I've only had it this season and it's stayed pretty clean. I spray probably every 3 or 4 weeks with Bayer. Rebloom hasn't been that impressive for me but then again, it's only been in the ground since early spring. Kind of a silvery pink if I remember correctly and really large blooms. I see we are in the same zone so it should perform about the same. I haven't heard too much on this rose so it should be interesting to read the responses. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful. April

I used to grow First Prize. I would like to again if I can find room. First Prize got its name for a reason. It can be downright gorgeous. It was AARS 1970 and was the top show rose in the American Rose Society point tallies for 17 years. It was edged out be another nice, but disease-prone rose called Touch of Class and several others along the way. First Prize had generally good blooming, reblooming, and growing characteristics across the country. It did have two major downfalls. It didn't like winter, and its form was not consistently dependable. That is, the spiral centers with high points that exhibitors swoon over wasn't always there. Depending on climate, season, and cultural practices, the blended color was anywhere from shaded pinks to a gradation of ivory through pink to almost red. I believe that if you add Messenger to your spray program you will not have much of a disease problem with this rose. I have not grown this rose with the Messenger and fungicidal spray treatment yet, but the majority of roses I have used this combination on are clean or nearly so. Even my worst offenders, Osiria and Sundowner, do better with the Messenger supplement than without. I myself would give the First Prize a try just to see how well it actually does because in its day it had quite a following as the fad show rose. Just keep it sprayed and well-fed during the growing season.

You know, it actually was disease-free in my part of SoCalif.
But First Prize is notorious for another pesky problem.

If you are very fortunate, you will achieve a plant with 3 good basal canes.
(More common seems to be 2 good basals, and one scrawny one.)

Then it will start to grow another good hefty basal, and you get all
excited ... but then one of the other good ones dies.
Happens every time. Frustrating as all getout.

Jeri

Mine is as old as our house which was built in mid 1970's. Sorry Jerri but I have 4 or 5 very thick basals. I don't call them good because by mid July/Aug my plant has no leaves on it at least on the bottom 2/3 portion. It blooms all the time,in heat and drought. Buds are gorgeous until they open. I don't care for the open flowers much.

But I like very much.

FJ

I actually bought it to plant next to Princesse de Monaco with it's beautiful pink edged flowers. I will include some pictures of both of them. I admire beautiful exibition roses but I do not think I'm fit to do it. I'm more into growing roses that will provide color and good repeat blooming to be a joy in the garden. I love all kinds of floribundas : ) But hybrid teas are so beautiful too... FJ, mine seems to have five basal canes as well and some black spotted leaves.

April, the_bustopher, Jeri, FJ, thank you everyone for your comments! I need to make a tough decision... Since it's my first year growing roses all of them are new to me, even the older varieties : )

Lyuba

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That Princesse de Monaco -- what a beauty it is.
NOT a rose for my coastal area, but it's a honey.

Jeri

Hi Lyuba,
Your roses are beautiful. I will be emailing you.

Sammy

I planted a First Prize in my brand-new rose bed (and I was a brand-new gardener) over 25 years ago here in Marin County, CA. It is still healthy and doing well--and I hardly spray at all, having become a hygiene nut (the roses, that is). Only drawback is that it has no fragrance. And not that floriferous (but to be fair, doesn't get as much sun as it should).

Just to let you know what's happened. I returned First Prize : ( Instead I got a floribunda, Honey Perfume, to plant in another corner of the flower bed. For when I find it I did leave a vacant spot for a pink HT to plant next to Prinsesse de Monaco.

Thank you for your comments.

Lyuba