Annie - go for it! I planted two Heirloom roses two years ago on our northern Colorado farm...unfortunately, the winter winds from Wyoming did them in. However, I fully intend to start checking off my "wish list" of Heirloom english and shrubs (probably about as long as yours)now that I have a Real Garden space to fill. I do like the idea that they're own root roses. I don't see any reason why they wouldn't do well in your area as well, so long as you have some protection for them from that winter wind.

Carol

Heirloom is a bit pricey for the size of their plants, but they have an excellent reputation for virus-free plants and a nice selection. You might want to compare them to some other venders -- Chamblee's, Roses Unlimited, Pickering (in Canada -- ships bareroot to USA), ARE, are some I more frequently order from.

Hi Carol,

I was just wondering about the "Heirloom Roses" company - wondering if anyone on here had bought roses from them and how they and their roses rate. I've occassionally bought roses from Jackson and Perkins (very pricey), but never from Heirloom Roses (much more reasonably priced!).

I bought two climbing Rosa Americana "American rose" in February. Got one planted by a trellis to mingle with a raspberry pink rambler that only blooms once a year. Will plant the other soon. it is a beautiful coral-salmon color with bronzed edges - clove scented.
I like bold colours - all colours.

I plan to buy from Heirloom Roses company:
* Constance Spry (delicate clear pink),
* Brother Cadfael (peony shaped - pink),
* Thornbury Castle (light rose pink),
* Graham Thomas (clear golden yellow),
* Lady Jane Grey (my 18th great-grand aunt) (Rose amber),
* Abraham Darby (Apricot to gold) [climber or shrub],
* Barbara Austin (blush pink)
* Glamis castle (Engl rose) white.

I want the Joseph's Coat rose for the colors & the Star of the Nile for it's Deep Pink color, it's intense, heavenly Myrrh fragrance and continuous blooming.

Of the Buck roses, I want, (so far) Apple Jack and Carefee Beauty.

From Jackson and Perkins I am ordering:
Shrub roses:
* Knock Out shrub rose
* Ruffled Cloud shrub rose
* Pure Perfume shrub rose
* Champlain shrub rose
* Royal Wedding rose
* Greetings shrub rose
* Orange Zest shrub rose

. . .just to get me started, you know. :)
and a Cecile Brunner climbing rose.

I already have some heirloom roses:
A 13-year old buttery yellow Lady Banks rose that covers the whole southside of my front porch and is laden with tiny yellow blooms in Spring (I was told it would freeze here in Oklahoma - it now has a trunk like a tree!). I have one big Rugosa shrub ("Raspberry Breeze" or something like that).
I have 12 teas, a couple of ramblers (one with a intense fruity-rose fragrance that I adore), my darling "Belle Amour", an old Alba Garden Rose that also perfumes the whole garden in Spring, that I grow just about everywhere for that reason.

But I want some English roses and hardy shrub varieties to fill up my acre of garden - roses that might bloom more than once a year. I want lots of color and fragrance.

Are there EVER ENOUGH ROSES in a Cottage Garden?????? :)

~ Annie

I've never ordered from Heirloom, but they are a reputable company, & I'm sure you'd be happy w/ any plants you ordered from them. I love Austins, too, I have Crown Princess Margarete (a monster of a rose-& I mean that in a good way!), Gertrude Jekyll, Golden Celebration, & several Christopher Marlowes. This year, I added Bishop's Castle & Janet. I have a few other roses (I'm a sucker for lavender/purple), but the Austins have done well here, I do minimal spraying.

My Mom lives really close to Heirloom. Our end of summer highlight is to go their Big Sale! I've been lucky enough to go there in the summer when their beds are in full bloom. What a place when everything is blooming! They have a beautiful OGR Garden. We've both gotten many roses from them. They are own-root, so they are smaller and take a bit longer to establish, but once they do they really take off!

I have several roses from Heirloom, but none which I ordered myself. They were purchased by a friend who is moving, and gifted them to me. Everything seems healthy and happy. I must say, Heirloom's catalog is very juicy and tempting. The only reason I have not purchased from them is because I get huge roses from The Antique Rose Emporium, and have been so pleased with my orders from them, I won't order anywhere else if I can help it!!

GGG

A more reasonably priced nursery is Chamblees. I can vouch for them having ordered roses that are now in their third year and are doing great. They are probably more limited in their selection of heirloom roses however.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

Annie,

I agree with you about the roses and a cottage garden - over the last 6 months I've planted 25+ old garden roses. They are all growing and setting buds right now. I can't wait to see them in a couple of years when they have filled out and come into bloom.

