each spring to keep him in bounds. I also have to prune him mid summer. He still reaches 8'.

Canes are not well foliated and thorns are big, sharp and bloodthirsty. Bloom production is only fair but some of the blooms are spectacular.

ML needs to be sprayed for black spot here. He is also a midge favorite. Japanese beetles do not consider him a staple, but will devour him when other roses aren't in bloom.

When I lived in a milder climate (PNW) I grew both Mr Lincoln and Electron. They are both delightful for their strong fragrance. Mr Lincoln does get tall. I loved the rich color of it's petals.

Electron is supposed to be hardy enough that I could grow it here but have not tried yet, also a lovely rose.

To control blackspot I used a good systemic fungicide roughly twice per year. Back then I used Benomyl but so many good products have been removed from commerce I don't know if that is available still. Also, plants that are stressed by lack of water will succumb to fungal infections quicker (both bs & pm). A good watering routine, that allows the leaves to dry before cool night temps is defensive as is good garden hygiene (ie. pick and properly dispose of infected leaves so as not to spread spores).

Following this garden practice I had only mild bs infections on Mr Lincoln even on the north side of a hill in the wet PNW.

Ohh wow thank u guys so much for all the feedback!!!! you guys are so much faster about replying than the other forums ive been to!!!!!! but yeah electron is Amazing!!!!!! the fragrance is mindboggling!!!!! my deck is 15 feet away and on humid breezy days it is overpowering!! the color never fades even after a big rain! i give cut flowers to my friends and the first bloom usually prodces 14 flowers! here is a pic of last years bloom!
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So What do you think about this Shot?

In my opinion, the blooms open too fast and don't last very long.

FLAWS

1. It's growth habit is more Hybrid Perpetual than Hybrid Tea. Tall, gangly canes topped by flowers. Needs constant pruning to keep it in shape.

2. Rebloom could be better. Again, regular pruning will help in this regard.

3. Prone to blackspot and somewhat prone to powdery mildew. Spray a fungicide every two weeks to control disease.

4. The dark red color tends to "blue" and turn burgundy/purple near the end of the flower's vase life. Personally, I like the color transformation but others don't.

5. Most of the grafted specimens are infected with Rose Mosaic Virus (RMV). While this won't kill the rose outright it does weaken the plant; reducing flower production, vigor and disease resistance.

While these flaws are significant I still think that MISTER LINCOLN is one of the best fragrant reds on the market. It is a classic in every way. Virus Indexed (i.e. virus free), own root plants are available from Vintage Gardens (http://vintagegardens.com). They are sold out for the season but you may want to try again in the Autumn or next spring.

Patrick

Had him newly purchased last year-he was great; this spring he has died down to the nubs. coming back now but I'm very disappointed with the winter die back here.

cattleya17,
nice picture!

dazi,
According to HMF (which is not always accurate on this) ML is only hardy to z7. You'd need excellent microclimate (ie. very protected), plant deeply, heavy mulch and mild winter for it to do well two zones down.

---Yes, thank you,berrytea4me, I'm learning the hard way. Surprisingly, Shakespeare 2000 came back nicely. Oklahoma not OK here. Deader than a doornail. Sorry to get off the topic which was ML. who does require CPR to live in my neck of the woods.

I hate Mr Lincoln. I thought was hideous. I am in Seattle and it was always covered with mildew. I detest that ugly pinky red color the blooms turn. The fragrance was great however. To each his own

To suggest there are flaws with Mister Lincoln is akin to suggesting there are flaws with the Horsehead Nebubla...

...oh wait, it was the Hubble Telescope that was flawed and not the nebula...

To each his own.

M

Canes are not well foliated and thorns are big, sharp and bloodthirsty. Bloom production is only fair but some of the blooms are spectacular.

I grew it in the Philadelphia area and this perfectly describes my experience with it. It's got beautiful dark red individual blooms on tall stems with few leaves. It always looked to me as though it had primarily been designed with the florist trade in mind since its features would suit it really well to selling the flowers to florists. However, it is hardy outside (or was in the Phila. area.)

i will probably love it then if it has long tall stems cuz i grow my roses mostly for giving them to the people i love the most!!!!!!! but the thing about the thorns thats another story!!! haha. Is it a quick bush to rebloom and how fast is the growth in general??????

Mine always seems to have blooms on it. I'd say good rebloom quality. It does shoot up quickly in the spring, especially if it's hot. This is one rose that loves hot weather.

The flowers are tremendous. Large, incredible fragrance and rich color. The bush is ugly, ungainly and tall, sort of like its namesake. Good if you can plant it in the back of the bed. Prone to blackspot without faithful spraying.

The flowers are tremendous. Large, incredible fragrance and rich color. The bush is ugly, ungainly and tall, sort of like its namesake.

Perfectly stated!

To each its own. I strongly prefer "blobs":).
I agree with Harry's assessment.
Olga

I agree with Michael. I have Mr. Lincoln in a group with other roses and it blends in. It does look better with something to cover it's feet, but it can be pruned to be a tall full bush. The foliage is beautiful as well.

Here is Mr. Lincoln in the middle of this group:

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