@Moses, Bumping this thread, though it's not that old. I have two own-root Stiletto younglings (quarter-pot starter size) recently planted at the start of June. In just three weeks time, I already had a few blooms and they were exquisite. (I wish I would have taken photos, but I will next time, which will probably be soon - given new bud formation again). Although it is certainly much too early to make any solid statements about the overall performance of this rose in my scorching-hot and humidity-soaked zone 8A central Mississippi summer climate, I can in the meantime decisively confirm at least one particular quality that has surprised me: Stiletto blooms appear to last a few weeks! The petals do not fall off as the rose ages (unlike a number of roses which unremarkably "shatter" within a few day's time of unfirling). I've not noticed a SINGLE petal coming loose with Stiletto, even in full sun and after being inundated with the heavy downpour of a severe thunderstorm. Instead, the petals slowly harden off, gracefully drying out (not unlike some dried rose arrangements), and finally the entire flower head shrivels up, inevitably browns, then falls off at the node-neck break ("self cleans"). Throughout this transition, in full summer heat and scolding Sun, the rose color shifts as it ages; first, opening in a voluptuous plum-red (mostly red with hints of a violet cast, reminiscent of Santa Rosa plum skin color), then turning a more decidedly bold magenta, and ending with a provacative yet aggreeable purple at the onset of its drying out as it approaches browning. Hence, at the very least, it can be said that Stiletto demonstrates EXCEPTIONALLY stable blooms. I've not seen a rose hold on as tenaciously yet gracefully as this one [in recent memory], based upon over three dozen rose varieties currently in my collection to make that comparative assertion. Stay tuned for additional assessments to come, and some planned posted images.

I would say that Ascot, Dainty Bess, Augusta Luise, Abbaye de Cluny, Rouge Royale, and Twilight Zone, among others, don't fit the bloom shape or growth habit of a classic hybrid tea. Frederic Mistral has a more HT bloom look, but the big bushy growth habit doesn't look like a typical HT, either. Sara Ann what a luscious group you have posted above. I think Crazy Love and Twilight Zone are my favorites. Your CL looks better than any on HMF. Diane

Thanks, Hoang Ton. I have to defend Julia Child (I have three; two are 16 years old, grafted, and one is five years old and own root). The oldies are still going strong, and after a late March prune are hitting seven feet tall. Here in our hot and dry desert summers, Julia holds her color quite well. She is also the last to shut down in the fall. She is one of my top three roses, in fact. Diane

I just visited the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden this last weekend. I was looking for which rose bushes met these criteria: Super healthy, very pretty, lovely fragrance. Hands down -- Grande Dame won the prize. And this was August! I was so impressed with the bushes in San Jose, I'm on the Heirloom website now to see if I can order one! Your roses look gorgeous, @Hoang Ton - Zone 9a!