BB seems like it would b too big for growing in container

Thanks bossyvossy. If it survives in Texas, the hottest place I've ever been LOL, then that points toward a possibility in Florida. When you say big, is this descriptive of height, width or both?

4x4 ft

Sara that is a beauty indeed! I'm glad to know that it is fragrant in Oklahoma (I'm assuming that's your location :-) where I know it gets hot. I bought Pope John Paul II because I read rave reviews about its fragrance, but in this heat He is scentless. Thanks for the fine photograph.

If you like the purple roses try Royal Amethyst. I got this one via a Breck's grab bag sale and I'm very impressed with it. It blooms a ton and the booms are full and well formed. They also last very well in the vase and are very fragrant. Its very easily obtained too being one of the newer roses. I grow it in a container and it has performed very well for me in South Florida.

It also its also disease resistant especially considering its parentage is Angle Face (which is a black spot magnet for me). I do spray, however roses that are very susceptible to disease still don't have a place in my garden as I only spray during the rainy season and otherwise they need to fend for themselves.

I would confidently say this is an improved Angle Face but its blooms are much fuller and deeper in color. It seems however that it inherited all the best from Angel Face (very good bloom production, nice purple color (RA being even deeper purple) pretty frilly petals and fragrance, and none of the disease or few-petal-count-blooms that Angle Face produces.

SoFL Rose Thanks for the fine tip!!! Royal Amethyst is certainly an exquisite rose. I love the color and form, and it is good to know that it performs well in Florida. I believe Nelson's carries it and I might just take a little trip there the next Saturday I'm off.

Black spot is a struggle in Florida. Last year it decimated the roses, but this year I made my on concoction of a tablespoon each of Sea Kelp, Fish Emulsion, a little olive oil and a ground up calcium tablet and sprayed the plants and my roses were lusher than lush; though not black spot free, but certainly very, very manageable until the chilli thrips debuted.

Jack

Jack, is that mixed with one gallon of water? Have you tried adding aspirin to that? I'm very intrigued and would love to try that out.

Yes it is one gallon of water. Sorry I forgot to state that. I've not tried aspirin.

What do you do for chili thrips?

Currently I'm trying Conserve and the Bayer Advanced Insect Killer. Last year, my first attempt at rose growing in Florida, I had no problems with pests save for the grotesque Lubbers. This year the Chilli Thrips found me. If the products above do not work, then I will be growing hibiscus. LOL

I'm growing BB (Parole) in a large pot in my Med climate (warm to hot dry summers, cool humid winters). It is quite healthy and floriferous in my climate where PM is the main fungal disease which occurs during Spring and Fall. It does get traces of it when pressure is huge but that's about it. BS is not a major problem in my area and I have not seen BB being blackspotted ever. Blooms tend to form in threes so if you want to get really HUGE blooms you will have to disbud the two laterals early enough leaving the central bud. If you leave all three the main one is often squeεzed and deformed between the longer stems of the laterals. Good strong damask like fragrance. Good for cutting. An excellent HT in my view.

I use monterey insect spray with some success. I'm thinking about using a granular one too. I hate to use too many pesticides, but the chili thrips are bad this year and they are really taking over my garden. I'm also going to try pheromone lures they make for thrips. I have no idea if they will work for chili thrips but I'm going to give it a try.