Moonstone is awesome! It's one of my favorite roses, of the 80 or so I have. I had Moonstone quite a few years ago, then I let my rose garden go. Moonstone had never gotten planted, was still in a pot, so of course I lost it. Three years ago when I rebuilt my beds I remembered how beautiful Moonstone could be. It was a must-have for my new garden. This year the form and coloring of my Moonstone blooms have been exquisite. The leaves are beautiful, glossy deep green, amongst the cleanest of all my roses. The bush is rarely bothered by disease ( I do spray fungicides). Insects don't bother it much here either. The blooms take quite some time to develop and open, so I would venture to say in general Moonstone grows rather slowly. I had some rather promising buds I wanted to take to a show in early June, hoping they would open in time. They didn't start to unfurl til about a week and a half later. In fact the three promising buds are blooming now. They are are very long-lasting, the substance is excellent.

It will waterspot from rain, as most light color blooms do. My Moonstone overwintered very well last year in one of our harshest NJ winters in ages. I really don't protect my roses for winter, just let the leaves pile up. My bush is a grafted one.

You really can't go wrong with Moonstone. It's a top show rose and often wins queen. But it's not a floribunda, so you'll wait a bit for those gorgeous blooms.

I second what cadiarose says. If there is one rose that I always look forward to and appreciate its bloom, it is Moonstone.

Moonstone is fantastic. I have nothing bad to say about it. It's one of my favorite roses. It blooms often and the flowers last a long time. They are usually very large and have excellent form. I can't say enough good things about moonstone. You will not be disappointed.

Mine is doing really well right now. I think because I bought it on Fortuniana root stock and that seems to like hot weather. That and Randy Scott are the only ones blooming like crazy now.

Edit, although my Moonstone is doing well, it's Magnificent, a new rose that has Moonstone in it's lineage that is on Fortuniana and is blooming...

I love the greenish tint on the outer petals.

Sara-Ann, Moonstone is one of my favorite roses. The blooms last and it's a producer. Mine gets some BS and thrips like it, also.

Mine was terrible, split centers all of the time, I'm glad that it finally keeled. Cajun Moon is much better.

Mine is doing much better with regard to centers after moving it to the front yard with all day sun and much better drainage--though that could just be a coincidence.

During the first two years, don't worry too much about the blooms not being perfect. Just feed it good and get a good bush built up. During it's third year, back off on it's food by 1/2 and you will be amazed at the blooms. I have 4 of them. I also have 4 of it's sport, Marlon's Day. Yes, I like it a LOT.

Very slow grower, but healthy. Mine is on its own roots, purchased as a band last year.

Lynn

Diane, do you have a pic that shows Moonstone split center?

Here is a split center.

I've had split centers on my Moonstone, too. I don't know if it's more weather related to our climate and/or too much fertilizing.

Moonstone works GREAT for some people.

10 years is enough time. Zack's photo captures the split center well. All of the blooms on my plant split. Not useful for a variety purchased for exhibition. I know it can be lovely (congratulations seil!), I have seen and judged many. Mine was horrid.

I had mine for 3-4 years, purchased through rose club, everyone purchased one that year from Palatine. I planted it and forgot about it, and it's in bloom now in a garden surrounded by KOs. This thread made me went looking for it last night, I though I lost it to the cold winter. It's hardy, all I can say. I will check on if mine has split bloom or not after this long church morning.

Happy for Seil! She looks soo happy, she is glowing!! :-)

Mine does get split centers sometimes, but mostly she's just perfection.

Thanks for your input everyone. Hopefully mine will do good, like most of yours.

Lots of flowers, lots of split centers, lots of Rust. A strong, vigorous plant, own-root or grafted. Little fragrance. Nice long, strong stems. Like every other rose, pluses and minuses. Besides 'Cajun Moon', 'Louise Estes' is another rose in that color range.

Mine grows well and puts out quite a few flowers, but the flower quality is not consistent. The flowers also do not always stand up to the weather, particularly rainy weather. Frequently they just turn brown and rot on the plant. Moonstone can be very pretty, but, again, it is not consistent.

I had my first split centers, both on Moonstone and Magnificent, which has Moonstone lineage. The blooms were also devoured by JBs, so I hadn't really noticed. Also, it's been very hot here, I'm not sure if that makes a difference.

As you can see from the picture, I'm kinda partial to mine, lol! I do get some split centers but certainly not all of them. Mine is grafted and potted and wintered pretty well. I had to cut it short this spring but it came back vigorously. It does black spot some but I've never seen any mildew on it.

Beautiful! Any idea where to buy it? Seems like it is rare! I live in Europe (Sweden) and can't find a site that ships outside US/UK :(

Did you try Palatine in Canada?

FilRoses ships to Sweden & carries Moonstone. http://tinyurl.com/q2bav77

Moonstone is one of the few roses out there that consistently gives you store quality blooms.

Mine didn't half that much.

Mine is mostly perfect bloom form. The downsides: (1) It tends to ball up a bit in cool wet weather and in those conditions will not always fully open; (2) Great cut flower but if you pick it when it is just starting to open -- it is so slow it will not open indoors -- don't pick it as it is just opening; (3) no scent; (4) Japanese beetles love it.

I have not exhibited roses in years, and have never exhibited this one, but I would conjecture that if I exhibited Moonstone, it would have a place at or toward the head of the table quite a lot. It has outstanding exhibition form.

I am in CA so my results may not match yours. I love this rose when it is covered in blooms (it is a standard and looks like it belongs in Disneyland it has so many) BUT right now it is covered in rust, missing leaves and balled or crispy blooms. As I work on painting the living room I am realizing just how much of my view is of this rose and I am not pleased. It will be on the fall remove list list.

Just added it this year and I love it! The blooms have been a bit smaller since it's first year, but still a good 3" across. Great foliage. I'd recommend it.

Beautiful! Anyone have more pictures? <3 <3

Seil, beautiful pictures! The blooms look so lovely on the bush and it looks very healthy! The third picture is very nice!