I've only grown Abraham Darby, which I love, and you don't mention a problem with it. As to the "different" red rose, I suspect you're seeing a sucker from the root stock, especially if the leaves also look strikingly different, usually much smaller than the rose that has been grafted onto it. I'm not that knowledgeable about how to prevent more root stock canes coming up and possibly taking over the plant, but have read that you need to dig down to where the red rose is originating at the base of the plant and pull off that cane that has come up. I'm sure others will have more detailed or better advice about this.

So sorry about your disappointment. That can be sooo depressing, when you've had high hopes (and shelled out good money), and the dream doesn't exactly materialize. I think all of us have experienced that at one time or another.

Best wishes,

Ingrid

Pat Austin nods and the flowers are short-lived. Some people give it support so they can look up to the flowers. It has beautiful flowers, but it won't ever act like a hybrid tea. St. Cecilia normally has long, wiry stems that support the blooms. It will be stronger next year.

I don't believe Tradescant is blooming off rootstock. Rootstock blooms in the year's first flush only.

Oops, you're so right about the rootstock blooms, Michael. What was I thinking?

Ingrid

Some of those problems may be cured by maturity. Austins can be a bit wimpy the first year. By year three, they often become quite vigorous and beautiful--so I advise patience as the solution.

Kate

Thanks to all of you for such prompt responses, and particularly for the encouragement.

Give them time, my Jude the Obscure used to let his blooms droop a little but they are mainly upright now. The red blooms on Tradescent are caused by the weaker sun this time of year. As the sun gets lower on the horizon the UV rays are not strong enough to cause the darkening they do during the late spring and summer blooms. Pats blooms do not last for along time anywhere but as we have cooler weather they will last for two or three days here compared to parts of the country where it gets real hot. They will hold their heads up better next year as the canes get more size to them.

During the spring pruning do not cut these types of roses back hard like you would for a hybrid tea. I normally only cut back a third even on a six foot tall rose. We do not get the kind of weather that causes English roses to grow to ten feet tall so a bush that is not cut back as hard gives more blooms

Lance