Of my Austin's Abraham Darby is my favorite. Constant flushes of beautiful flowers. The stems get longer with age. But I'll admit they don't get past around 7 inches or so. The nodding blooms did improve greatly with age for me. He is a monster though. I'm training mine as a climber against a wall which I think suits him beautifully. Vase life is great with him. I just watched a video from a florist convention. And the Austin spokesperson highly recommended Constance, edith, carrie, and Juliet for vase work. This post was edited by Ordphien on Mon, Sep 15, 14 at 15:38

No, Jumbo Jimmy, you got a great rose! Although they are all great,I think Sharifa is superior repeat bloom and bloom form. But Heavens to mergatroid, these are all so gorgeous, I would want them all. Sometimes it pays to have a husband put limits on rose ordering. Otherwise, I would order 2 of every one of these, as they are deliciously beautiful but ordering would be maliciously detrimental to my marriage.

I love Austins, and a select few of them are my absolute favorite roses in the garden, but some of them are absolute dogs here in Texas. If you narrow down a list of what you like, please post and I'll comment on which ones I've had. My secret to a healthy rose garden is plenty of tea roses and china roses. Both classes are antiques that LOVE Texas conditions and bloom their hearts out till we get nights down to 27 degrees. The Austins are a risk- none are really healthy, but some are so fragrant that it's worth it. (Jude the Obscure, Mary Magdaline, Scepter d Isle, Tamora). And like I said, others are just awful, though I'm sure they are beautiful in areas with cooler night time temps. I'm too lazy and have too many gardens to spray anything so there are lots of roses that have gotten the boot from my yard over the years!

Most of my DAs have only been in for 12 months. I believe they need a few years before we should judge them. Sophie's Rose and Radio Times have had 4 years and they are two I would not be without. Sophie has has a brilliant season; always in flower but alas no perfume. RT makes up for Sophie's lack though. They do get black splot but no worse than the others. RT has put out long canes this season. I'll try pegging these down next season. Would be interested to know your 'good retail place', greencroc. Hazel