Hi Terry,

I'm no expert, but from what I've seen on the forums, you could get away with planting it now and hilling it, or burying the thing altogether, then digging up and planting in Spring. The rose is already dormant, so the cold shouldn't hurt it. It should be late enough in the year that it wouldn't break dormancy.

I wonder if you could keep it refrigerated until Spring?

I'm sure people with more experience will chime in.

Eric

What is it? What I would do with it would depend on how hardy I considered it, and how likely to break dormancy I'd judge it to be. I've planted hardy roses in fall by choice and never had any trouble with them.

There won't be enough light inside, so that wouldn't be near the top of the list. Planting outside is a possibility, as is potting it up and keeping it in an attached garage.

There is also the question of what about overwintering roses would you like to learn? This is a freebie, and may as well be practice for something real.

I dug up Lady Emma Hamilton after planting it. I then grew it in a pot until I could see that it would grow okay.
I'm wondering about potting it like Mad Gallica said.

Carla

I'd plant it outside. Dormant bare roots planted in late fall will remain dormant until spring's warmth lets it begin to come out of dormancy. Your only problem would be if we have a warm fall that would cause it to start growth.
If you choose to plant it now make sure you plant the bud union 4-6 inches below the soil surface. After planting cover it with soil. Don't pile leaves or any other protection on it until the ground freezes so it stays dormant.
As mad_gallica suggests, use this as a learning experience. When you receive the replacement next spring, plant it next to this fall planted one. Then compare the two as they grow to see if fall planting is of any benefit over spring planting.
Don't pot and grow indoors unless you have a heated greenhouse. Doing so will probably result in a dead or severely stressed bush by the time spring rolls around.
Whatever you do avoid letting it break dormancy now, even if that means storing it in your refrigerator until it gets cooler outdoors.
Remember, Spring is only 5 months away.

Hey, thanks everybody. I will plant it deeply and cross my fingers. BTW, it's Summer Song, my long-coveted Austin.

Strange thing, the vendor said they wouldn't have it available until next year and here it shows up on my doorstep yesterday. Maybe it won't even be SS after all; wouldn't surprise me at all.

-terry

I agree with the others and i would definitely plant it outside as you normally would. It shouldn't hurt it much if it does happen to come out of dormancy and then back into dormancy, as it probably has plenty of starches in the roots to carry it through the winter. I think you will be fine.

I plant in fall by choice because otherwise I am digging in mud in spring. The clay content in the soil is very high here. I rarely lose a rose.
Steve.

Well, Summer Song is planted deeply; 6" in our clay soil.
Thanks again for all the replies and encouragement; I'll be sure to let everyone know what happens next spring.
-terry