If you are in eastern 6a, 'Francis Meilland' could be the best choice because of blackspot resistance, unless it is less winter hardy than the others, which I really don't know.

I think Francis Meilland is your best bet. I rate roses by beauty and bs resistance, and FM rates high in those categories--and is more pastel , which you desire.

Tiffany is a lovely rose and bs resistant, but a medium and rather bright pink. Not what I would call "pale pink" at all.

I don't know Secret, but helpmefind.com shows pics ranging from a lovely pastel pink edged whitish rose to a medium shade. Might sometimes be a darker color than you want--perhaps depending on amount of sun and temperatures? Don't know for sure, but I saw an on-going discussion there about Secret not liking heat but not performing that well if it is planted in partial shade, so I would have questions about that one--though a lot of rave reviews from this forum might banish my doubts.

Whichever one you pick, all three are truly lovely and seemingly disease-resistant roses, so you probably can't go very wrong with any of them.

Kate

You're right, michaelg, I do have lots of black spot in my area. I try to plant only resistant roses, but sometimes my need for a color gets ahead of my common sense, lol!

Choosing the colors for this bed is driving me nuts. I'm using the above flower arrangement as inspiration. Is FM too pale? Secret too mauve? Tiffany too blue-toned? This is driving me nuts, since I have such limited space and can only have eight roses, LOL

Tiffany is a great rose for me, so I am a little partial, but I agree with Kate that FM would be the better choice. It is beautiful and although mine hasn't bloomed much, it does seem very healthy and I think the blooms will come eventually and hopefully yours would be a great bloomer from the start.

Tiffany, although beautiful, is not black spot resistant anywhere as far as I know. Certainly not in my garden. I don't know much about FM and I just got Secret so I can't say about them.

Secret and Francis are annuals here in SE WI. Tiffany would be hardiest but would need to be sprayed.. Black Magic is also very tender here zone 5.

The soft pink of FM looks like it would "go" better with your colors, but I'm partial to Secret, which is a must-have in my garden. My old Secret plant was kind of winter tender, but the two I planted 3 years ago have come back fine. I'm in 6B NJ, and we had the toughest winter this year that I can recall in the 34 years I've lived here.

I think you'll like Secret a LOT. Think softer Louise Estes that has a fragrance that will knock you off your feet.

Love your choices (Lady of Shalott etc.). Looks like you're doing some bouquet planning.

Aside from climate restrictions on the one to add --- 'Tiffany' would fit right in with the other yellow based pink/peaches. 'Secret' not so much. IMO. I grow both and 'Secret' is, well, she is distinct. I think she would be a jarring note. I read that 'Francis Meilland' fades to white. One this pale may be difficult to place but I think it would make the bed more interesting. I put photos of each on my desktop and arranged. I cast my vote for FM.

My Francis Meilland is beautiful, when it blooms, but it is a very stingy bloomer in my little micro-climate on Oahu (full sun, windy, rain in the evening). It grew to 7 feet in a year, but I've only had 4 or 5 blooms from it, have done the pruning, the fertilizer, etc. I might give up if this next hard pruning doesn't do anything, and re-use the 15 gallon pot on one of the better rose plants.

One of my first plants was a Secret, produced beautiful, heavenly flowers with wonderful scent, so I would vote for it anytime for anyone.

Francis Meilland post/pictures