I grew them for a few years but stopped because I was getting too many unnamed roses in my garden. It was a good way for J&P to get rid of left overs they didn't have enough of to offer in their catalog and plantings they decided not to offer for sale. Some did get early plants that eventually amounted to something. Those offered as test roses were already scheduled for eventual sale or the scrap heap.

Hey John! Where did you hear that the mauve one was going to be rose of the yr next yr? I only got a couple of blooms on mine, but they were nice. Actually all 4 of them only gave me a few blooms each. The yellow one, SOUTHERN BELLE was the best for me. I wasn't all that impressed with APRIL IN PARIS, but really, it's hard to judge any of them or any rose in one season. That's why the test panel, to me, seems almost ludicrous. It's just kinda nice to get the roses cheaper is all. LOL But I have to admit, that new batch looks wonderful. Mine are already potted up and starting to sprout! You know of course, that I would be most interested in the striped one! And that orange... wow! I can't wait to see them bloom, and to compare notes with you! Come on spring!

I would winter him over in, say a garage or shed, then plant in the spring.

Their customer service is horrible this year, too :( They were supposed to replace a rose I bought last spring, and I tried bugging them about it since last May, but their final verdict is a $10 credit. Great. What are the credit card policies on this sort of thing? If they send dogs, can I just have my cc company cancel the charges, you think? Surely bum product + bankruptcy would work to not have to accept another store credit if it's done quickly enough? ***Does anyone have any experience at all with Heavenly Dawn? That's who I'm considering using my credit on if I decide to actually use it.*** I was going to buy Heaven on Earth there now, too, but any J&P rose available elsewhere at all should be bought elsewhere, imho. (Unless your cc company is usually very great about bum companies, I suppose ;) Mine usually is.) Heavenly Dawn isn't some known rose, is it?