Most European OGRs bloom on old wood -- even many of those which repeat. So what happens is that new canes (thick shoots from the base) will grow this year, and next year will bloom on laterals on last year's canes. After the first flush, if you cut back the laterals on last year's shoots, they'll bloom again (if the rose repeats). Basically, they bloom on new shoots growing from last year's canes. This is the case for most of the long-caned Bourbons and Hybrid Perpetuals. Some of those with an extra dose of China or Tea will bloom on new shoots the same year, but 'Zephirine Drouhin' isn't one of those. So if this rose is new for you, don't expect much in the way of blooms the first year -- sometimes not much the second year, either. The rose first needs to grow its layer of canes which will mature and then flowerHybrid Teas and Floribundas have heavier doeses of China-derived repeat-blooming genes, and so they will bloom on new shoots their first year (hence their being able to take hard-pruning in Spring and still flower that same year). :-) ~Christopher

The beauty of the new roses you brought home is that they DO NOT need constant "tweaking" as the HTs do. Good pruning advice above - but don't overdo it. Relax, try leaving them alone for a while (except for water, of course). They need time to settle in and deal with growing new roots. DO NOT use HT pruning techniques on them, or as you have noticed, you will not have any bush at all left. Just let them grow for a few months, and then look at them and see what they are doing. I do not prune any of my roses except to take off dead growth, and prune a bit for shape if they are trying to block a path or the driveway, etc. One thing to keep in mind since you are in zone 9 - here in CA, you cannot rely on the size estimates of Austin or even HMF, because in warm climates many Austin roses get MUCH bigger than most sources will tell you. Do you live on the West Coast, or the humid South, or where? Local advice is best, so if you tell us what part of what state you live in, someone from there is likely to see your post and grow Austins, and then you can get more specific advice from locals who grow them near you. Good luck with them - just be patient and do not worry about having to constantly do things to them - they will be much happier left in peace. Jackie

I had grown 'Indigo' for well over a year in a pot here - it grew and bloomed almost like a floribunda when cut after the flowers fell apart (which they did rather quickly in the heat, like within a day). It didn't have so much as a speck of anything on its leaves. When it arrived from California, it was sick looking and anemic - some warmth, good soil and food restored it to such good health I had to give it to my mother in Minnesota because I couldn't give it the bigger pot it needed. 'Marchessa Boccella' is spotless up north, and the blooms are absolutely charming - I don't think everyone is as particular as Patrick about mathematically perfect flower form. Some of the flowers can be extremely wide in favorable conditions. As others noted, it's supposed to be a hybrid perpetual, and it is certainly not a short rose. 'Rose de Resht' is a trooper, doing well in spite of black spot and crud (which we do get up north, by the way, so it isn't a latitude issue!). This one is also thought to perhaps be a hybrid perpetual of sorts; I don't know about that, but the China background is pretty obvious when you look at the plant. I have a supposed 'Duchess of Portland' at home, but I wonder about its identity because it wants to grow large and only blooms once a year. It isn't a plant I'd particularly recommend to anyone, if that's all there is to it. Carol, do you know which 'Rose du Roi' clone you're growing - the old one of commerce, or the "real" 'Rose du Roi' isolated from 'Pananchée de Lyon' at Vintage?

About a month ago I dug up the white rose and threw it in the yard. That same day I cut down a large tree and threw it in the yard and it covered the white rose up. Today I was cutting up the tree to dispose of it. When I got to the bottom of the pile I found the white rose with new growth all over it. Amazing!. Now I think I must find a place for it again!