7.4 ARS rating? That seems low. My Rio Samba, which only get 5 hours or so direct afternoon sun (but a lot of reflected light)is a workhorse.

Disease resistance: it seems never bothered by any fungal disease, and in my Northern NJ garden, goes toe to toe with KnockOuts.

Vigor: this is its second season in my garden, and this thing is 6 feet tall now and 3 feet tall.

Repeat: it repeats very well, and still has five blooms on it today.

The one imperfection I can see is that the blooms are quite ugly when they fade. If I can get to it, I deadhead as soon as the bloom color passes the stage that I find appealing. If not, the bush would be covered with faded blooms that are quite ratty. For me, the "attractiveness" of individual blooms do not last as long as I would like. But again, no one/ no rose is perfect. :)

Also, while it is one of my favorites, it might not be everyone's cup of tea when you have a whole bush covered with varying yellows and pinks. I won't be surprised if some people find the color scheme a little vulgar and think that RS does not have the "it" factor. But I love this thing as it has lots of redeeming virtues.

It had many virtues here, like rust resistance, compact growth, and quick repeat, but the cheerful original color faded to a horrible blotchy orangy/beige. Needed promptness on the deadheading to avoid that yecchy color.

The prompt deadheading would definitely be an issue with me. Thanks for the input.....Maryl

When we had it in a public garden here in Camarillo, it set new standards for powdery mildew. It wasn't a pretty plant, either.

Jeri

I have a Rio Samba tree rose. I'm in 7a philadelphia. I have had it for only two years but have not had any disease issues so far. I still have two or three beautiful blooms on her, and a few faded ones, which I appreciate given the changing season and cooler weather. She put out a whole bunch of booms once it started to cool down. It may be the last day or so for them, but right now they are wide open and beautiful.

I love the color of Rio Samba and don't really mind the fading blooms. The color changes are fine by me. I actually like having several stages of color going at once.

She is in a pot right by my door, so I do normally deadhead as I go by, but have stopped since the weather got cooler and she put out the last 10 blooms or so.

I suppose the really dead looking blooms are unattractive, but that would be true for any rose, I guess. So, if you like her coloring I would try her. I'd like to have another in bush form to put in the ground, but I am running out of space as it is.

Royal Samba does give me some stunning blooms. Here is one example. As to deadheading, I usually cut the blooms way earlier than I would for other roses (right about the time a bloom is just on its way down or when the pink starts to dominate -- it is more like "liveheading" instead of "deadheading" as those can hang on there for several more days if not cut.)