I’d just buy both haha.

I bought both but Olivia gets amazing raves here!! I cannot wait to have them myself. Some say Olivia is the best Austin ever. I do recall there being a thread in the spring that the blooms had to gear up a bit before they really showed off .

I have Olivia for two years and ordered a couple of AM for the coming season. AM is a climber and the flowers, solely based on the Austin produced publicity photos, have more appealing coloring to my eyes. Olivia is a very nice, easy care rose where I live, but a tad bland (at least to me). Solid rose, though, a bit low on the elusive "charm" factor, again at least to me. I like Oliva well enough and am thinking to order a couple more to grow in pots.

Olivia is essentially an English Knockout. Now, that’s not a bad thing and I’m not trying to discredit this great rose. It is disease resistant and reblooms well for me. It is dense and blocky like a Knockout until late in the fall when it puts on extra growth and looks a tad bit more like many of my other Austin shrubs. I agree that the blooms do not have the charm of my other roses and are only moderately fragrant at best. It is a great low maintenance rose, though.

I have not grown TAM.

AND I love Olivia, she is the sweetest pink on a super healthy plant. I would like lots more of her

But that being said I haven't grown Ancient Mariner

I have a 2 years old Olivia and I love her. My 1 year old Ancient Mariner seems to rebloom faster and the blooms were bigger. I have the feeling I might going to like Ancient Mariner better. I am happy I have both.

I see you're in z5, I have no ideas about winter and all. But where I am, hot and humid, I have both roses. I definitely fell in love with the Ancient Mariner from his first year. Flush after flush of flower, so full petal. And guess what? Outstanding blackspot resistance. Thrips resistance, too. Sure I still see the blacken shoot tip but that doesn't stop the rose growing or flowering one bit. And thrips can't mar his beauty.

Now, onto Olivia. In hot and humid climate, she was a bit disappointing. I kept wondering why she was praised as best Austin so far last year. Her first year was dull. Flowers: yes. But got blackspot and thrip. and not as vigorous as the Ancient Mariner. Her second year is getting better. If I spray often, her flowers are excellent. Still no where close comparing to the Ancient Mariner which still getting better.

So, to sum it up, you're in a much much better and more suitable climate for rose than I am, you should get both. They're excellent!

Olivia is really clean and gets huge here. She is beautiful and blooms all the time! The one thing she lacks is scent. She faintly has scent like if you put your nose way in there lol. I like her but she's no Abe Darby.

Her blossoms start out kinda cupped but as they age they get a little darker and open up a lot more as seen in the photo. Both roses are Olivia.

I like her too... now...although, year one, during the Summer, Olivia Austin looked like this.... Clearly, there were issues with growing culture at this point..

O.A. consistently looks like this now... fading slightly during the heat of Summer

I do not grow Ancient Mariner, but, it really looks pretty in Marlorena's pics. Given a choice, based upon bloom alone, I would select Ancient Mariner.

I much prefer Ancient mariner. It’s just got the most beautiful blooms. No comparison in my book.

Marlorena - those look heavenly!!! Oh my!!

Carol

Well. I guess I better add Ancient Mariner lol It sounds beautiful

Well, what a great response - thank you everyone! Obviously, both roses are desirable! I've been leaning towards TAM and the photos on this thread have clinched it... but OR will stay on my wishlist for sure! Who knows - maybe both ARE warranted! And why not? I LOVE digging new beds! ;)

Phuong, I spent about a month in Vietnam in 1997. Breathtaking country and wonderful people. Some of the best food I've ever had! But man oh man, that humidity! :)

Redwolf , I placed my order with David Austin and asked if the order could be added on to and they said no problem until March ! So if you find an extra 26 or so you can add it on. Don't forget to use the code when you order if you order from them! There was a thread here with it. I recived 3 catalogs ( 2 came with gift card and one i always get ) and none had the code . So I'm so glad it was shared here!

Here is Olivia, second year

The ancient Mariner

Beautiful Phuong

Phuong - Your picture of Olivia is wonderful - the petals are so beautifully arranged. Your AMs look so full and lush!!

Carol

Sorry for spamming but I don't know why it doesn't let me post all at once!

Olivia, too heavy blooms without support

@lilyfinch, what’s the code for DA.com? Would appreciate the code if it’s not an one time use, thx

UPA

Phuong, what part of Vietnam are you in? I've been to Saigon, the Mekong Delta area and Bạch Mã National Park. I absolutely love Vietnam. Its such a beautiful country with such amazing people. I especially loved the food! LOL

Thank you Romegen for posting that code! You saved me I think it was 47$ on my order :)

Thanks for sharing the code, Romogen! When did you receive your catalog, Lilyfinch? I normally receive one by now but haven’t seen it.

Dave, I have to request it every year . Mine came right after Christmas. :)

If you have cool weather, Olivia rose will do very well for you. Olivia is so so beautiful blooming in spring - cupped and full with a light lavender cast. But it is so so disappointing in hot weather, flat with a dull bland pink color.

Yes, I love that lavender cast:

Carol

Those are so gorgeous, Carol! I wish I get more of these lovely blooms from my Olivia. By the time it begins its spring flush, the weather is already too warm for its liking. I may have to grow another in a pot in order to get it blooming earlier to get blooms like yours above.

SoFl Rose: I am in Sai Gon/ Ho Chi Minh city. The city where you landed with all crazy drivers and crowded street :) I love Bach MA park too, it's like heaven for tree loving people!!

Karen - Thank you!!! I know!! I was so surprised at how lavender they were! Such a beautiful color. One of the perks of living where it's a bit cooler. There aren't that many perks though. LOL

Carol

Even in our 100 degree plus summers Olivia kept on bloomimg. She is the sweetest wedding cake pink.

They look very similar to me. My question would be which one loses its color faster.

So I pulled the trigger on The Ancient Mariner. Lilyfinch and Romogen, I used the code and it worked like a charm, so thank you!!!!

Thanks everyone for the great discussion/impressions/opinions/photographs!

@romogen, thank you for the code. Have to go shopping now;)

I can't wait to see it.

Anyone knows how many days the Ancient Mariner flower last?