I've ordered more antique roses from Roses Unlimited than any other nursery and have been very pleased with them. I do plan to order from ARE next spring and am pleased that you consider them a good source. Other nurseries you've mentioned that I've ordered from are Burlington, Rogue Valley, Palatine and Regan. I consider them all good sources, and definitely hope they and all the other sources stay in business. Where I live it has pretty much gotten to point that the only sources are the big box stores, and they only carry the modern hybrid teas, a few floribundas and lots of Knock Outs.

Highcountryroses.com

Amazing customer service !! Small roses but they seem to take off much faster than many other bands...

Roses unlimited- very nice size plants, shipping is a bit pricey..

Heirloom-hit or miss. Sometimes they send pretty nice plants. Disappointed free shipping is now over $50...

A Reverence for roses- awesome customer service, great prices, large plants; can't wait for them to get established and increase their inventory!

Chamblees-nice roses for a great price. Usually 2-3 bands in a gallon container. Shipping is expensive so best to maximize and purchase in groups of 4.

I really liked Burling and everything she sent arrived in good condition for $10 shipping for 4 plants! They are small, but unusual varieties. Chamblees was good for me and a friend. It's better to order more from them as the roses are packed with filler potss so nothing shifts. My small order did arrive crushed and broken, but they happily replaced it, so NO complaints. I think it was FedEx's fault. The plants grew very well.

I've seen GREAT pics of the plants from coolroses. I believe Kelly got some and they are all around big plants for reasonable price and shipping.

I've ordered from a number of nurseries over the years and still miss Vintage. :-( On the up side, there are still a quite a few new and established nurseries growing rare and unusual OGRs, ones like Burlington, bless it!

Lately, I have ordered mostly from Rogue Valley. RVR carries Paul Barden and Kim Rupert roses as well as oodles of OGRs and descendendants. The plants are often small and most are bands, but I believe I've only lost one RVR rose in 20 years or so. It was a free hybrid tea rose. All of the bands have been healthy and have grown well when sized up in pots over time. Janet Inada once called to personally ask about my order, and she once answered the phone on a weekend when the nursery was closed. Packaging has been fine.

I am rooting (pun?) for the new owners of Heirloom. Prices have increased, but so has the size of the roses. Healthy plants and the packaging is fine. Heirloom recently sent the wrong rose and immediately sent a gift certificate (with free shipping) for a replacement. Very polite and helpful when I called. Now if someone can just convince Heirloom that its La Ville de Bruxelles is not....

I'm still partial to ARE even after leaving TX and have been known to order roses from there, sent all the way from TX to OR! My Duchesse de Brabant and other teas came from ARE. All were substantial gallon-sized to two gallon-sized plants with good root systems. I find teas to be slow in Portland so a head start is a good thing.

Our local nursery, Joy Creek, carries own root roses in band size. They are good, solid babies and have always been true to their labels. Yes, Joy Creek does mail order. The owners are collectors (25 years) and the nursery carries much more than roses. Clematis galore. Highly recommended independent nursery!

Palatine has been a good source for grafted roses on multiflora stock. Plants are well established and, so far, haven't thrown up multiflora suckers. Order as soon as the gates open in the fall or the OGRs will sell out before you can blink! Another forum member posted that he snagged Belle Sans Flatterie from Palatine. Right afterwards, the office at Palatine informed me that it just sold its last BSF plant. I know who you are, forum member and BSF purchaser! }:-( One has to be quick to snag a popular Gallica! Palatine customer service was so sweet and patient when my credit card company suddenly decided that my purchase across the Canadian border was highly suspect and slammed an instant denial into place. Palatine kindly held my shopping cart and reserved my roses while I rolled my eyes and reassured the credit card watchdogs.

David Austin has always sent me well rooted, healthy roses in the spring. I order in the fall and get in line for spring shipment since I've read inconsistent reviews about DA's later shipping. I do still hold a grudge that the company ripped The Prince from commerce without offering a new and improved variety which fills its place. The Prince is quite healthy in my garden and produces really purple, really fragrant, really Gallica-like blooms on a modest plant. Munstead Wood is a good replacement for Tradescant (which I also grow).

