Gretchen - my word!!! Your ORA is wonderful!!! So many blooms!!!

Kristine - such a beautiful bloom!! Mmmmm! So true...the heart has to sing or what's the point?

Diane - oh my goodness!!!! Such beautiful blooms and so many!!! Swoon!

Kentucky - yeah...light colored roses and thrips. Darn.

Heh heh. I've been feeling a tad out of sorts lately, and posting crabby comments. Thanks for understanding, Sheila and Carol. And Kristine, I am tempted by your offer, but I fear our states' agriculture departments would frown on the shipment of a large rose into Oregon--not to mention shipping costs. But thanks, anyway. I'll give her another year. And I'm glad so many of you have gotten pleasure out of growing Olivia. Diane

Diane sorry to hear her blooms don’t make your heart sing. Your pictures are incredibly beautiful.

Wow, ORA has already been out for three years? I feel like I was just hearing about her last summer... what happened?!

How big is she getting for most people (and is she own-root or grafted?)? How's her disease resistance holding up for everyone?

Diane, do you think she'd hold her color better in part-shade? Lord knows I have plenty of that in my yard...

II'm so bummed I received my two quart potted Olivia yesterday and she was kinda broken over in the pot!

It almost looked as though half the roots had been cut and now its to late to get a replacement this year so i hope she makes it.

The photo isn't the best but im so disappointed!

I am really hoping for you both to make it, Dirt Digger.

I hope your rose makes it, too, dirtdigger. That doesn't look good, but it's hard to tell from the photo just how bad it really is.

Ac91, my grafted Olivia is in mostly sun, but does have some shade in the morning. Her color doesn't really fade, it's just pale throughout the bloom's life. The photos above are from last year. This year she's bigger and covered in buds, some just starting to open. I would say she's close to six feet tall. Things were moving along rapidly when cold, rainy, windy weather hit almost a week ago, and the roses slowed down opening up. I'm glad about this, because this weather could really mess up open blooms. Someday...I'll get new photos. Sigh. Diane

Digger - oh, that's a shame! Dang!

Diane - I would be great for you if you have nice consistent warm weather. :)

I put it in a larger pot and planted it a little deeper than it was, hopefully those roots will start to grow and take hold.

It looks like the base of the cutting was sitting on the soil but there were roots growing to the bottom of it container, hopefully those are still attached.

Carol, it will be 98F in about 5 days. Really consistent. And my roses are barely starting to open. Spring flush will be two days long. Diane

Dirt - sounds like a good plan. My fingers are crossed! :)

Diane - eeeeee....no, no...that's TOO hot. I see what you mean...your spring flush is not going to last very long. Dang. What a shame. :(

❤️Olivia!

Dirt digger how is your Olivia?

I got two Olivia's to add to my garden this season. I've seen they do well in partial shade so I was planning on putting them in my side garden. It gets fantastic morning sun and afternoon shade. We get high temps here so I'm hoping they'll do well in that spot. Anyone have insight on that?

Where do you live Kristin? Shade is different in different climates. If you are in a hot dry climate, afternoon shade may be more helpful.

In a hot humid climate, you need more sunlight to help prevent black spot and since there is a layer of humidity, the plants can handle more sun.

Where I live now, I try to give the roses as much sun as possible. When I lived in the desert, I still got good blooming on my roses that were in afternoon shade.

Olivia here really does best in full sun but she is pretty black spot resistant so a tiny bit of late afternoon shade probabaly wouldn't hurt.

I'm in Pennsylvania outside of Philly. So it can get humid. The area gets full sun until mid afternoon then it turns to shade. I've seen a lot of people say they've done well with those conditions so I'm hoping it'll be good for them.

You can always move them to more sun if it doesnt work out too. Nothing is really set in stone. If you move them you could do it in early spring so the roots have time to regrow before it gets cold again. Most modern roses dont mind being moved if needed.

Do you follow hedgerowhome on Instagram?

She also has a blog on her website. She is in Pennsylvania.

https://hedgerowrose.com/

I can see this is a revived thread on Olivia, but I thought I would add my experience so far for a humid area.

I got her last fall and placed it in a large pot, so she's technically still a baby - less than 1 yo.

In its first spring, she looks better than all of my other three roses in pots. Grows fast, great foliage...she's already showing at least 8 buds.

Very pleased so far...then again, nothing is clear until I see the bloom.

It's hilarious reading just a little way up and 10 months ago. I had a two day spring before the temperature went up to 98F. Today, it was 40F with a cold wind, while I, an ancient fool, pruned a wicked mean Jude the Obscure, about 8 feet tall, in the hail. How much must I endure for these plants? Anyway, here are some (not current, obviously) photos of Olivia. She's too pale for me in out summer sun. Diane

@Diane Brakefield you are too funny! I’m sure judge will bloom amazing for you this year as a thank for pruning him! If my Olivia bloomed like yours I would probably be the happiest girl around...

@Kristin Adams I live in Nj, border with PA. I have 3 baby Olivias. I almost lost two due to drainage issues. the one that survived, bloomed ok, here and there. small blooms ans they would fry in the hot heat... but I think this was mostly bc it was her first year. They are in morning sun till 1pm...

