I have grown both David Austin roses and OGRs in Southern California. I no longer grow OGRs, and I have become a David Austin rose addict. Many Austin roses now have exceptional health, very good repeat bloom and heavenly fragrance. While some OGRs are also strong in these same categories, I know of few that put all the qualities together in the same rose. What I have found especially lacking in OGRs (with the exception of the Portland Rose de Rescht) is a good repeat bloom. Many do not repeat at all, and of those that do rebloom, it is often just a light autumn bloom. I once tried to grow the once-blooming Damask Madame Hardy, and I don't think it produced more than 3 flowers in the 3 or 4 years that I grew it. I don't think it liked the lack of chill in Southern California. I finally removed it. In contrast, I find that many, but not all, David Austin roses equal or surpass the OGRs in their old-fashioned beauty and fragrance; and some are in almost constant bloom. My prime example is the Austin rose Tamora. The repeat bloom in my garden has been as good as any floribunda, and I find the myrrh fragrance to be exceptional. Some people complain that Austin roses are too big for ordinary gardens, but there are cultivars that remain relatively small. Prospero reliably holds to the size of a floribunda in my garden, and Tamora is a little bigger. I also am growing some new varieties that most probably will remain the size of a floribunda or HT: Young Lycidas, Olivia Rose Austin, Boscobel, Munstead Wood, Princess Alexandra of Kent and Heathcliff. Many of the bigger Austin shrub roses make good climbers, and there are repeat-blooming ramblers, as well. I am growing The Albrighton Rambler along my balcony, and I have been very pleased with its repeat bloom and health. All-in-all, David Austin roses are by far my favorites.

I grew both Teasing Georgia and Crown Princess Margareta in Eastern Ontario, 4B. Both had a lot of winter die back and needed protection. CPM struggled and only bloomed infrequently, though she was also in a poorer site, less sun. Teasing Georgia was by far the better of the two. She would grow back from less than a foot high in late March to as much as seven feet by end of July. Her canes were also quite flexible and twined easily on a decorative obelisk where she bloomed a lot, repeatedly and often. She was also very healthy in a humid climate. I am growing CPM here in my new garden in zone 7a, Okanagan Valley. In fact it is the same plant I had in Ontario which I brought with me. I very much like her flowers form and colour. She is very vigorous and healthy here, but still only blooms in 3 or 4 flushes a season with some scattered flowers in between. Though this may be partly because she has only had two seasons in the ground here after the shock of a transcontinental move. We shall see this summer. I definitely feel that TG is Austin's best yellow climber and will be getting another plant this year to grow her again in a more clement climate. I would suggest growing grafted plants of either of these in your colder climate if you can find them. Bury the bud graft 4 inches at least. Hope this is helpful. Cheers, Rick

Hi, Lisa Su, and Friends, I guess I caught rose fever and took to ordering and planning more roses for spring in last few days to add to above orders.... I started looking up your roses and found ones I wished to add to my gardens... so I have ordered a few more also..... Souvenir de la Malmaison, Boubon 1843 rose, strong fragrance...nice big bush w/big blooms....for my femce border... Clotilde Soupert, polyantha , nearly thornless, strong moderate fragrance...actually may be a small rose that blooms in intense clusters like The Fairy...for my front hillside ground cover... And I’m planning on adding China Doll polyantha and Elegant Fairy Tale Roses to lower part of back yard hill, waiting for them to come available to order.... Oh, to plan my dream gardens. I now am up to 88 roses... roses in front yard...roses down side of house and lining back yard and some on hill by spring.... 20 new roses so far coming to plant....fun..fun.... Soon to sleep...per chance to dream...of roses...roses...roses.... oh, my! Post your photos, too? What are you favorites to have this spring? Happy Gardening! Kitty

Hi Yulia, Lady of Shalott is one of my most floriferous roses. It's pretty resistant to blackspot, does tolerate shade, it's not especially fragrant. It's hardy here and while it grows tall in warmer zones, in z5 it is better maintained as a 4-5' tall shrub, and responds well to pruning and shaping. The only really hardy, vigorous repeat blooming climber I've ever grow is Purple Splash. It's wonderful but not fragrant and not shade tolerant. Cold zoners here will certainly have some good suggestions.