David AustIn, sorry. I'm not fully awake

Hello stlgal,

You've helped out A LOT! Thank you so much! I guess I am going to have to bite the bullet and deal with thorns because Tamora and Munstead keep calling to me. But at least I know this going in thanks to you:)

After searching the web I have found reports saying Leander isn't very thorny. Now if I can just get someone to chime in about Tess D'the climber I'll be able to buy with relative confidence.

Thanks again!
Michelle

Go ahead on Tamora and Munstead anyway--unlike Gerty, both make compact round bushes with no unwieldly 'octopus' canes, so as long as you have a decent pair of gloves on they should not inflict any injuries--both are really lovely roses and well worth the garden space, great fragrance, excellent rebloom. Munstead is one of my best bloomers and most fragrant, even in this cool rainy fall weather!

Queen of Sweden has VERY few thorns - almost thornless. Lovely plant with lovely flowers. Love the scent too.
Carol

Leander and Heritage are both almost thornless.

Tess doesn't have many at all but the ones she does have are harsh. Munstwad Wood doesn't just have a lot it is covered!!!!! They are small though not the big hooked things.

Munstead hasn't impaled me yet, which is not something I can say for my big thorny bushes and climbers like Teasing Georgia, New Dawn, even Graham Thomas.

With a pair of gauntlet gloves a smaller bush like that is easily managed, while a giant or one with the 'big hooked things' invariably gets me during the annual pruning and when I'm training them on a trellis or arbor.

Interesting. The Austin catalog claims that Tea Clipper is thornless. I grow Jude, Abe and Crown Princess Margareta. Thorns are moderate.

I'm really beginning to think that what DAR sent me was mislabelled and isn't Tea Clipper at all. I know you'd previously mentioned others having issues with rebloom and this one is constantly covered in warm pink blooms with a strong myrrh scent, has a tall arching growth habit (large shrub,short climber) and definitely thorns--spacing between them but fairly long hooklike things individually.

I was comparing it with Strawberry Hill this morning and the two seem virtually identical to me, so I wonder if DAR sent me a mislabelled SH instead.

That said, it is a good performer in the garden, so I'd keep it regardless, but maybe I'll put an asterisk next to the ID as Tea Clipper from now on.

Thanks for your input everyone. All have been very helpful. stlgal, I've come across several sources stating Tea Clipper has fewer thorns. I can't say from experience. I have added it to my want list for next year though since I LOVE the peachy/apricot/coppery color roses.

I'm still in the market for a climber though. I want something with red blooms, the deeper the better. I have a shed that we are painting the shutters black. I think a dark red rose would look wonderful there. I don't think I am going to go with Tess but now I am looking at Blaze. Not a DAR but are any of you growing this one?

Tradescant is dark red.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tradescant