What location/zone are you in. CC likes some sun but most roses benefit from some shade from late afternoon sun, especially in the hottest part of summer or in very hot/dry yards. It could be that the rose is not mature enough yet to keep itself hydrated. Teas can take a few years to mature.

Sorry to say that Clementina Carbonieri's blooms never stopped crisping here any time the temps got over about 80 degrees F or so, even after 5 years in the ground, . One of the most sun-sensitive teas, as far as blooms go, that I have ever known, and now gone. A shame because at the same time she had the most perfect foliage and bush of any tea -- not a speck of disease and the bloom color and everything else was wonderful -- you just had to view the blossoms at dawn or thereabouts to enjoy them. Edit to add that afternoon shade could be something to try, except that CC crisped before noon here!

I honestly hadn't noticed the crisping thing, maybe because mine got way too much shade before. I have noticed that it's blooming much more since some trees were removed. Here is a picture from earlier this year

One other thing you've probably got that I haven't, Buford, is humidity. When it gets warm here, the humidity dives to almost nothing -- dry as a bone. I think that might make a difference.

Mine up and died a year or so after I planted it, which I regret. Nearby another rose planted at the same time, Cels Multiflora is thriving. I find CM to be a rather dull rose, healthy but generic pink, and wish that Clementina had been the one to survive.

But if the crisping is that bad, maybe I didn't miss out on anything after all.

Mine is glorious enough of the time that I find it totally worth growing. It may help the scorching issue that it grows in the middle of a fine mixture of shrubs, and in an area with trees nearby, so it's not exposed to drying winds and perhaps profits from the cooling effect of the surrounding plants.

Hm.... Buford, I'm in Tuscany - equivalent to zone 9 I believe.

It's VERY humid although that part of the garden is quite exposed and windy much of the time.

My CC is squished in a too-small flowerbed with some other roses and small shrubs (a huge rosemary and a slow-growing myrtle, oregano and other such things). I have to decide to move it or another rose because they're planted too closely.

I guess the sensible thing would be to move CC... even though she looks great with the rosemary! I'm definitely not giving up on her yet. As catspa said, it's so healthy, fragrant, and such an early bloomer for me. It was in flower with the tulips this year! But after that glorious beginning it just looks awful all the time! I sometimes have to deadhead even before the buds open. Crispy-orange-pink is NOT attractive hanging on a bush.

Buford, you mentioned it not being hydrated enough.... could that be it? I thought the crisping could only be related to sun-scorching..... Is it possible it has to do with it not getting enough water??

Thanks all for your comments..... It makes me feel better knowing I'm not the only one with this problem!

Well, the consensus from the zone 9 people is that Clementina Carbonieri does this and there is nothing to be done about it.

I'm going to move it somewhere shady (if I can find a spot!) and see what happens. If it still continues to crisp up when the temperatures rise I will take it to Melissa's farm where it can live a happy life. To be continued.....

But isn't she a fussy one! My my!