A very helpful thread, Cori Ann. Thank you! It is informative to read about everyone's experiences from across the country. Carol

Northlands Rosarium is also excellent Cori Ann. You are onto a lot of great companies.

They're dying out so all that aren't really lousy should be supported if you want the selection they offer to remain available. At independent garden centers here I am seeing a return to the days before the last time Old Garden Roses became of general interest. In fact all kinds of woody ornamentals are in a down cycle.

Yes! The roses from coolroses were gigantic! ! Large for even visiting the nursery, and mine were shipped. Scentimental was sent virused but Nahema has been blooming non stop, well until today when it snowed. ..

I have been really pleased with hortico offering some of the discontinued Austins. They were able to find me 3 pretty jessicas and now are offering cressida and the reeve. ..

Long ago roses is another one I regularly support. Nice selection and good shipping rates... Rogue Valley is expensive for bands but has good selection. ..

I have ordered from a few nurseries over the years and haven't really had a bad experience. When I first started with the OGR and ordering Own-root, I had lots of questions and was worried about every little thing, but in a general they all turned out great.

RVR- They are expensive, both for the roses and the shipping, for me, but they have the hugest collection around. I've never had a rose that didn't thrive, except a few free HT ones. I've had a few mis-labled, but the more I think about it, with as many roses as they have, well I know that I couldn't do a better job. All in all a very good nursery, one I will be ordering from one last time, for a few I cannot get else where, and to throw the support around :)

Edited to add- they did have hard to get out rose bands too that were stapled in, but they were not to bad, I figured it out :)

Antique Rose Emporium- Ships good sized plant, never had a bad experience with them, awesome shipping. I really can't remember why I didn't order more than once, but I think that it was because , mainly for me, bands do better and are usually cheaper.

Angel Gardens- Pam is a delight to deal with- I've ordered from her a few times, , but I mainly stopped ordering from her because I found cheaper places, that were closer to me.

High Country roses- A pleasure to deal with, great shipping, great roses. Mainly roses for a colder climate than mine.

Heirloom-I ordered from the previous owners and never had a problem. Everything was great! However I cannot afford the new owners pricing-so have not ordered from them.

Roses Unlimited- Love them, I mostly order from their summer sale now-once I found out about it, because I can afford them better on my fixed income. They have great roses, great prices and shipping. I have always had a great experience with them :)

Burlington- Awesome Prices, Awesome shipping! Her OGR grow Awesome-one word of caution, leave mini's and the smaller size roses, in the pots that they come in to grow more roots. I think Linda has spoilt me, I forget that all roses are not so well rooted. I lost a few off this Spring order- I think it may have been from re-potting them to early, I'm used to having to re-pot roses when I get them in. I only got a refund on one-did not bother with the other. I just have to remember that in the future..

I love her variety of mini's and such and Ralph Moore roses! I will probably order some more- I just have to remember to leave them in their pots longer- no biggie :)

LongagoRoses- I make no denial, that this is my favorite nursery. I have always had such a awesome experience dealing with Linda. Her prices, shipping, and roses are the very best. Her roses are also far better rooted, even bigger than some gallon sized roses at other nurseries. The majority of my roses have come from there. Her Prices just went up alittle-not much, but it will make me able to order less, but only because I'm on a fixed income-most do not have to worry about that.Since my yard is so full-it really shouldn't matter much, because I have to slow down regardless. :) She is still in my opinion, the best place to order from, the first place I check, when she doesn't have a particular variety I want, then I will look elsewhere. Hands down my favorite.

