I think I found a possible explanation for what I've observed often enough to keep bringing up that I don't strip on the first sign of leaf infection. If this does explain it (or if it's a good theory anyway), then it does seem to have to do with my choice of roses or the aggressiveness (lesion expansion rates) of the local strains of BS here. From http://www.rosehybridizers.org/Fall_2012_Zlesak_long_version.pdf "...We have blackspot resistance field data for the roses that are designated Earth-Kindî in the South Central US. As we correlate the mean lesion size in the lab with the percentage of defoliation due to blackspot in the field, r=0.62...So in this case there is a pretty strong trend that as lesion size goes up for a rose in the lab, the more defoliation we see for that rose in the field. Since different isolates of different races can be more aggressive and lead to different lesion expansion rates, it is very promising to see such a strong correlation in the midst of that variability. As more blackspot resistance data are collected from other ongoing Earth-Kindî trials involving some of these 70+ roses, it will be interesting to revisit the correlation between the laboratory and field data...." And the RHS has seen what I'm talking about, so at least I don't feel so crazy ;) http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?PID=270 "Typically, a rapidly enlarging purplish or black patch appears on the upper leaf surface, with diffuse and radiating strands of the fungus sometimes just visible. Leaf tissues may turn yellow around the spots and the leaf often drops, even though other parts are as yet unaffected. At other times, the yellow colour does not appear, but infected leaves still drop. Sometimes, the spots remain relatively small and the leaf does not drop. [!]" I'm not trying to tell anyone how to do anything if it goes counter to their local experience, of course. I guess I'm saying that folks might wait a bit and see what happens if they don't strip leaves if the plant will be very defoliated if they did strip so many leaves that don't look too bad. See what happens, perhaps. Or not :) Here is a link that might be useful: Strategies and resources for breeding blackspot resistant roses, DAVID C. ZLESAK

Buyorsell, that's anthracnose, not blackspot. Hard to find fungicides labeled for anthracnose on roses and it doesn't generally respond to the fungicides people use for blackspot. Neem oil is horrible. I do not recommend it to anyone. Not only is it worthless as a fungicide unless you have very little fungus disease pressure to start with, but it also kills ALL soft bodied insects including many beneficials, such as larval ladybugs, larval lacewings, and minute pirate bugs. I have tried it a few times, different brands, in different gardens. Same results every time - no effect on blackspot, and outbreaks of mites and aphids from the loss of beneficial predators. In our area there's rarely any need for insecticides on roses so no reason to use a combination of fungicide and insecticide anyway, even if it worked on the blackspot. I second the sanitation and early intervention recommended above. Kinda late now, judging from the OP's photo. Strip off the bad leaves, prune off canes with lots of purple spots (that's blackspot too), and start spraying regularly with something, anything, labeled for blackspot that you feel comfortable with. Sulfur and copper are very old remedies for fungal diseases. I use the heavy artillery myself, albeit at the longest spray interval recommended, and my dogs all seem to lead long healthy lives, for what that's worth.

Ingrid, I second guess myself all the time. If I have room in my garden and choose a plant on-line (I rarely go to nurseries--they are known for their lack of variety and hardly any roses), I wonder, before and after I order, did I do the right thing, should I have bought this one instead, will it do well in my garden under harsh circumstances, will it look and grow the same, etc., etc., etc. I also tend to push the envelope a bit as well. Who else, where it is hotter than Hades in the summertime, grows raspberries and has great flushes of them (in a drought stricken area as well!). So at least I am adventurous when it comes to the plant world. It is probably a good thing I don't have a bigger yard. Lord only know what you would find me growing in there. One lesson I learned early on, the definition of a weed. A weed is ANY plant that grows where you don't want it to. That has helped me get rid of plants and not think too much afterwards. Each plant and whether or not it does well, is taken as another of life's lessons.

I have a list also. They are: Feuerzauber Summer Holiday Plum Crazy Lydia (Kordes shrub) Orange Flower Circus/Orange Veranda Too Hot to Handle Rainy Blue City of Auckland Cloud Dancer some of the others on the already mentioned above lists