Hi Julie,

The only one on your list that I've grown is Wollerton Old Hall, which I removed due to blackspot issues. I loved the blooms and fragrance, but yes the color does fade to an off-white.

I'm not sure if any roses are considered resistant to Rose Rosette Disease. It's spread by a mite. I'm not that knowledgeable about that disease though, so hopefully others will chime in. I typically think of rust on roses as a problem in drier climates, like California, so it may not be an issue for you. Again, not an expert. Your biggest concerns will probably be blackspot, so look for roses which are blackspot resistant.

While not on your list, Teasing Georgia has become a favorite of mine. It's healthy, vigorous and has good repeat. For you, the only detractor may be poor vase life.

-Chris

I had Ambridge Rose briefly and it was indeed a rust bucket, the under side of every leaf covered with ugly yellow rust spots, which is a disease process. The rose that is almost universally lauded as being very good is Tamora, which has a tidy growth habit, flowers a lot, and I believe it's fragrant and very disease-resistant. I beg of you, please don't use toxic chemicals in your garden that will kill many beneficial creatures. Instead, find roses that will do well in your area and allow the beneficial insects to do their work, and enjoy the creatures that will consider your garden a haven because it is not a death zone.

Like Chris, my impression is that rust is not likely to be a problem for you in your climate. Drier areas, yes. Your climate is probably more like mine, where blackspot is likely, but rust is not.

A non-Austin rose that seems to like the hot and humid conditions of the Southeast is 'Colette'. It has an old-fashioned look with fragrant, sumptuous apricot blooms, and can be grown as a large shrub or low climber. It isn't a great rose everywhere, but it might be a good one to try in your neck of the woods. I don't grow it myself, but I do hear that it's a good choice for the southeast, and might give it a try someday.

I agree with Ingrid that 'Tamora' has a good reputation. I also agree with her that it's much more sustainable and better for wildlife (and pets) to grow roses that will be disease-resistant in your conditions than to spray chemicals. Easier and cheaper, too. Sometimes roses will be prone to blackspot and or powdery mildew while they are young, but will "grow out of it" as their root systems and immune systems mature, so if you decide to go no-spray, you may need a little patience.

Have fun deciding,

Virginia

Hi Julie! I live in burns, a small town 40 min west of Nashville . Where are you ?

I planted wollerton this spring and so far no disease issue. I love the color so much! Teasing Georgia is my favorite rose , it's gorgeous! Does get a little blackspot but not much and always blooms.

I do not have carding mill yet but it's beautiful. Good luck in deciding!

Hi all, thank you so much for all of these really helpful comments. I will definitely go no spray. You convinced me! I live on the edge of a wetland in Murfreesboro, TN and I certainly don't want to harm this lovely ecosystem.

Julie, how wonderful of you to so readily agree not to spray. That's even more important when you live near a sensitive wetland area that can so easily be damaged. Thank you for your sensitivity and understanding.

I'm growing Ambridge and it's doing well. :) I saw some rust, but most of the trouble I've had is keeping things from eating it's leaves. I don't spray, but I do go out every morning and pull the little buggies off all my roses. Feels like a losing battle. But it blooms beautifully - I feel like more in flushes than continually - and it smells beautiful.

I also grow Lady of the Mist by Kordes. It's not as old - maybe introduced in the 1950's? And it's a bit more upright than shrubby but it's taken off much more than Ambridge and blooms pretty much constantly. Really lovely. I grow Ambridge for the scent of LotM for the blooms. :) (it's scented, just not as unusually as Ambridge)

If you're game to try a non Austin apricot rose, I highly recommend Perle d'Or. I don't know how to link to Help Me Find, but that's a great resource for rose info. PdO blooms all summer, is very, very disease resistant and makes a sweetly romantic cut flower. Its blooms are produced in clusters.

Tamora is a lovely, fragrant, continuous blooming Austin, but her vase life is shortish. She is a smaller shrub and good for compact spaces and front of the bed. I don't spray her or any of my roses. She loses some leaves to blackspot.

Marianne is a Paul Barden once-bloomer, but she is (in my opinion) one of the most beautiful apricot roses ever created! Her blooms are very full, fragrant and old rose. She's 100% healthy for me. Maybe combine her with other remontants?

Carol