Are you concerned about winter hardiness? Or that it is not vigorous?

I've got family in Rockford who have had good luck growing own-root Austins with some winter protection (they use a bit of chicken wire and pile some straw over the roses in late fall, and then take it off again in the spring). They don't have Pat. I think Crown Princess Margareta does best for them, of all the Austins they have. If you don't want to protect roses at all in the winter, I'm not sure how they will do. You might get away with it, with own root plants. I'd at least put some mulch on them or something.

I am in z6a/b NJ. No blackspot resistance, no vigor, and not winter hardy. I have seen absolute beautiful PA in Cali, but she is not meant for here. Consider Lady of Shallot

Darn. If it's not winter hardy and not vigorous it's a goner for sure. There was someone on helpmefind in my area who seemed to have luck with it but it seemed so unbelievable. I think I'll put her in a pot for the first year at least. My problem with Lady of Shallott is she seems to be very pink.

It is rated hardy to zone 5. I just got 2 this year from a nursery that usually only stocks plants that do well here. Out of all my roses the Austin's & other shrub types are the hardiest & most vigorous for me so far. Here's hoping I did not make a mistake on this one. It will be interesting to compare this one. Where I planted these ones, I did not want them to be too big anyways.

We should compare notes on this one. The person in my area on helpmefind said PA likes alkaline soil and shade in her garden.

Hey zz - are you really zone 6? I've been meaning to ask:), sorry don't mean to be nosy! Most of N IL is 5 unless you are close to the city. Big difference in winter survival between 6 and 5.

I'm in the city.

If it makes you feel any better I looked it up on help me find & it had a lot of favourite votes & marked as excellent. And on davesgarden it was marked as growing in 5a zone. I also only plant roses in spots that get 6+ hours a day. In order to avoid potential black spot problems. I have also managed to keep a few very "tender" hybrid tea roses without winter protection here, just deep planting. So it's always worth a shot.

Thanks so much! That was very nice of you!

I had a tiny band make it through an awful winter here in MN zone 4...

Ah makes sense now!! You get the extra heat - I bet Pat will do fine for you!

Hi zz - I'm with Patty. I also have a Pat Austin that I've had about 7 years and it's root hardy but not remotely cane hardy in my zone 5. It only blooms a few times a year so it's not one I'd replace if I lost it, but it keeps coming back year after year. Mine is grafted from David Austin roses. I much prefer Lady of Shalott and mine is pretty clearly apricot. If you're looking for an Austin apricot, you could also try Carding Mill, though that one fades to cream after a while.

Cynthia

The problem I had with Pat was that she was always bs ridden. The diseased stems do not survive the winter well, and it never grow much after 3 years before finally one winter did her in. I am in Z6a/b. If you can keep it healthy by spraying, it might get the chance to develop some size and perform better. I don't spray for fungal disease, which spells the end of Pat. I also have carding mills, tip hardy here. Similar to pat though in that it flowers in the spring half decently, and just sitting there naked trying to survive. My pay is an own root. Maybe grafted version might do better. Just remember it being a twiggy, miserable thing, and do not miss it one bit... Maybe missing it just a bit as the plant is beautiful if well grown.