My favorite red rose is ROUGE ROYALE, a 2001 Hybrid Tea that is part of the Romantica series. If you like cut flowers it is impossible to beat: rich ruby red color (velvety on the top of the petal with a satiny reverse on the underside), thick petal substance, perfect flower formation (quartered), out of this world fragrance, loooooooong & strong stems, phenomenal vase life, and good remontancy (repeat bloom). The shrub ain't bad either: medium height, decent vigor, leathery foliage, and the growth habit is less upright than the typical Hybrid Tea so you get a nice busy plant. The only faults are a propensity for black spot and a tendency for the blooms to rot if a lot of water gets trapped in the deeply cupped buds. The color can also fade in scorching sun. The solution is to cut the wondrous ruby red blooms while young for the vase. Among the red Hybrid Perpetuals I've had my eye on ECLAIR for years. It is said to have the richest, most true red color in the entire class. The flower form is also quartered (my favorite flower form). The only reason I haven't bought it is because another rosarian told me the repeat bloom is unreliable. One day I still want to give it a try. CRAMOISI SUPERIEUR/LOUIS PHILIPPE deserves all the praise heaped on it. The one I got from COUNTRYSIDE ROSES and growing in my mother's zone 7b garden is not only very fragrant but has the most lovely petite globular flowers. Unlike a lot of reds the color improves as it is exposed to intense summer sun. It "suntans" from cerise to bright red. The foliage is very disease resistant. The China growth habit is weird but has its own charm once you get used to it. A perfect choice for an herb garden or potager. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE 2000 is the best crimson English Rose. Mine (grafted) is always in bloom with a lovely spreading growth habit that reminds me of the best Gallicas. He fits perfectly into a mixed flower border. The gorgeous blooms are sheer perfection in form rivaling the classic Gallica CHARLSES DE MILLS. Lovely fragrance too. Needs afternoon shade to preserve the candy apple red color. Two other reds high up on my list of favorites include MISTER LINCOLN (my late father's favorite rose) and TRADESCANT. I also one day want to try the climber ORFEO. Best wishes, Patrick

Bishop Darlington looks very interesting. Thanks for sharing JeriJen. I really like the informal non-fuss but relaxed look. I am beginning to realize that singles and semi-doubles give it a very relaxed feel compared to the highly formal hybrid teas. Anna-Marie de Montravel has that spring fresh look and it would really nice at night too. I really like it. It would look good in front of a garden. I bet it would really shine under a summer moon sky. Thanks Linaria. Thanks Sara-Ann for Tiffanny. I have seen this rose many times but never had the chance to buy one. I like this shade of pink in roses. It doesn't scream at you..lol. I agree with you Laura, which is why I bought mine this past spring. I only saw it flower once though but it was really nice. I am crossing my finger that it doesn't die under this snow. I am thinking of getting the red eden if it is available in my area.

I have both. 'Fire Island' is pretty, especially in spring, but 'Designer Genes' is outstanding. When it emerges, the golden leaves stand upright, which shows off the red petioles beautifully. The petioles are a very bright, candy cane red and the leaves very yellow. It is very vigorous; it's growth rate noticeably faster than 'Fire Island.' Seems to be very slug resistant - it remained clean all summer. Both were planted about the same time in my gardens. Visitors comment and ask about 'Designer Genes' very often. It will fade to chartreuse during the summer, and the red petioles are not as bright, but it is definitely worth space in the garden. It may be that 'Fire Island' is slower to grow and has not yet grown to full advantage. So far, it has been a "closeup" hosta, pretty upon close examination, but 'Designer Genes' beckons from a distance, and is even more rewarding close up.

I have lots of roses.... I am so glad I got two Darlow's Enigmas! I got them last year from Heirloom Roses. They are own-root and I've got them on the edge of our trees to climb away. Nobody's mentioned the polyanthas, they do great here! I have CL Cecile Brunner, Marie Pavie, Pink Pet, Red Fairy and Perle d'Or. Very sweet roses. I have a new Westerland from last year planted. As for the Austins that do well, I have Chianti, Flastaff( VERY Fragrant) Jude the Obscure, Abraham Darby and Graham Thomas. The Vice President of the Tacoma Rose Society has given a lot of praise for the newer white hybrid tea Pope John Paul II. He said it does very well here! It is very beautiful and is supposed to have an amazing fragrance. I have the hybrid tea Ebb Tide. Wonderful! Dark purple with an incredibly strong frgarance. My favorite!