Baronne Prevost could probably be trained on a pillar but it is fiercely prickly - the big, pointed kinds - I would not want to be the one to tie it up! We have Mme Joseph Schwarz growing in almost total shade in the Sacramento cemetery where it stays clean and blooms. I'm pretty sure it's a sport of Duchesse de Brabant since it sometimes throws pink flowers, but it performs much better. DdB gets mildew here, too, although our summer heat discourages it so the mildew is spring and fall. I heard a European speaker (don't remember who) extoll Mme Joseph Schwatz's virtues as a much superior plant to DdB, and that's been my experience too. Some teas are big. Some are huge. Mrs. Dudley Cross is in that category. Mme Antoine Mari is the closest to a moderate-sized tea that I've encountered but even that is building in our garden. Anita

What fun to be able to design and plant so many old roses that thrive in the heat of the Southeast! I live in hot and humid eastern NC. We are probably hotter than you are. The teas I really like are Mrs. B. R. Cant and Barronne Henriette de Snoy. Mrs BR gets huge: mine has spread to 10 feet in three years, 4' tall. She gets no black spot and blooms constantly. I had always heard not to prune a tea hard as it will not bloom well. Baronne HdS is about 6" x 4' high and has exquisite blooms of porcelain peach. She gets small bs occassionally but I do not spray and she does fine. Mrs. Dudley Cross has remained small and blomm is pretty but sparce. Flushes twice a year. General Galleni gets no bs and keeps an odd shaped red blend bloom or two---never covered. My son has Mutabulis, a China, in Charlotte. He rarely fertilizes and does not prune. Only in the coldest part of winter have I seen this bush without bloom. It is usually covered. Also has gotten very large---8 x8'. Hope this helps. I love the teas for their beautiful flowers and toughness! I have ordered Mme Berkley from Roses Unlimited for next spring. They have an excellent selection of OGR and plants are always large and healthy. Enjoy! Enjoy!

Re-reading this thread once again. I just thought I'd point out how much difference subtle climate variations can make in the health of roses. I'm not sure exactly where Luxrosa lives, but we are both in the general Bay Area, me in the South Bay. Celine Forestier was on her list of very healthy roses. It is one of my worst for PM, and its spot is going to be given to Bouquet d'Or when that rose arrives. My fingers are crossed that it will do well here. I fell in love with it from Paparoseman's pictures. Of course he lives up in the PNW, a climate completely different from anywhere in the sunny Bay Area. Rosefolly

Thanks, everyone! I ordered from ARE last week: Cornelia, Madame Berkeley, Mutabilis, Sally Holmes, and Marie Van Houtte. These last three didn't come up on this thread, so hope I chose well. Mutabilis and Sally were on my want list, but I had forgotten about them. I've seen both around here looking really stunning. Marie Van Houtte was more of an impulse buy. I wanted Mrs Dudley Cross, but read MVH is less prone to mildew. Rosette Delizy was also a contender, but her color not as good with my existing plants. I really wanted to order the Cochets, but restrained myself due to the balling. Sigh... Marie VH and Mme Berkeley will have lots of sun; Mutabilis, mostly sun; Sally H will have morning sun. Not sure yet about where to plant Cornelia. I've read conflicting reports about how much sun she likes. I'll probably get one more shade tolerant rose- maybe Pax, Buff Beauty, or Reve D'or. My clay soil is waterlogged, so I'll probably need to wait awhile to plant. No complaints about the rain, though!