I am extremely happy with mine. It has been busy forming buds now. Mine is very large, in his 3rd year, much bigger than Teasing Georgia! I pruned him hard last spring, but only a moderate clearing here and there this January. So YL is rather husky! I think I'll follow everyone's example too, and feed him come this weekend.

I don't understand why Young Lycidas would scare you, Ingrid. Mine is extremely healthy, and I have never sprayed it. It is a profuse bloomer with beautiful individual flowers that are old-fashioned and very fragrant. It does have some canes that flop under the weight of the big, heavy flowers, but that is becoming less and less of a problem as the plant matures and develops more and more substantial canes. I just cut the weak canes short after they have bloomed. I have a number of favorites in my garden, including Olivia Rose Austin, Tamora and Boscobel, but I would say that Young Lycidas ranks up there near the top of my list (my Olivia Rose Austin is so beautiful at this time that I am unable to consider any other rose to be my favorite).

Well, I'm a year and a half late to this conversation, but I'm curious what you ended up choosing. It sounds like you are a lover and seeker of the same brilliant rose color I am. Out of roses I've personally grown, Big Purple is my favorite, and I've had great luck with it. It seems to get better every year. Photos never seem to do it justice! David Austin's William Shakespeare 2000 is probably in a tie with it: I don't think anyone else mentioned it here and I am surprised. It is a stunner. My DA Lycidas has not been all that thrilling in color or in bloom shape and size. DA The Dark Lady is a magnificent magenta, but the one I have has become ridden with fungus. It may be its location, so I will be moving it soon to see if it can be cured. Munstead Wood (when I've seen it at nurseries) always looks more black-red and depressing to me, even though when I see it online the pictures look quite magenta. The two plants I have been most coveting are Blackberry Nip and David Austin's Indigo. I am desperate for them! I can't manage to procure Blackberry Nip as I can only find it available in Australia (they won't ship to U.S.). DA Indigo I am hoping to find available in the spring--as of now, I am not finding it available.

Thanks! Summers I think you will like it. I wasn't so sure about this one at first. With the funky shaped leaves and the floppy habit... but other peoples' photos convinced me to give it a try. I'm glad I did! The leaves are small so their funky shape doesn't bug me as much as if they were huge and funky... and it's not really that floppy for me. At least with the obelisk and the companion plants around it. Lots and lots of fragrant blooms!