Ascot:

They are both beautiful, but I'm especially partial to Ascot! However, I thought Ascot had some darker purple tones in it. Am I remembering wrong, or does it maybe get a bit of purple as it ages?

Kate

I have never grown Ascot but have grown Tradescant for years and love it! It's useful to know that Tradescant is growing well in both of our climates. Thank you for sharing two wonderful dark reds. Carol

Hi Carol. I really wanted Munsted Wood, but needed a climber, and the color of Tradescant seemed (and is) irresistible -- dark and soulful, very much like the Austin photo. But the shrub itself is a party -- always covered in flirty, frilly blooms -- no elegance here; just pure fun.

Ascot, on the other hand, has been a slow starter in comparison. It's had two blooms in the time Tradescant has had dozens (they were planted bare root about the same time this spring). Ascot is a shapely shrub, reserved, but with elegant, cup-shaped blooms.

Kate, this is only Ascot's second bloom, but I haven't seen a hint of purple. Both Tradescant and Ascot have gorgeous coloration, much richer and darker than shown in my photos. Tradescant is a very dark and complex burgundy, and Ascot is a lovely blue-toned red. The picture below might depict the color a bit more accurately.

jannike

I don't have Tradescant but dang it! Now I want it! The Austin reds don't bloom in the deep red shades for me. Guess it is a soil issue? The Dark Lady was more like The Cerise Lady and sickly...
Ascot must like winter chill, perhaps? Because here it was planted last spring and I've pegged it down as its blooming on laterals. The first super flush started in mid May and blooming hasn't really stopped. Nipped deadheads now have large buds. That's what I call great repeat. No fragrance to my nose. But pretty purplish tonesâ¦much more in the blue family Like your second photo.
Over on the Roses forum Hoovb has been bemoaning the lack of vigor in her Ascotâ¦Here is a photo of mine taken in May. It shows about 1/3 of the width and maybe 1/2 the height of the bush. With the pegged canes it is 5 X 5.
Does Tradescant have a fragrance?
Ascot is one healthy rose here.
Susan

Susan, your Ascot is sensational -- exactly what I'm hoping for. Nanadoll recommended it, and I wish I could thank her. Mine was only planted bare root in April, so I assume it hasn't shown me its gumption yet, but I'm so confident it'll be perfect at the Humpty Dumpty House Foundation gardens that I want another one. Tradescant, on the other hand, has been spunky from very early on, blooming like a party girl rather than making a race for the top of its arbor. Since the arbor is pretty, I'm just letting Tradescant bloom away.

Many red roses, including some Austins, turn pink in our hot weather. Aware of this, I really did my homework before choosing Tradescant, which appeared to stay darker than most of the reds I explored. The Dark Lady seems to be cerise much of the time in my area as well.

I was afraid I might not like Tradescant, since I prefer the elegant deep cups of many Austins. But as I watch all these new roses blossom and grow, I find my tastes changing, and take great pleasure in their multitude of colors and forms.

jannike

I take great pleasure too in the diversity. I really love them all. There are some beautiful singles out there. Mutabalis is a great one. And the clustered polyanthas are so charming and perky. I'm a sucker for the big fat blooms thoughâ¦Golden Celebration, Charlotte, Jude the Obscure!
I guess I will be looking for Tradescant for fall orderingâ¦.LOL
I would love another Ascot but I don't have the room. Have you heard from nanadoll? I miss her.
Susan

Susan, yes Tradescant has a lovely fragrance, and we share a love for those fat, luscious blooms! With Tradescant, just be aware that the canes are thick, strong, and get stiff. I'm sure it's going to be a fight, training this one as a climber. I visit the roses daily to enjoy them, but don't "mess with them" often enough to get to the canes while they're still pliable, so we shall see who will be the victor in this battle. The other question is size. I've read posts that have claimed everything from two feet to twenty. I'm hoping for tall since this one is destined to climb an arbor.

Nanadoll is such an inspiration, and her photos are so beautiful. I sure hope we hear from her soon.

jannike