I don't know Julia Child, but Carefree Sunshine is absolutely the cleanest, healthiest rose I have ever seen. It doesn't even get the fall crud that Knockouts sometimes do. The foliage color is brilliant green, much prettier than Knockout. I've never sprayed mine - just skip them when I'm spraying.

Ah, Julia. It is like Iceberg here. It is disease resistant for some people and not for others. It wasn't for me, but it was a pretty thing. Not a great fragrance, not good as a cut flower. Sunsprite is another that is sometimes resistant. You might try one of the "Fairy Tale" series from Kordes, the two that I have are totally clean and have not been treated for blackspot all season. Golden Fairy Tale looks nice.

fduk, for what it's worth my first try at Julia Child was sum what like yours. I started with three of them. In their third year I could not take any longer and began too dig them up. They did not grow well and defoliated every year from black spot. Mine where own root. I dug up the first two and thru them near the compost pile. Did not have the heart too pitch the last one. So I moved it too the empty lot. There it could do what it wished without bothering me. Yeah, It change from a mouse into a princess.She now showed no disease and has beautiful blooms. I just sighed telling her I suppose if I move you back too the yard you will not look like this. She stayed in the lot for years. I'm reasonably sure the only difference was the amount of sun. She's now back in the yard as a neighbors tree finally grew too large. Another neighbor removed a tree providing a very sunny spot in the yard. Mine will never resemble Diane's beauty or that in San Jose ect. but she is now a beauty in her own right. Finally bought 4 more.

Hi, Bart, I read that Gloire de Ducher is supposed to be hardy, vigorous. However, I am sure she needs the right conditions. for proper growth. And first year,roses usually are small-grow littleget their roots established. Second year roses start doing better-ok growth, but 3rd year roses take off-grow vigrously. Esp. bands from RVRs are small first year-take a few years to show their real stuff! I purchased Cinderella as a band, who had 3 blooms first year, 1-2 ft high first year. Second year winter took its toll on her & she took all season to grow 2ft, but end of season she finally shot up 5 ft. Not much show of blooms in her second year. 3rd year, she started pruned in spring at 3ft, now 5 1/2 ft-sooooo many buds-unbelievable-can’t count-super vigorous-HUGE!!! My soil/fertilizers are organic. How is your soil quality & does it drain well, fertilizer, and sunshine on Gloire de Ducher? I use organic soils, Rose Tone, fish fertilizers & she will get full 8 hrs sun at least. What do you think? There are many factors that can stunt growth. A climate she diesn’t like. Cold winters can damage their growth taking a full season to recover sometimes. if you have clay… it can defintely stunt growth &/or cause fungus from poor draining. Tree roots & other olants crowd & stunt growth. Sandy soil is poor for many roses. Where is your location-city-state? & plant zone?