@Moses, Bumping this thread, though it's not that old. I have two own-root Stiletto younglings (quarter-pot starter size) recently planted at the start of June. In just three weeks time, I already had a few blooms and they were exquisite. (I wish I would have taken photos, but I will next time, which will probably be soon - given new bud formation again). Although it is certainly much too early to make any solid statements about the overall performance of this rose in my scorching-hot and humidity-soaked zone 8A central Mississippi summer climate, I can in the meantime decisively confirm at least one particular quality that has surprised me: Stiletto blooms appear to last a few weeks! The petals do not fall off as the rose ages (unlike a number of roses which unremarkably "shatter" within a few day's time of unfirling). I've not noticed a SINGLE petal coming loose with Stiletto, even in full sun and after being inundated with the heavy downpour of a severe thunderstorm. Instead, the petals slowly harden off, gracefully drying out (not unlike some dried rose arrangements), and finally the entire flower head shrivels up, inevitably browns, then falls off at the node-neck break ("self cleans"). Throughout this transition, in full summer heat and scolding Sun, the rose color shifts as it ages; first, opening in a voluptuous plum-red (mostly red with hints of a violet cast, reminiscent of Santa Rosa plum skin color), then turning a more decidedly bold magenta, and ending with a provacative yet aggreeable purple at the onset of its drying out as it approaches browning. Hence, at the very least, it can be said that Stiletto demonstrates EXCEPTIONALLY stable blooms. I've not seen a rose hold on as tenaciously yet gracefully as this one [in recent memory], based upon over three dozen rose varieties currently in my collection to make that comparative assertion. Stay tuned for additional assessments to come, and some planned posted images.

Thank you, Ben! The new introductions this time of year help ease the disappointment of our growing season ending here in the US. Soeur Emmanuelle is the only one I'm familiar with. She's already taller than the stated size on HMF, reaching 5'+ at 1 yr old from a Palatine bare root. Mine is similar to most of the photos on HMF with clusters of blooms on long stems that start off as deep red buds, open to a rich rose pink that gradually lighten to pale pink. I don't believe the fading blooms is a negative, rather a feature of the rose. The various shades are very pretty on the bush. The form on mine is definitely hybrid tea, rather than shrub, right down to the sparse foliage toward the base, but that may stand out more to me than to those who are used to hybrid teas. Scent is often hard to detect in my climate, but her's is strong and lovely. I'll try posting my pics below. I'm having computer troubles or Houzz troubles tonight.

Yes in most cases. With my New Zealand lemonade, it set flowers and new growth. The new fruit started to grow and the tree put on more leaves. It kept flowering and started dropped its developing fruits. This flowering continued and the new leaves and shoots started dyeing. More flowers bloomed and the tree started dropping the old growth leaves and branches until the tree was dead. In fall I have to trim all the flower buds off my NZL's for the tree to do well.

what a sweet photo! little choo choo was certainly in the right place at the right time. wishing you much joy and love! the circumstances remind me of the little great dane puppy found running through traffic in st. louis. he was scooped up by a passerby and taken to the dane rescue there. it was always a mystery where he came from as no one claimed him. he was SO tiny, it was a wonder he wasn't smooshed! he was beyond adorable, they named him "dodger" for obvious reasons and he was adopted by a friend of mine. lived to the ripe old age of 12 years.