Most tree roses are made up of three parts, the root stock, standard or tree, and the rose that blooms at the top. Each is grafted onto the other making the tree rose. If you pruned it pretty low, as you put it, you possibly cut off the desirable portion of the bush that supplied the flowers you had at first. Anything growing from the base is coming from the root stock or possibly the standard. If it gets long enough you can use it as a climber! Go to the following link and scroll down to the Houston Rose Society. Contact the person listed for the best rose culture advice in your area. Here is a link that might be useful: Texas Rose Societies

Hi Jeff, I'd recommend The Generous Gardener or St Swithin for a climber, not red, but both of them seem to be good choices. I have Spirit of freedom and I'm increasingly underwhelmed by it. I grew Queen of Sweden at my old house and I liked it a lot, but beware that it is a very upright rose... basically shooting straight up with lovely cupped roses on the very tips. It's very vertical. I also grew Tess, and I thought it a decent enough plant but would never grow it again. The Prince too, also grew very vertically, wonderful blooms but not a "bush", rather some sticks with amazing flowers on it. I'd grow it again, but in the back of something else. Same for Queen of Sweden. I really like Sister Elizabeth. Short plant, smallish flowers, but really great shape, strong scent, and very good rebloom. I'm a fan of the highly-scented English roses. Today was the first bloom of the year on Sceptre'd Isle and the scent is just fantastic. Between my old house and my new place, I've probably grown about 50 Austins, and my favourites (at this point) would include: Jude the Obscure Lady E. H. Jubilee Celebration St. Cecelia Sceptre'd Isle Harlow Carr Gentle Hermione The Ingenious Mr. Fairchild Alan Titchmarsh Eglantyne Evelyn Sister Elizabeth Of course, your climate will make all the difference, especially in 5b, I've grown English Roses only in California and England.... but those are the ones I wouldn't want to be without. New to me this year, but roses I liked when I visited David Austin's nursery last year include: The Alnwick Rose, The Wedgewood Rose, Munstead Wood and Princess Alexandra of Kent. On the wishlist for next year some oldies like Pretty Jessica, Brother Cadfael, Abe Darby, Mary Magdalene and Lilac Rose; and of course, the new roses will be revealed soon, so perhaps something from there will be especially tempting. Anyway, hope something in this helps you out, good luck with the new planting, I'm sure your mom will love them!

Jess---I love VQ and she does repeat bloom all summer---However---my yard is so shady that I can't be a good judge of the size of roses. I do think Clair Matin repeats very well------ I like both of these roses--- Thanks Your Iris gal-------I think the two pictures I posted of VQ are a good example of her lovely blooms--I'm happy you like her. Florence

That makes sense to me. Unless in DA's nursery and experience, north facing, as you suggest, is colder than simply "shadier" spots. In my experience in SoCal, they are the same.