I have not had a chance to order from any more nurseries- when I found Linda at longagoroses- I have pretty much stuck with her and Burlington- because no where else could beat their prices and quality.-IMO. I have ordered a few from High Country from their Spring sale-also Roses unlimited from their summer sale, But this is who I have stuck with mainly for the last three years or so. Like I said above-I will be ordering on last time from RVR-for some varieties only they carry- but I mainly have every rose now that I want-after this Spring ans Fall-that is. The only roses I still want I am getting from Roses Unlimited, some ramblers,, RVR and there is one more place I wanted to order some species roses from, but I have never ordered from them , and therefor cannot remember the name of the nursery.

Amazing information everyone! Keep it coming! I'm sure this will help other people. It's interesting to see common themes to our impressions and experiences, even with little differences.

My roses from Palatine just arrived and they're pretty huge for bare root roses. I got 3 Nahemas, so not a lot to base this off of... but I'm pretty impressed with the size and health. The canes are THICK and pretty mature. I was concerned ordering from that side of Canada to CA, but for no reason. They handled the shipping just fine.

I forgot to mention Richters. If you're looking for hard to find herbs, geraniums or other companion plants Richters is pretty awesome. They're also from that side of Canada, but even flats I have ordered from them have come with no problems to CA. It could be a new addiction for those of you who haven't gotten into ordering specialty herbs yet... so be warned. There are special mint breeders that have fans just like special rose breeders! Personally, I absolutely love their "purple carpet lemon thyme." I love all of their thymes actually! And their mints. And their agastashe. And I don't know how I have withheld against their scented geraniums all this time, but I have! Now I have no more room for geraniums so I'm safe. ;)

Here's their 2016 catalog for the US:

https://www.richters.com/Documents/d0006_Richters_2016USD.pdf

and their website:

https://www.richters.com/

Hoo boy! Belle Sans Flatterie! The descriptions of this one drive me crazy!

Good idea Sultry. The roses were in good condition from Rose Petals Nursery and they do have such a collection of rarities. Maybe my shipment was just a little over the top... maybe someone was new and really wanted to make sure they got to CA ok. 6 of those huge staples in each rose container. Oy!!!

Better over protected than under protected. Lisa

I agree with most of your OP. I haven't bought from Rose Petals online. I've only bought from them at Rose Shows/Conventions so I didn't have to deal with their packaging. Roses unlimited has good shipping, but since I live close I love to go there. A bunch of us went this summer when they had their sale and we went wild on the $10 roses. I've also ordered from Reverence for Roses, Rogue Valley and Burlington and were happy with my roses.

Palantine is bare root and they simply tie them up together and wrap them in a large plastic bag. The first time I ordered from them, I ordered 12 roses but I thought they only sent 4, they were so tightly wrapped. Big roots and canes, very healthy. You will be happy.

I love Antique Rose Emporium.

Rogue Valley has been wonderful.

David Austin Roses US sends BIG plants, and if mis-labelled, send replacements the following season. Yes, on RMV (Lady Emma Hamilton) rearing up on plants from them.

Regan's has satisfied me very well. Fantastic selection, but still waiting for Charlotte Armstrong or classics like those to make an appearance.

I miss Arena Roses. I ordered from them when I was a high schooler. Absolutely magnificent specimens.

I need to expand to other vendors.

Even with excellent reviews, I'm always nervous when ordering from a new (to me) vendor, but I've not been truly disappointed yet *knock on wood*.

Steven

Cori Ann,

Has Long Ago Roses started shipping to California again? About 3 years ago, they stopped shipping to a number of western states due to the ag regs. It would be nice if that has changed.

I've ordered from most of the ones mentioned and all provide good customer service. Burling is my favorite, with Roses Unlimited and RVR tied for second. The mystery roses from RVR are a great adventure. And, on a recent order, they added a free rose I had not ordered...a light pink tea rose named Nancy Lee. That was thoughtful, and gave us a good laugh when we opened the box. I used to get many from Heirloom, however, their available selection seems to have transitioned over the past few years to an emphasis on HTs and seemingly leaving many OGRs behind.

