Oh gosh, mine is a monster! It gets a good 6 feet tall every season no matter how far I have to prune it back in the spring. But it's typically tall and narrow like most HTs. It blooms in flushes with about an 6 week cycle so I usually only get 3 flushes. But they're gorgeous and huge and last on the bush for at least a week if I let them. It's fairly healthy although it will spot some but it's never defoliated on me. It's potted on the patio where it gets the best sun. It's been very winter hardy too. All in all I'm very pleased with mine.

Wow nice form! I kick myself every time I see someone post a pic of this one. I had this rose as a test rose way back in the late 90s and gave it away because I didn't have much room and red is not my favorite color. Now I wish I hadn't given it away. Oh sure, I could buy a new one, but I somehow just can't seem to do it. It's always nice to see pics of other people's blooms tho.

Seil, I see what you mean about NY being a blackspot magnet. I will certainly keep in mind to get the newer versions, since I'm looking for more roses besides red. SoFL, I did use Bayer Control originally for a few years. My big mistake was that I used the 3 in 1 solution which isn't a spray. I read about why that was a mistake on my part. So I switched and used Bayer disease control spray last year and it worked very well on most of the roses. I know VH has the worst bs I have ever seen. I don't know how much good spraying would do VH which is why I hesitate. Like I said I planted VH at my mother's, I know it has weak necks but it's an unbelievable knockout and standout rose until it's decimated with BS. I did go to purchase it, (a few times) and hubby would steer me away because there was a good amount of bs already on it. If Ingrid and Chrysler are more disease resistant I'm willing to try or rather I'll search for a newer introduction as Seil has mentioned. I thought I had the edge since I have the net to research before buying, despite that, it was trial and error trial and error. Seems my grandfather also from NY had a much easier time! I have no idea how he kept up that big property, almost disease resistant roses, grew vegetables and kept up the grass as green as it could be. I give him a lot of credit, because in retrospect that's a big feat compared to my smaller garden where I have had more problems. But it's certainly rewarding, and I enjoy it. Iv'e been successful with plants (eventually :) and I'm happy about that. Thanks, Kate, now I have another contender, Oklahoma! Thank you all for the terrific information! I appreciate your insight!

We have 3 VH's in our garden and consider it one of the very best of all the red HT's. Here are 4 suggestions of roses that are bi-colored that we grow that might work well for you: Cherry Parfait (grandiflora) 2. Scentimental (floribunda) 3. Smart and Sassy (miniflora) Ketchup and Mustard (floribunda) 5. Double Delight (hybrid tea) My top 2 choices would be CP and S, which are about 3-4 feet tall here so far while VH can grow to 6 feet tall here. DD grows to around 4.5 feet here, S&S to around 3 feet and K&M to around 4 feet. Good luck with you choice!