You might want to check out Austin's new rose "Olivia Rose Austin"--I predict she will be a winner, and I've already ordered one for spring.

If you have no objections to climbers, Austin has a good one with large fully packed blooms--The Wedgwood.

Good luck.

Kate

An older cultivar, 'Sharifa Asma' offers regular rebloom, a compact habit, and one of the best fragrances of any Austin.

Oh, I forgit to mention that I am ordering Olivia. I actually have wedgwood on my list as well. Ill look into sharifa as well. Thank you!

soFl, I had Sharifa. Mine died. I had some kind of mat that grew over the top of its root system and killed it. It wasn't getting the water or nutrients that it needed. Still don't know what the mat is......... but I will replace Sharifa. The scent is wonderful in my opinion and it is very strong. I remember when I opened up my box from Chamblees and got a whiff.... Swoon worthy.

I love Chaucer which I have had for nearly 20 years. HMF says that it has some repeat and is prone to mildew and rust, but I have found it repeats in flushes with generous dead heading, and has remained clean. It is good in the heat and doesn't ball in the rain. Like most Austins, it does prefer regular irrigation. It is fragrant but, I know, some people do not like the myrrh scent. Mine is growing near a NW facing brick wall so it gets the full brunt of afternoon sun from about midday until sunset.

This photo shows a bloom of Chaucer that opened in 40+C heat. The blooms also last well as cut flowers.

Mel, your Chaucer is beautiful! How big of a plant is he? When you say regular water, is that every day? I am thinking of him for my front yard and we can only water twice a week starting in April. Now, we can't water at all.

Mmmm!!! Loving these roses!! I have nothing to add obviously being far from your zone. :)

Good luck with your choosing. :)

Carol

Mustbe, I keep Chaucer trimmed to around 4'-5' as this keeps the flowers coming. I found during our last drought that about 2 buckets of water a week and lots of mulch keeps him going.....I just collected water from the shower or rinse water and it didn't seem to harm him. My soil is basically heavy clay, which holds the moisture, but if it gets dry, it becomes water repelling and you could fall down the cracks. (What used to be my front lawn is an example of that!) If he gets no water, he just goes dormant, but again, he was well established. He is on Dr H rootstock and did throw up suckers during the dry spell :-(

has anyone mentioned St Swithun ? It might not be right for your climate .
If I could order pink austins I would, and may get

Abe Darby

Brother Cadfael

St Swithun

in that order. i already have Evelyn.

Thanks Mel. Appreciate the info very much.

Oh Mudpie! I just looked up St. Swithun and I'm smitten. I think this might be one that I will definitely order. It has the look I've been looking for and they say it has good disease resistance too.

That makes me happy for you !
Now I'm smitten all over again after seeing the new photos of St Swithun on HMF, it is a phenominal rose. Paul Barden has a nice write up about it on his Old Garden Roses and Beyond website.

I did read what Paul had to say about it too and I think its great. He seems to like Sharifa Asma too which makes me want to get that one as well!

OK guys! I just placed my order. I am trying out many of my new
Austins on their own roots as Dr. Huey
doesn't do that well for me here. I find some climbers do well on their
own roots here as they are very vigorous and they will be planted in
highly amended beds that have many worms. Someone from the Orlando
region (somewhat close to me) said they had much better luck with
Austins on their own roots than even Fortuniana so I'm going to give
them a shot.

Here is who made the cut:

Olivia (will be grown in a pot as its only available on Dr. Huey)

Windermere (own root) will be kept as a short climber

The Alnwick rose (own root)

Lady Of Shallot (own root) prob will put it in a large pot since I dont have much space in the yard)

The Wedgwood Rose (own root) this one is going to be grown as a climber too

The Endevour (this one in a pot as they only have it grafted)

St. Swithun (own root) I'm really looking forward to this one. I will be growing it as a climber too.

I also ordered these from Chamblee for those who are interested:

Austins: Strawberry Hill, Golden Celebration and Darcy Bussell (to replace one I recently lost)

Also non austins: Cream Veranda, Earth Angel and Spice

I
hope Earth Angel does well for me as some of my Kordes are reluctant
bloomers. Spice is going in a bed next to Duchess De Brabant who seems
to like it in a somewhat difficult area for roses. I'm hoping Spice will
do well in that spot since its one of the tough earth kind roses (going
next to Belinda's dream and Easy Does it for a low maintenance section
of the garden).

Now to figure out where I'm going to stick all these beauties! :)Thanks for your help everyone!!!

Mustbe, forgot to add, Chaucer barely notices our hot dry northerlies. Hard to believe he's a DA rose :-)

SoFl Rose, I envy you Olivia...not released here yet, if ever. You will love The Endeavour and it will do well in a pot. I have just planted mine in the garden after 3 years in a pot and am wondering if I did the right thing!

Melodye

SoFL, I can hardly wait to see your garden. It sounded beautiful before. Now you are getting some more goodies.

Amazing selection ! You certainly have your work cut out. I hope you will post lots of photos.

I had Scepter'd Isle and loved it, tough, smelled great and good in a vase.

I wonder if you thought of Colette (non-Austin, but English-style)? And what have you been most happy with so far?

I do have Collette. Mine is new and still very small so it's yet to bloom. But I can't wait to see it once it gets going.

of all the Austins I ordered my faves so far have been The Wedgwood rose, Olivia, Alnwick and lady of shallot.