One thing to keep in mind about 'Edgar Degas' not being available until 2018 is that if its patent began when it was introduced in 1997 -- and it lasts 20 years -- that may be why Linda won't be making it available until then, since she can't begin to propagate it without paying royalties until 2017.

I don't have much to add, since all the nurseries I've used have been mentioned. I will say that I do have them ranked in terms of whom I ask first when seeking particular roses:

Long Ago Roses and Burlington Roses get asked first, because of high quality and very reasonable prices. If they don't have what I want, then I check Rose Petals Nursery or Angel Gardens. These two are also top-notch, but cost including shipping is a bit higher, though not much. These two also tend to specialize in what grows well for them in Florida, so don't expect much in the way of once-blooming old Europeans, though there are a few tucked in.

For those cold-hardy oldies, I check High Country Roses. They also have a few hard-to-find species. If there's still something I can't find, I check Rogue Valley Roses or Roses Unlimited.

RVR has an amazing selection, but their bands are at the higher end of the spectrum. Also expect about 10% or so to come mislabeled, but my experience is that 1) it's usually nearby alphabetically, so you sometimes end up with something you didn't know you wanted, and 2) if you do need a replacement, emailing some pics and calling the office will get the mistake corrected.

RU also has a great selection, but they lean more toward the moderns than does RVR. But they also send hefty 1gal plants. This also means shipping is a bit more if you're not on the east coast, but it's not that bad since I'm in NJ. If I need something with faster impact, I go with RU. If I don't mind nursing something along, I go with RVR.

I haven't mentioned Heirloom because I haven't ordered from them since the company changed hands. I will say that they're going more in the direction of modern roses, and the few remaining oldies I can easily find elsewhere. So it's not that I ever had a problem with their roses -- it's just that there isn't as much that they have which catches my eye. But I wouldn't hesitate to order from them should that change.

:-)

~Christopher

Darn it Nancy you're right!!! I got so distracted that she was actually getting Edgar Degas ready that I completely forgot! Doh! Darn it!!!!

Christopher from what I understand it's not the patent issue. It's that she just got cuttings for Edgar Degas and the rose bush(es) won't the ready to become a mother plant and provide cuttings until then. Darn. Oh well. My search for certain Delbards continues.

Ah, well, that's another reason I didn't think of.

:-)

~Christopher

Oh, and about Heirloom fading from the oldies, I think I may have guessed why, but I don't know this as a fact. Heirloom has a thing against selling roses with RMV. Many of the oldies in this country are infected, and many aren't available any other way, though a few have been VID. What I think happened is that over the years, their assumed-to-be-uninfected mother plants may have started exhibiting RMV symptoms, and one by one they were eliminated from propagation. This isn't their fault, except perhaps that they needed to stick to their company policy of selling "virus-free roses", and took it upon themselves to discontinue stocking things they've discovered to be infected. It could also be that having RVR nearby, it made more business-sense to have complementary rather than competing inventories with them.

:-)

~Christopher

I am no longer in the rose acquisition mode. Over the past 20 years I have been on the Antique Roses Forum, I have purchased 300-400 roses. Still an ardent gardener, I have downsized, adapted, and diversified. At present I have about 80 roses, 60-plus cultivars with multiples of favorites. I learned a lot along the way. Some of my favorite vendors (Vintage) are no longer in business while others such as Heirloom have shifted their focus away from the old roses. In any case I have a seasonal sentiment offer to everyone.

It is this: I am most grateful that we still have the old rose vendors that we do have. Let us cherish them, and not take them for granted.

Rosefolly

Heirloom Roses are beautiful, they are expensive, but their roses are very beautiful. Also High Country Roses I think it's called are I believe owned by Jackson Perkins in a Colorado nursery. I like their prices and I'm thinking of buying there. I will post what we find.

starchild, HCR is a family run nursery in Arvada, Co. specializing in older roses and those hardy in zone 5. I visited last summer and had a wonderful time, but I'm not aware of any relationship with J&P.