Does multiflora grow well in your area? If so, Vielchenblau should do well. From watching mine in fairly heavy shade and competition with hackberry tree roots, I see a lot of multiflora in V's growth. (Which can also translate to V's vigor.)
Can you find someone else in Cleveland to share an order with?

Jennifer, i planted a band of veilchenbleu last fall with 43 other bands. everything made it through the winter just fine, i lost a couple this early spring from canker. I might mention that i just planted them all and didn't do any winter protection of any kind. I have 44 bands coming from vintage this fall to plant. Veilchenbleu made it just fine and was not one i lost from canker, Irish hope is one on order that i will get this fall.

Getting Irish Hope through its first winter is going to be tricky.

As for Veilchenblau, have you ever tried rooting cuttings? Most multiflora hybrids are quite easy, and if you know somebody who will let you have a few pieces locally, very close to free.

Now once you have a few free, rooted cuttings of your own, then you can start serious experimentation with exactly how small roses overwinter best for you. Then you can make intelligent choices about what to order, what to trade cuttings of, and what to pass on.

mad_gallica,

I have not yet been successful in the realm of rooting cuttings, but I keep on trying! I currently have my late MIL's Queen Elizabeth trying to root. I tried two different methods. One turned to mush. The other still looks good, so my fingers are crossed. I am afraid to check for roots yet, and it's only been a few weeks.

I do not know many people here who are into gardening. If I could find cuttings, though, I would try it, definitely.

Maybe I should wait for Irish Hope. I just hate to pay twice as much from Heirloom next spring. That's why I'm debating it.

Jennifer, I have never grown Vielchenblau but have seen it and it is gorgeous. Good luck with your choices.

Carla

jennifer, I wonder if you might want to consider Violette instead of Veilchenblau. Quite a few people consider it a superior rose in terms of richness of color and length of blooming period. I've seen Veilchenblau and it had a grayish tinge which I didn't care for. Violette isn't mentioned on the forum very often but the pictures I've seen of it really appeal to me.

Ingrid

V is available from other vendors, plus I suspect that VG is selling off overstock and will still have it available next year. So you won't miss a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. On the other hand, prices just keep going up. If you do get it, get it in asap. I now avoid planting Tea, Noisette and China bands in the fall, but everything does just fine. Mulch it well for the winter.

Do you HAVE to plant them in the ground? Could you overwinter them in pots, so you can put them in the garage or basement when the winter gets brutal?

My Veilchenblau is like a family member to me. It multiplied its size five or six times the first summer, even partly shaded. I quit measuring at eight feet, it's up over the arbor. Mine's not grayish at all. Clear purple blooms with bright yellow golden centers, for a month or so.

Mine will be planted at the hottest part of the house--the south side that gets sun all day long. I want to grow it with clematis up the trellis on my back porch (still fighting off the Morning Glory that was planted there before--then the NEIGHBOR planted MORE MG! AAGGGHH!).

So I imagine it will get very large with the sun, but could fade more since it has virtually no shade.

I have looked at Violette, but for some reason I just really want that Veilchenblau! I'll look again and see.

Maybe I should just wait until spring since we have to get a new roof on the garage now. :( It's an old rolled roof anf it is now peeling off little by little every time we get a storm. My brother (a journeyman carpenter) tells me that the $1200 quote I got for the job is a steal. But $1200 is still a LOT of money in this house!!

I hate spending money on things like roofs. Roses are so much more pleasing.

Thanks for all the input--it really helps!

Jennifer