Oh perfect! I'll try her out there this year and if she doesn't like it I'll find another spot for her next . I believe that spot gets morning sun until about noon/1pm in the summer.

Can anyone tell me where and how I can buy one of these rose bushes? Our baby daughter was named Olivia Rose, and she passed away in 2017. We are building a memorial garden for her and this would obviously be perfect but I can't find any place that sells it. Not online or in person. Thank you.

I got mine from the David Austin website. You may have to wait until next season of they are out. I'm not sure how often they restock. But you could probably go to a local nursery and ask if they can order you one.

Oh my gosh @Jack Lee im so sorry for you loss. That is heartbreaking to hear. 😞 here is the link for David Austin rose. It seems it’s sold out already. But you can sign up for notification.

https://www.davidaustinroses.com/products/olivia-rose-austin 

all the best to you.

My heart goes out to you, Chris. Have you tried Roses Unlimited? Send Pat an e-mail and see if she has any. I'm getting one from there this year.

Chris, I'm so sorry. I have a bare root on order from David Austin, but I won't receive it until next spring. Surely somewhere else has one now-ish that you can get? I'll start looking around. If all else fails, I'll send you my bare root next April.

This thread just popped back up for me.

Kristine I apologize for never responding, my Olivia survived the repotting and put on some new growth last year but no blooms.

I left her in the pot and sunk it in ground as i did with all my new additions last year do to the fact that I knew that I would be moving.

EVERYONE SURVIVED! even Olivia despite being chewed by squirrels or rabbits. They are all now at the new house along with all the other roses I dug up and took with me and starting to leaf out.

My yard looks like a serious pot ghetto with about fifty roses all in pots of various sizes lol.

I have lots of work ahead of me.

Chris, I'm very sorry for your loss. I know Hummingbird roses had some own root Olivia plants earlier this year.

She may still have some available, she starts shipping a little later than others.

@Diane Brakefield - Olivia is new to me this year, and is still in a pot, but I’ve got to agree with you…in the heat she has pasty white flowers, very faint fragrance. Also, the flowers are quite small, perhaps 1-1/4” across. They were larger earlier in the season. Here she looks nothing like the beautiful pics shown in this thread. I doubt that I will give her a permanent place in the garden.

@nosemeter-

My ORA was a major disappointment for the first year or maybe two... and then it changed in color, blooms etc. Mine was grafted. I wonder if it just takes more time to get what it needs to perform in desert soils?

It was immediately as it should have been in terms of bloom, color, etc. here in TX... in a pot... (another snowmageddon casualty)

I agree with Diane regarding the ORA being meh... I grow/have grown a lot of pink roses, and in terms of beauty or having that "it factor", for me, ORA has a lot of stiff competition...

Year one.. June...YUK!!! Look at the leaves... My growing culture had to be adjusted for this rose...I try to be a "feed the soil" gardener, but really had to feed it...

A Fall bloom the same year... but still small..lower petal count

I do not have images from the next couple of years of growth, however, overall it appeared more like what was expected... still not in my top 5, maybe 10, for pinks, but I will grow ORA again... especially here in TX

@Lynn-in-TX-Z8b- Austin Area/Hill Country - Your first photo is just like what mine looks like. Now I love white roses, but this really doesn‘t do it for me. I have mine in a pot getting some serious pampering with high quality putting mix, regular fertilizer, plenty of water, afternoon shade. Still, the flowers are very small and nothing special. Thanks for sharing your exoerience.

Thanks for all the advice! Mine have finally started blooming and so far I'm in love with them. They get sun untill around noon and are shaded from the afternoon heat. Maybe that's why they are growing so well. I can't wait until they grow in more. They smell heavenly too.

Im in Melbourneme, Australia & ive just had 17 bare root Olivia Rose standards delivered. Im planning to plant them along the fence that borders our driveway. I was looking for something that would be effective ’en masse’ but different to Icebergs which it seems everyone has these days.

Olivia was mehh the first year. in her second year she has blown me away. always in bloom, clusters ans clusters of blooms, large, and lots of petals. she gets whiter if is very hot. mine are now close to 4ft…

More pink

Very healthy too!

She’s ok, beautiful flowers, but stops blooming in 90 degree heat. I’m not going to keep her. I am really impressed by Desdemina who keeps blooming all through the heat of the summer. My Olivia is 3 years old.

Ceres what stunning bouquets. I love those pink powder puff blooms. My Olivia is about six years old, and still has not gone beyond the meh stage for me. She's big and healthy, and that's it. But yours definitely is a keeper. Diane

Ceres - I saw these pictures on the seasonal thread...and I'm so glad to see them again...truly, truly GORGEOUS!!!! :) :) Olivia loves your care, that's for sure!

I have to agree with Diane. Good amount of spring bloom and not much repeat the rest of the season. A lot more plant than flower. Plus the color is JAP - just another pink, nothing special.

Still loving her 6 years later. She explodes in the spring and then blooms again in the fall. All 70 or so of my roses shutdown after hot weather hits here in Texas until the fall.

