What is your location, please? Here, no HT is blackspot resistant, the reds and the mauves are the worst.

I have two Veteran's Honors also, but never a problem. Our growing season is long, hot, windy and dry. The roses are on drip. They are just the most beautiful, long lasting blooms ever. My favorite!

Hi Diane, sorry not to mention it before, I'm from New York.

Hi Suzi, I adore it too but has been a huge bs problem here :( Maybe spraying will do the trick, but I know that can be tricky which is why I'm curious about the other 2.

I'm in central NJ, not far from the coast, if that helps.

I have both Veteran's Honor and Ingrid Bergman and both are excellent roses. VH is my favorite for its bright red, it's perfect form and it's extreme lasting power on both the bush and the vase. If you are willing to spray it twice a month from May-September it will be an outstanding performer. Use bayer disease control spray, that's the best for the price and easy to find at Home Depot, Walmart, etc.

That being said, Ingrid Bergman is also an amazing rose. She has much darker red blooms which can turn blackish as it ages. The blooms are not as pointed or well formed as VH. But they too have great lasting power. IB however is more blackspot resistant (although I still have to spray them both). Ingrid has a taller more upright growth habit than VH, which can be more bushy. Ingrid also has stronger stems too while veterans is prone to "weak necks". And Ingrid has more fragrance.

So why is VH my favorite you ask?

Because it almost always has perfectly shaped flowers. Ingrid has pretty flowers but they are not always the perfect form. They also have a tendency to turn black.

For bright red perfect roses VH takes the cake. For disease resistance, easy(er) to grow fragrant roses Ingrid is the choice.

Never tried Chrystler imperial but I've heard good things.

When I grew Chrysler Imperial, I did not find it to be a very floriferous bloomer. It had some bs resistance, although not terrific. I loved the dark color, but I didn't find the shape of the blooms that appealing.

I finally replaced it with Oklahoma which has gorgeous dark red blooms that are so big and full that she has trouble holding her head up if it rains or is really windy, unfortunately. I'm always having to prop up those blooms. So far (her second year in my garden) she hasn't had many problems with BS.

As was noted above, red HTs in general are not noted for being highly resistant to BS.

Kate

Seil, I see what you mean about NY being a blackspot magnet. I will certainly keep in mind to get the newer versions, since I'm looking for more roses besides red.

SoFL, I did use Bayer Control originally for a few years. My big mistake was that I used the 3 in 1 solution which isn't a spray. I read about why that was a mistake on my part. So I switched and used Bayer disease control spray last year and it worked very well on most of the roses. I know VH has the worst bs I have ever seen. I don't know how much good spraying would do VH which is why I hesitate. Like I said I planted VH at my mother's, I know it has weak necks but it's an unbelievable knockout and standout rose until it's decimated with BS. I did go to purchase it, (a few times) and hubby would steer me away because there was a good amount of bs already on it. If Ingrid and Chrysler are more disease resistant I'm willing to try or rather I'll search for a newer introduction as Seil has mentioned.

I thought I had the edge since I have the net to research before buying, despite that, it was trial and error trial and error. Seems my grandfather also from NY had a much easier time! I have no idea how he kept up that big property, almost disease resistant roses, grew vegetables and kept up the grass as green as it could be. I give him a lot of credit, because in retrospect that's a big feat compared to my smaller garden where I have had more problems. But it's certainly rewarding, and I enjoy it. Iv'e been successful with plants (eventually :) and I'm happy about that. Thanks, Kate, now I have another contender, Oklahoma! Thank you all for the terrific information! I appreciate your insight!

I live in the Toronto region, so that is not "too" far away and we are probably in similar growing zone. Ingrid Bergman does well for many years in my garden. It does get blackspot later in the season at autumn time like the rest of my roses. Having said that after 3 years, I think I may have lost her to last winter. It is a beautiful rose up here. I think Chrysler Imperial may be mildew prone but bs resistant.

Spraying with the Bayer Advanced Disease Control will help with VH. I live in Georgia and our blackspot pressure is worse than in NY. Many people down here have VH and it does well if sprayed. You can even spray it now and it will stop the blackspot on the rose. Any red HT or any HT really will get blackspot.

Thanks, that give me hope Buford_NE!

Grande Amore seems to have better disease resistance than most red HTs. It wants to be 4 ft wide and 5 ft tall.