I didn't order from Heirloom Roses but I did get most of mine from Chamblee's and Antique Rose Emporium. The plants arrived in beautiful condition, I am very impressed with the way they package these roses for shipping.

If you search the antique rose forum I believe you'll find info about Heirloom Roses. Have fun and be sure and post lots of pictures in the future. I'll share mine too.

bloominganne

I've not ordered from Heirloom, but I just wanted to chime in for Chamblees. I've ordered twice from them and they send nice sized, potted roses. The prices are reasonable, and I think all the roses are own-root. They do carry a whole selection of Austin roses. I've been steering towards the Tea Roses.

I just got my last order of roses in the ground a couple of weeks ago, just before all this wonderful rain. I'm hoping that's going to really give them a foothold for this summer.

Lisa

I have quite a few roses from Heirloom.
I live in a tough climate for roses and everything I've gotten from them is thriving.
I give them no protection at all in the Winter (my kind of gardening!)
They are small when you get them, but establish and grow rapidly.

Annie, et al - Oh, this is painful! I'm SO in the mood for gardening and we have SNOW on the ground! Everyone's input is so helpful - and it sounds like nobody's had a bad experience with any of the vendors. My best friend sent an Austin rose to commemorate my mother-in-law's passing last spring, and we tucked it in a protected corner, away from that NW wind, and it's doing great. So Austins seem to do well here too. It's been fifteen years since I've been able to have roses, so my knowledge is far more limited than everyone else's....but I've been busy dreaming!

You all MADE me order roses today! This time I tried Chamblees.
I have coming some yellows: Carefree Sunshine, Easy Going, Livin' Easy and the buffish Reve d'Or.

Price was super great on them all!

GGG

Hey Ya'll!

I checked out the Chamblee's website yesterday and you are all so right about their great prices and shipping them in containers. Sounds wonderful! Heck! And I can get twice as many roses for the same amount of greenbacks!

They didn't have everything I want listed, but I can always order those from Heirloom.

Thanks for the tip!

GGG, you tickled the fire out of me! I love your enthusiasm about flowers and plants and gardening in general.
~Annie

Ya'll won't be sorry with Chamblee's. They sell great roses at a great price and the plants are good sized ready to grow! I have several from there and they are all doing great. :) jenn

Oh, Annie...I'm putting Heirloom off until the fall. I WANT MORE>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

:)

GGG

I ordered six roses from Chamblee's year before last and am thrilled with them. Remember the first year they sleep, second year they creep and the third year they leap....and boy are mine leaping! There are all loaded with buds and have tripled in size. I have Louise Odier, Felicia, Lavender Lassie, Rein des Violettes, Pink Gruss an Aachen, cream Gruss an Aachen. I recommend Chamblee's highly. A local nursery had several old garden roses last year and had some left over because they have not caught on here yet...we are always way behind in the trends. Everyone is still growing hybrid teas of which I only have two that I have had for years...Queen Elizabeth. I have to say, it is a sturdy rose...it has been so neglected until the last couple years and just keeps on plugging 'em out. I bought Abraham Darby and Molineux from the local nursery last year and am going to check and see what they have left..just in case it is one I don't have...or two or three.

Nanahanna

Chamblee's, Antique Rose Emporium and Heirloom are all wonderful dealers who have contributed much to the cause of promoting older varieties and healthy shrub roses. The Heirloom difference is that they are virus-indexed, and that John breeds roses, many of which deserve to be better known. He has also introduced some great roses to the US, like he Fawn (which I lust after and will order this fall) and Lyda Rose, a single which is one of the most beautiful plants in my garden.

I'd for sure order from Heirloom; I ordered last spring 14 roses and all came up; from groundcover to shrub and climbers (my weakness is climbers). I'm in central Ks. and they did marvelously. I'm very, very pleased with their roses - own root is the only roses I ever order as I plan to propogate.

Those of you in cold winter climates who want to plant own-root roses might also consider High Country Roses. They specialize in roses for such climates.

Rosefolly

I ordered two roses from Heirloom 10 years ago - Leander and climbing Cecile Brunner (mine does not repeat, but there is a new improved one that does). They arrived as tiny bands, but grew quickly and have done very well all these years. Leander blooms in flushes all summer. Cecile got so huge it busted the copper trellis it was on, and now is just a huge cascading mound that would take over the entire side of the house if I let it. It's just starting to bloom, and I keep my bedroom window open to enjoy the wonderful scent.
Carol

Annie, since you are going to order from Chamblees, you should consider their 'Pink Gruss an Aachen' (it's the pink sport of Gruss an Aachen). I have six of them from Chamblees, and they are "the bomb". It's like having the blooms of a David Austin rose on a plant that is much more compact and very nearly thornless.