Hi, Friends,

@rosecanadian

, Thank you for this wonderful thread on Olivia! How did your Olivia do this 2022 growing season? Do you still have Olivia? I may order a 2nd one! She has the most beautiful healthy growth-no BS ever….. if it wete not for my cold winter stunting her growth it would be perfect! This winter I will burlap her & she will grow well in soring.

@Diane Brakefield

Your Olivia looked spectacular-hope mibe blooms well like yours someday!

@Kristine LeGault 8a pnw

Your Olivia above is spectacular! Hoping for the best with my Olivia. Maybe next year will be more healthy. I will burlap her for this winter.

MY OLIVIA:

My Olivia is 1 1/4 years old. She had severe winter damge before last spring 2022 so she grew very slowly & bloomed a profusion of tiny blooms in spring 2022. It took all season & a lot of fish fertilizer to grow her out. However, she would have grown faster if I had known to use fish fertilizer sooner. When I started using Rose Tone & fish fertilizer she darkened & grew quickly.

She finally, this fall 2022, in last few weeks has reached 5 ft & a few of her best blooms. She blooms all the time, but only 6-7 blooms right now-but big-beautiful!

She has morning sun maybe 6-8 hrs in summer. She is next to Moonlight in Paris. Now in fall maybe less sun.

MIP had winter damage, too, common in my front yard roses. MIP took awhile to recover, too-but in a little more sun & blooms way more profusely ongoing!

Olivia Nov. 8, 2022

Kitty, absolutely lovely Olivia. She seems to either be fabulous or.

Meh.

If after 3 years mine was still a color dissapointment it would surely meet the shovel to make way for something that I love.

Time and space are too scarce to grow roses that you arent crazy about.

For me personally, Olivia has been a great rose and she stays for now .lol

Kristine, Thank you for your reply on Olivia. Yours is a heavey bloomer from your photos…. She looks beautiful to me!!!!!

sorry her color fades in sun. My weather is 60F now and she keeps getting darker. Did you notice her color darken in cool fall? Do you have snow or cool fall yet? Did your roses have much if any cool fall to bloom?

One more photo , today of my Olivia in 70-62F which has lasted this last week/month, It has been sustained thise temps for Sept/Oct. . However, today it dropped to 49F. This week still it will get up to 69F.

My Olivia was SO slow to enchant but this past season she finally came into her own.

The first three years she was slow to put on size, slow to rebloom and very lightly fragrant.

This year she doubled in size, had blooms at all times (nothing like Diane’s plants but none of mine are like hers) and there is finally a noticeable scent-not ine I would recommend for strength of fragrance but still there

Mine does not fade terribly but I also don’t have it in full sun-I think it gets 6 hours at most

I agree with Hugogurl, a decent spring flush followed by much too long a ‘vacation from blooming’ all summer. The plant is lanky and sprawls too, Too many droopy canes with modest flowers dangling at the ends…not the best look. Over the course of a year, I bet Moonlight in Paris produces several dozen blooms for each one that Olivia blooms, and they’re comparable size, substance, petal count. To be fair, I only had her 1.5 years, left her in Texas when I moved, so maybe she’s better with age.

Ben, Sorry Olivia didn’t bloom a lot by 1 1/2 years. I think the 3rd year is considered the mature year, at least for own-roots. 3rd year is tge charm! Lol!

My Moonlight in Paris does bloom non-stop huge flushes all the time!!!! MIP may be my best bloomer next to Walking on Sunshine. MIP has blooms all over all the time-she’s a floribunda. Plum Perfect & Kimberlina are blooming all the time all over, too! And a few bush roses like The Fairy are blooming all the time, too.

@CeresMer Zone 7a NJ

, I am excited to hear that your Olivia bloomed non-stop 2nd year. I think next year will be my Olivias full 2nd year-hoping for lots of blooms!!! Our weather is similar. If I have her in a sunny enough spot she will perform well! We will see! I may get another & put her in a sunnier spot! She has no BS-so she is a super winner for me! Out of my 120 roses, Olivia is one of the few with zero BS ever…. pouring rains damp soil in fall ongoing.

Ok, I think Olivia is gorgeous! I have one similar that blooms kinda like Olivia, called Vicontesse Decaux, (a cross of Earth Angel & Winchester Cathedral), but Vicontesse doesn’t have as beautiful a foliage or bloom as much as Olivia.

Solid 3+ years of growing and yes, she is much bigger than what’s listed on DA website even with severe pruning (twice per year). She’s healthier than most of all DA rose creations in my garden.

For scent-wise, I just got Silas Marner and her scent beats Olivia’s and it’s bloom and scent reminds me of Evelyn.

As for an alternative, Desdemona rose is close yet scent-wise — you can’t go wrong.

If your rose not blooming well, in my case it was because due to lack of water. Once I started to deep water about 1-2x week I got more blooms.

@Gretchun Kim

Wow, now that’s a spectacular Olivia! 3rd years a charm! Love your Olivia! Next year my aolivia will approach 2 1/4 so it should bloom more similar to yours!