Great to see you optimistic again, Ingrid. May the rain keep coming.

I don't have the heat you have, so am not much use, except to say Mme Isaac Pereire is in the hottest spot in my garden. She is a sprawling 6' by 10' after 2 years, and though she hardly bloomed at all the first year, she has hardly stopped blooming at all this year. And she is my favourite cutting rose - I stick one bloom at nose level in my kitchen regularly. Fairly sparsely leafed though and does have a bit of blackspot and rust. But as you grow DA's without difficulty and I have turfed all mine due to BS, BS is probably not going to be an issue for you.

Maggie?

titian, unfortunately only grow a few DA's without difficulty and many have come and gone. I think my climate is too hot and dry for MIP and I do have rust if a rose is prone to it. In the right place it's a gorgeous rose.

bellegallica, it's interesting that you mention Maggie since that is one of the roses I considered. I'm now going to do some more research on it. Thanks for the input.

Maggie looks lovely, but, bother it, it's yet another rose that's not available in Australia.

Its other name is Eugene E. Marlitt, titian1, do you by any chance have that rose available? I'm just about to order mine. Maggie is the study name since it was a found rose that could not be identified at the time.

Thanks Ingrid, but I looked under its other names (which I do now, after Diane found Julia Child here listed under another name), and it's not available here.

Trish

Hi Ingrid,

No lack of water here in the east, but read your post and found your quest interesting and certainly a challenging project to contemplate. The first thing that popped into my mind was drought tolerant species rose hybrids and Rosa hulthemia (Persica) came to mind. Rosa Persica grows in places such as Afganistan and Iran and the steppes of Central Asia. I did a search on HMF and there are certainly many Persica hybrids to choose from. Most however are small and not reliably rebloomers. Though a similar search and review of results might find some that fit your criteria. The colours are intriguing and many are singles.

I also found this document titled "Drought Tolerant Roses" on the Heritage Roses Group website that might be of help. Belinda's Dream is on this list and on one I found for drought tolerance for rose lovers in Texas. Hope this helps.

Good luck, Rick

Well, I went ahead and ordered Maggie from the Antique Rose Emporium. I have Belinda's Dream and it constantly has dried parts to most of its leaves, something I've never seen in another rose and which is very unsightly. Maggie is new to me so it will be fun to see how it develops. I've noticed that a lot of roses that are touted as being drought-tolerant are not really so in my garden. My place is really special! I've found the only thing to do is experiment and keep the good ones and say bye-bye to the duds.

I'm anxious to hear how Maggie performs for you. I really hope it turns out to be a spectacular rose because I'll feel guilty if it's not.

I suggest do yourself a favor and put some clay soil in that spot before you plant to help hold water and then wait to plant until after the summer heat passes or the El Nino rains start. Glad you haven't given up.

kitty, I'm not sure where I would get some clay but I always amend planting holes with plenty of bagged soil and compost and mulch with leaves. I also always fill a big hole with water and let it sink in before putting in the soil to plant the roses. The rose will not be delivered until September and if it is hot then I'll put the rose in a pot in a mostly shady location to allow it to acclimate. Since it's coming from Texas it may not be too fazed with my conditions, but I plan to give this rose the best start I possibly can. With shipping it's over $32 so I'm not about to take any chances.

I can't wait to see pictures of Maggie. Love the name. If you wanted to try another DA rose, I have had great success with Pretty Jessica which laughs at the heat, is upright and stays small but tall for a DA rose. I would say mine is about two to three feet wide, if that and about four to five feet tall. Constant bloomer.

Next one would be Princess Alexandra of Kent but give her room to grow. She is a beaut! Flowers bigger than my hand in spring and fall. Smaller flowers in the heat. She takes a beating and keeps on ticking!

Next would be Munstead Wood. Love, love, loveo him. He also takes the heat. All three have to be the best DA roses I have seen for the heat. Now, that being said, my first timer roses that have been in the ground about six months (if that) and on their own roots, that seem to be doing pretty well for me are also Lady of Shalott and Alwick. They are both babies and being subject to full sun all day long and until this week, 100--110 degree heat. Both are producing sporadically with tiny flowers but their leaves look good and they are continuing to put on new growth. I think once they get established in a couple of years, they will be fine. I hope Lady's flowers tone down the orange a bit in the future.

Another rose, still very young and on its own root that seems to be doing well is Occhi di Fata. It is starting to put out a few more blooms and the growth is good. It is a charming rose and I hope for great things in the future.

I'm with kitty on adding clay soil. If that's not readily available, clay particles - something that will hold the water & release it back to the rose evenly.

One thread: http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discussions/1616332/cat-litter-for-clay-content

Congrats! on your new rose & your rain! Our climate conditions are very different, but the roses that actually like it here are far outnumbered by those who've come & gone. Have to remind myself periodically that it's all an experiment & a great adventure...