I think most discussions of "own root" vs. "grafted" may be nearly irrelevant, UNLESS one is speaking of specific varieties and specific rootstocks. Each rose variety is genetically unique, and so the root system it produces will be different from that of any other rose, and its behavior on a specific grafted rootstock may be different from that of any other rose. So it becomes dangerous to generalize too much. In reality, every rose is on a "rootstock," whether there is a graft present or not; in an own-root rose, that rootstock is simply that particular rose's root system, which is genetically unique. Of course it is true that most of Austin's roses are at least somewhat related to each other, but even there, there is enough variability that I think it becomes unreasonable to generalize too much. As for the rootstocks under grafted plants, there is a tendency for extreme vigor (Fortuniana) or moderate vigor (Dr. Huey or Manettii), or low vigor (odorata or canina), etc., and a tolerance of acid soils (multiflora) vs. alkaline (Dr. Huey). But those are tendencies. Each scion variety will behave somewhat differently on each of these stocks, and each scion variety will behave differently from other scions, on a given stock. On top of all of that, then, are soil and climate of a specific garden, both of which will affect behavior of a rose on the roots it is given. So I think it is legitimate to say "in Lakeland Florida, even on our sandy, nematode-infested soils, I prefer Austin's "Graham Thomas" and "Heritage" on 'Dr. Huey' over 'Fortuniana' (since they won't rebloom well) or own-root (since they won't survive long), but I prefer 'Souv. de la Malmaison' and its sports on 'Fortuniana' (a combination that gives excellent vigor, floriferousness, and longevity), but 'Tausendschoen' and 'Crepuscule' are excellent on their own roots," those statements may not be true of other varieties, nor of these same varieties in other gardens, in different climates, and with different soils. The bottom line, then, is Caveat Emptor. Yes, get others' opinions and experiences, but realize they may not match what happens in your garden with your set of varieties.

Wi-Fi and Perma, thank you both- very kind. Wi-Fi, I can make the choice for you if you like- get Gertrude! Hahaha. I have Gertrude growing in a pot and the performance has been superb! Gertrude repeats flower very well, as you know the scent is amazing (Gertrude was all the rage at one point in the UK to make rose water- I made rose petal jelly for the first time last week and used mostly Gertrude flowers) and you can either get the climbing form or the shrub. Yes, it is thorny and the pink isn't as dark as Alnwick but there is a reason why I made so much effort to get my friend the Gertrude- I try to give no less than what would excite me. Gertrude is also a healthy specimen. Strange that Heirloom has stopped carrying it.... Indecision tortures me- I would go buy the Gertrude to satisfy the current plant lust. I would then prepare the sire for the Jude in advance (incorporating well rotted manure, compost, bone meal and bury some banana peels), cover it with some cardboard (held down by weights) to suppress weeds and then I would order the Jude now for November delivery to plant. Come next year, you will be the Belle of the Ball with your Jude blooms!! :)

@Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR Thank you very much for your advice. I’ve watched a ton of videos on YouTube but never saw anyone post a bare root rose looking like this.. your advice helps a lot. I’ll wait until it gets established well on the ground. @Stephanie, 9b inland SoCal Your Lady of Shalott is very beautifu! Thanks for sharing this picture. I hope mine thrives well too. I’m in the Ottawa area and our growing season has just started. I can’t wait!

Ann your garden is lovely in every way. I love love your iceberg roses and the lavender. I can’t grow lavender here because of our dense clay but I really love it. Iceberg is one of my favorite white roses also, I grow a couple ven tho they require spraying here because they are so lovely and bright white. Your princess Anne seems to be very happy and I also hope it becomes a star in your garden. Would you be willing to share more pictures of your Bolero? That is a rose I have been meaning to try and have never gotten the opportunity. The thrips really damage my light colored roses here, but they are still my favorite. The magenta rose in the background of Princess Anne is Super Excelsa rambling rose, I got it from Heirloom roses. I grow it with Super Dorothy over a small fence to hide a car trailer my hubby has there. They are both supposed to rebloom, but after 3 years they only give some sporadic blossoms here and there after the main flush. I would consider them once bloomers unless they change with maturity. On this bottom picture you can see the super Dorothy is lighter. This year they both bloomed darker for some reason if you have space for a climber in this color range I would recommend my Raspberry cream twirl. I feel pushing it lol but it really has been great here. You probably have seen my big ones on the arbor, but this one is a band from this year and already blooming. It makes long thornless stems that work great for arrangements. Picture from my mature plant that shows the color out of the sun. Some blooms have a lot of white like these while others are almost all magenta/red and they age with a lavender cast like princess Anne.