I have never grown that rose, but I was curious, so I looked it up on HMF. It is a tea. It always amazes me how much trouble people take to try and grow tea roses in zones which may not be warm enough. How long have you had yours? How big is it? Is it on its own roots?

The last question may be the most important - if it is on its own roots, it can be killed by cold back to the ground, and still come back in the Spring. I hope someone who grows teas in your area will respond.

Jackie

Thank you, Jackie. The rose is own root, planted approximately 5 months ago and is now about 3 by 3 ft. It has grown vigorously and been a disease free bloom machine this summer.

I'm in Zone 7a, Virginia, and Thomasville Old Gold was defeated by winter here. It grew like crazy that first year, and was cut back by the cold. Grew again, and froze again. After year three of this cycle, the plant failed to thrive and then died. I hope yours does better than mine did.

Trying to grow roses in climates for which they are not suited can be frustrating.

It CAN be frustrating. Sometimes, though, the only way to see IF a rose is suited for a certain climate is to grow it and evaluate it for oneself ... especially with roses that few people know or grow. I could have missed out on some wonderful successes if I had heeded blanket advice based on a rose's class.

Thanks for sharing your experience, hartwood. I was hoping that even if Thomasville wasn't cane hardy it would snap back and grow like it has the past few months. Both the flower and plant form have been lovely. It would be okay with me if it never got any bigger. I love the Teas and Chinas, and as you said, you never know until you try. I am going to attempt to attach a photo of Thomasville.

Jackie, You can't explain love. I have all sorts of sympathy for people trying to grow roses in the wrong zone after living in Alaska 33 years and growing roses since age 10 or so. You hope and dream until you go to rose heaven like I have.