Randy

One of my 'Pink Gruss an Aachen' roses.

Randy

Please click on me:{{gwi:643636}}

Those are just gorgeous, Randy!
My favourite colour of PINK, too.
Thank you.
Are they very fragrant, as well? I must have fragrance.

~ Annie

Annie, yes, Pink Gruss an Aachen smells good to my nose.

Randy

I'm too late, I see, but the Heirloom Roses are very expensive for the size. However they did well, grew well last year, and leafed out this year. So it's sort of a mixed review.

Lime

Lime,

Why of course your input is not too late! I have not ordered anything yet! I really want to give everyone time to chime in on this and tell me of their experiences. Paying that much for roses, I am not going to be in a big hurry to order from anybody!
You stated:
"the Heirloom Roses are very expensive for the size."

Several others have made the same comment. Approximately, how small are we talking about here? Twelve inches. . .or less?

Puts me in mind of the "special" trees I ordered from the Arbor Foundation....TREES? The biggest were only 12 inches tall! Only two of the 15 trees survived the first winter and we have had two relatively mild winters since then for Oklahoma. The 2 Roses of Sharon "gifts" are doing fine - they have finally grown to around 12 inches tall. For the same amount, I got three times as many trees on eBay and of the varieties I chose, not what they chose to send me. Lessons learned.

So no, I am in no hurry to order my roses. There is still plenty of time for planting roses in my cottage garden this season.

Of course, some of the same roses I can buy locally from a little private nursery I discovered not far from here. I can buy them for the same price, but a much bigger plant in a huge pot, ready to bloom this year. (I have my eye on a Smoke Tree, a River Birch clump and a beautiful 'Bloodgood' Red Japanese Maple that she has to sell. Already small trees and very healthy. She set them aside for me. Just gorgeous!) :) But of course, she only has a few of the rose varieties I seek. The rest I will need to order.

Thanks to all for their great comments and suggestions. This benefits everyone interested in buying roses.
~Annie

The first time I ordered roses from Heirloom I was dismayed at how little they were when I got them.
But...they grew really well the first year...bloomed the 2nd year...and are pretty much indestructible in my harsh climate.
I don't protect them in Winter and they go on and on!

I just wanted to say hello to Elizabeth in Pinelake!
I took her advice and ordered from Chamblees last week. It is quite odd. I got an email saying that the plants were on order, but no other information about when they would come. Their website did say next shipping date was today, which is fine - I just wanna make sure I get them!!
Our contractor noticed that I have some monster roses growing on itty bitty trellises right now. He's gone out to get more 20' lengths of rebar and the welding iron. Isn't it great to have a contractor who gardens?

Anyway, now I only need ONE more climbing rose. I may just go ahead and propigate Buff beauty so that I have one on each end. They are da-bomb in my garden.

GGG

Hey GGG - dud I miss a plant swap? Anyway, I have no business getting anything else at this point, but too bad I missed seeing everyone. That sounds odd from Chamblees, but I know a lot of people esp. on the antique rose forum who order from them, and others besides me have had consistently excellent experiences with them.

Re Heirloom: one thing they do that most other growers do not is guarantee you a virus-free rose. Viruses don't show up right away, but they affect performance a couple years down the road, as I understand it. That's what makes their roses more expensive for the size. But, as many have pointed out, if you get them in the spring they will have made up the difference in the 1st season, if you have a long growing season, or 2nd. It is wise to encourage the healthiest practices, even if it costs more up front.

As for a size comparison, look at the pot/root ball size to determine how mature a rose is and not the top growth which can be cut back in spring (as bareroot roses are shipped). Heirloom's bands are in tiny 3-4" pots or so, and Chamblees and Roses Unlimited are gallon-sized. BIG difference. Pickering roses ship bareroot in spring and fall planting and give you big roots without soil with the top growth pruned hard to save on shipment costs and ease of harvesting but are two years old versus about one year old for a gallon, and six months old for a tiny band.

I am a lurker by rights but had to get in on this conversation.
I have an Austin 'Abraham Darby' it is about 4 years old.
The only thing I don't like is that it's heads hang down so far I can't really enjoy it. And every year I have to use rose care to rid it of bugs that eat half the flower bud before it even opens! It is a lot of work for not too much return.
Any suggestions on stiffening up the neck of the buds??
I ordered it from Wayside gardens and their stock was fabulous and packing fantastic!