When you buy roses, make sure the root stock is Fortuniana which is suited for Florida conditions. There is also another one but I can't recall what it is right now. They are also more expensive than the ordinary roses you see at Home Depot, etc. but the extra cost is worth it. You mentioned that this garden is on the side of the house, so is it possible that there isn't enough full sun for them there? Roses suffer from diseases if not in the full sun. Black spot and mildew are the biggest culprits for roses defoliating. And you also shouldn't pack them in close together for this same reason. They should get air circulation all around them. The best rose I've ever had is the Don Juan climber. But it can still have problems. Roses are high maintenance and picky, so if you don't put them in the right conditions and do the maintenance they require the best thing to do is not waste your time and money on them.

Belinda's dream is the best for what you described. I have about 17 varieties of roses and Belinda is the most bush-like. I am interested in that Windermere you mentioned though.

Maybe you should consider putting up a few trellises with climbing roses if you want more height. I would also add some other plants to compensate for the times the roses are not in bloom.

I agree completely with rita ... roses require occasional heavy pruning and full sun to look good. I doubt you will be able to achieve what you're looking for with all roses. Maybe mix a few in with foliage plants for height and contrast.

Thanks everyone!

Amberroses, Windermere is the best! It is no spray (I don't spray any of my roses). Beautiful cream colored roses all summer. It also has the lemon scent of old roses. I'm on my third year and they never get black spot or defoliate. These are grafted on Fortuniana root stock.

All of my non-antique roses are grafted on Fortuniana, but that doesn't help the black spot and defoliation.

I have Marguerite plus a couple of other English roses on Fortuniana but they don't perform like Windermere.

This rose garden was placed where it is because it is in full sun all day and roses were the best solution I thought. Maybe I can check and see if Home Depot can order more Windermeres. I can alternate them with Belinda's Dream.

There is one rose that you can plant own root or on fortuniana virtually anywhere in Florida. It is called Louis Phillipe, the Cracker Rose. It has pretty dark red blooms that are very fragrant. It will get very big, but can be pruned anytime to the size you wish.

aroidgardener- I googled Windermerer. Is it a David Austen rose? I am surprised it does so well for you. I love the look and smell of the David Austins, but the one I tried (Teasing Georgia) had tons of blackspot. I will give Windermere a try if I see it somewhere. The Home Depots have mostly been stocking knockout roses lately.

Thanks Tom. I have 2 plants of Louis Phillipe, but I have yet to get them big and bushy. I love the roses. I'll have to prune them better and see what I can do.

Amberroses, Windermere is an English Rose. I was surprised too that it does so well. The other English Roses I have are Ambridge Rose, Wildeve, Graham Thomas, and Gruss An Aachen. They are all grafted. Ambridge Rose does well, it's just a 3 ft rose however. Beautiful flowers. Wildeve is another small rose. I have it in the wrong spot so it hasn't done anything. I wouldn't live without Graham Thomas. Love the flowers. It does get some blackspot and defoliates. Gruss An Aachen does well, I just don't love the flowers.

I'll post some pics.

Oh, I have Crown Princess Marguerite as well. It is doing OK so far, no blackspot, but has defoliated.

Ambridge Rose

Graham Thomas

Windermere

Pretty pictures. Look at the clean foliage on that Windermere! Please don't awaken my dormant rose addiction again:) I have Gruss An Aachen in a pot and I really do like the flowers. There aren't many rose flowers I don't like though.

I Googled Windermere also and it seems that David Austin roses in Tyler Texas is the only place it is available, that I could find... and it is own-root, not grafted on Fort., also pricey.... would be great to know where your Windermere actually came from, before HD (where it was grafted)... since it's hard to find Austins that are grafted, that do not BS.... I'd get me one ..or maybe two....or even three ! ..... sally

Sally, my Crown Princess Marguerite is Jackson and Perkins for sure. I got it at Lowe's. The others must be as well as I just found a Jackson and Perkins Pat Austin rose at Home Depot this morning. Wow, what a beautiful color on this rose.

Knowing that, I will have to check back with Home Depot to see if they can order in some Windermeres. The manager of the garden center wasn't there this morning.

Aroidgardener, which HD and Lowes do you go to ? In St Pete ? I am in St Pete and go to 22nd Ave No. stores and have never seen any D Austin roses, let alone any that are grafted on Fort. I am thinking I will ask the garden Mgr. when I next see him...... thanx, sally

Sally,

I live in Plant City. All of the Lowes and Home Depots in the Plant City and Brandon areas carry Jackson and Perkins roses. They are always in bright blue pots. That's how to spot them. I always have to look through all of them to check for any English roses. For instance, Lowes had approximately 20 of the Marguerites, but I found only one with a tiny metal tag identifying what they were. The plastic tags that they usually have as well, were all rotted and none of them were on bloom.

Hope you find some!