I just planted SA this spring, and I've been thrilled with it. I had it in a pot, and it bloomed pretty much non-stop all summer - beautiful blooms, wonderful fragrance. I transplanted it to the garden about three weeks ago, it paused for about a week, and now it's putting out new growth and buds! Don't know yet about winter hardiness, but last year I did the same as Krista does with my other Austins and HT's in the garden and they came through fine.
Judith

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Mine does just fine with no winter protection. No disease and I don't spray. It may be the hardiest of the bunch. Other Austins have died on me including William Shakespear 2000, Golden Celebration, A Shropshire Lad and Eglantyne.

Thanks for the information!

I've read that this one can't tolerate too much strong sun/heat. The bed I'm planning for SA gets tons of strong afternoon sun. Should I be worried? Or is this more of a concern for southern gardeners?

When it was a young plant, the blooms were fragile and wilted easily, but as it matured the blooms strengthened.

However on hot June days the blooms can wilt on occasion.

I'm growing Sharifa too. Last year it didn't get any winter protection and came through winter with probably 8 inches or so of live cane. It's a beautiful rose and the fragrance is strong. To play it safe you could do as Krista said and mound it up a little.

Kristin flower: I had mine in morning (5 or 6 hours) sun when it was in a pot, and the flowers lasted well. There is a little more sun where it is now, but of course, it has not yet flowered in that position, so I can't really judge. I have only buried my bud unions 2-3" deep, and so that's why I am too afraid not to use winter protection. I don't know - maybe Predfern and Twohuskies bury their unions deeper, and because of that, don't winter protect? If I was going to take a chance, it would be with a rose that I don't like anymore, definitely NOT Sharifa Asma LOL
Judith

I'll most likely purchase several of these next spring. I'm thinking I'll try to find them on their own roots. I'll mound them up for winter as everyone has suggested.

Two Huskies - Are your Sharifas own root? Would it be a good idea to bury the crown as I would the bud union of a grafted plant? I recently noticed that I left the crown (bud union?) exposed above ground on a couple John Davis' I had planted earlier this year. I assumed they were own root and since they are hardy it wouldn't matter, but now I'm wondering if I made a newbie mistake.

Yes my Sharifa is own root. This was one I found in a 1 gallon size at the dreaded Home Depot last year. Seems every year they have a few different own root Austin roses and I've had good success with all of them. They sell them cheap ($10 or under) so it's always worth trying new ones.

Sometimes I plant the crown of own root roses maybe an inch or so below ground. John Davis is hardy enough that it shouldn't matter either way. I'll let others that are more knowledgeable give you advise on whether own roots should be planted a little deep or not.

Kristin
No matter how hardy the rose is, an exposed, unprotected, bud union will freeze which could result in the two slightly disimilar tissues separating. This would kill the grafted variety. Make sure you winter protect any rose you have that doesn't have the bud union buried, even the hardiest varieties.

Thanks for the advice Karl. I purchased the John Davis rose from Bachmans Nursery and planted it in the ground at the same level it was growing in the pot. I can't remember now if there were any instructions on the tags, but I find the instructions are often to plant in the ground at the same level the plant was growing in the container. I just examined my roses again and maybe what I was thinking was the bud union really is not. I'll try and post some pictures.

Those planting instructions are generic for the whole country. They are seldom zone specific. A rose culture book I have specifies planting the bud union 3-6 inches deep in cold growing zones.
For the best planting advice in any one growing zone, toss the instructions that come with the plant and visit the rose grower in your area who has the best garden. Ask him/her about planting.

Here is a picture of my John Davis rose. Is this an exposed bud union?

Here is a link that might be useful:

Never mind all. I went back to Bachmann's and spoke to the horticulturalist. She says the John Davis roses I purchased were own root and there is no bud union since these were not grafted. She says as long as I planted them at the level they were growing in the container I should be fine, but to mulch them their first winter for added protection since they may not be fully established yet.