I don't know anything about the rose, but I have photographs of the Huntington at the Huntington Gardens. It was beautiful.

I picked up 4 Royal Jubilee this year (Zone9) , from the pictures I've seen around the web the blooms look amazing. This will be my first year growing it, so I cannot comment on how it grows personally. The rose is "highly recommended" by DA. In the description of Royal
Jubilee it is said to have few thorns... if thorns are an issue for you. (YAY for fewer thorns)

Jasmine those pictures of the Huntington rose look really nice. What time of year did you did you visit the gardens to take those pics. I wonder how it holds up to the hot Cali sun. I might have to add Huntington to my garden as well :)

I went to the Huntington in May, around mother's day. The temperature felt perfect, about 73 degrees Fahrenheit, so I couldn't answer about the heat.

Thank you, Jasmine. Your pictures are so pretty. I guess that's one vote for The Huntington Rose.

I agree, Haku. Fewer thorns are nicer and safer, but if I loved the flower enough, I'd deal with extra thorns. I say that now since it's been many months since I've sworn at my roses for hurting me.lol. I would love to hear how your JCs work out for you.

I still am unsure which to get.

Kitty, does it rain a lot in your area? There is a comment on HMF that blooms on the Huntington Rose ball in the rain: Huntington Rose on HMF. Here is the link to Royal Jubilee on HMF. Both roses are grown in zone 4 gardens, when you click on the gardens tab. Hard decision.

Marlorena - Stunning!!!! I passed on this rose last year, and I my local greenhouse doesn't carry it this year. Bummer. I adore the color and the shape!!! Oh wow!!!

Jasmine, Thank you so much for the links. I've used HMF in the past, but for some reason I haven't lately. To make this a little more difficult, some years are rainy and some aren't. I'm not sure if that should prevent me from ordering either of these. I'm ordering Spirit of Freedom which would probably ball worse. I hope that's not a mistake.

Marlorena, Your photos are gorgeous. Having two different shaped blooms on the same plant is very interesting. I love how yours looks grown as a climber. It probably wouldn't get tall enough in my zone to try that...unless I used a very small obelisk. Hmmm.

It appears that JC is a little darker than The Huntington Rose in some photos. I wonder if that and the fact that JC can have two different shaped blooms at the same time are the only differences.

Thank you for your input,

Kitty

Jasmine that is perfect weather to be visiting Huntington.

Marlorena, your RJ is beautiful, I cant wait for mine to grow and bloom do the flowers shatter quickly or easily on this flower? Also what is the purple ground cover you have near the RJ in the background? Im thinking of planting lavender and maybe yellow irises with my RJ.

...thanks so much.... I ought to point out that my rose grows in the shade of a building too, so barely gets 3 hours of sun May-July, if that, and I don't exactly live in the sunniest climate. It doesn't get much at all from August... It would probably be best grown as a shrub and in full sun, where I'm certain it would be more floriferous... although I'm very happy with what I get from it... I had to stop it blooming in October as I wanted to prune... it's quite vigorous....

...the ground cover is Geranium 'Cambridge' which I use a lot, along with many others.... flowers from mid May to mid July....here... I grow it all around the bases of many of my roses...

...lavender and iris's would be great.... I have several Lavenders too, I couldn't be without them...but the Geranium grows so well in shade, that's why I use it as a preference...

It doesn't seem like there will be anymore input on these, so I'm going to go ahead and get both.

Thank you so much for the pictures and thoughts.

I too thought the geraniums were really nice, but unfortunately they aren't suppose to be hardy here. It's funny that I feel comfortable trying roses not meant for my zone but not perennials.

Julie

I hope they do well for you, Julie. You should have lots of blooms for bouquets with two!

Good Idea Julie.. you must update us with pics once they start to bloom :) I just picked up Graham Thomas (own root i think) at OSH for 13.99$ They had a lot of Austins dirt cheap I got the last one lol. Best of luck with your Austins!

I have huntington rose and it has been one of my best performers. It has great resistance to disease for me and very full blooms. My only complaint is they don't last well in the vase. However, if you put the fresh cut blooms in the refrigerator to condition them for a few hours, it makes a world of difference and they last much longer. Here is a pic:

Oh, That's lovely!!! The leaves are sooo green and really add to the beauty ofo the rose!! Is there any fragrance?

Carol

Thank you Jasmine, I would love that.

Haku, you'll have to share pictures of yours 1st since I'm sure yours will bloom long before mine. I'm jealous you can get Austins so cheap and close. There's only one place I know of around here to get them and they're over an hour away and not cheap.

SoFl Rose, beautiful picture. I hope it does as well for me as it does for you. Thanks for the tip to refrigerate. If i get enough flowers to cut, I will definitely try that.

Thanks,

Julie

mnkitty, the DA's i got at the nursery were better looking than the ones i picked up on sale. It was pretty small..but cant beat the price lol. my RJ are waking up from sleeping cant wait for them to grow and bloom! I'm thinking I will also get the huntington rose.. it looks purrty :)

Haku, please post pictures when yours blooms. Even though it seems we will have an early Spring, it will be a while here. Yes, you should get The Huntington rose too.

You guys are demons for sure. I've been trying too wait for Royal Jubilee to be available as an own root. Might just have to pick it up graphed. It seems to have a petal count like that of Lady of Shalott and this one does well here.

Does RJ stay deep pink or does it fade to lighter pink for you? I have considered growing it behind Olivia but want something that looks decisively different, not only in bloom form but color.

The correct answer is to get both, of course.

That is always the answer, right? :) It is on clearance at Heirloom Roses for $20 and so I went ahead and purchased 3 of them. I didn’t mean to hijack this old thread but was curious what everyone’s experience has been up to now.

Huntington Rose is beautiful here. It has beautiful foliage too. Don't have RJ, but it looks great too.

My RJ fades a bit in the hot sun to a pale pink but not as light as Olivia.