Summers, you might have a good point about the own-root. Mine are own root and if you can imagine 6 canes coming from the base that are about 3 1/2 feet long, that's what it looked like over the winter. That growth came last fall after planting in October. But the spring growth has been nothing but filling in and lots of buds, the original canes are still the same length. I will probably get the "worst gardener in the world award" but I think I'm going to just watch and see. Even though it still has the same long canes, it visually looks so much stronger now that it's filling in. But is twice as big and wide as others on the same line planted the same time. Moses, didn't you recently say that Chamblees sends multiple cuttings in one pot? I had no idea and didn't separate anything. Also, mine is getting too much shade this time of the year so I think that it's great that she's covered in so many buds at all!

It grew 5' canes in its first year here in W. PA, zone 5/6. So I predict it will gain even more height for you growing in your climate. But the growth it made for me this year is typical wild growth a very vigorous rose will make in its first year(s), after which it should tame down nicely and not gain such height when mature. What its expected mature height will be for you is yet to be determined, but rest assured Earth Angel is a very vigorous rose, no whimp. I suspect it is more columnar than spreading in growth habit. It bloomed very well for me in spite of its wild growth, which is a very promising attribute. The very cupped, heavy petaled flowers are strongly fragrant. My fear is that in my humid, wet climate the blooms will ball up, although I did not observe this fault to any great extent so far. The flowers do open slowly for me, a positive trait. They are very pretty, on the small size, about 3" across, truly possessing a charm about them. I would definitely advise you to give Earth Angel a try.

I have 4 in large 20 gallon pots that i bought this spring. They didn’t get a huge number of blooms before the heat of zone 9b Houston weather really set in June. But what was worse was their damage which made leaves and buds tiny. I finally found Spinosad spray for the thrips and it has bounced back this fall and is going to have another flush of blooms. I’m going to leave mine in pots another year at least because I’m not sure of the right spot. They can’t take full south Texas sun for sure.

Hi Moses, I just saw your response to my post, thanks for the kind words. I’m not a writer, just always (too) eager too share my opinions on roses. My Earth Angel is own root from Roses Unlimited, and I must say vigor has not been an issue. It went from scrawny band to decent sized shapely bush in one year. The vigor and health on own roots has been very good, the spring flush is wonderful, it’s just the repeat bloom that’s almost non-existent. I’d caution against trying to to bury a fortuniana grafted rose too deep. The fortuniana budded roses are usually budded very high on a long shank (both Nelson’s and K&M do this), so you’d have to dig rather deep. They also recommend you keep the graft well above the soil line because fortuniana has a tendency to produce suckers. (It suckers anyway, but those suckers would be even more prolific if buried). I think your plan of getting from Palatine on multiflora is a good one for starting off a plant with decent size. Noseometer, Earth Angel has a spicy scent to me, similar to Blossomtime, definitely no wet newspaper or dog scent here, lol. Jen, I think Jude has one of the most amazing scents, mixed sugared tropical fruits with rose perfume. Funny how noses are so different. Even it’s first year when I didn’t really like the blooms, I was definitely keeping him just for the scent. Both the blooms and the scent are wonderful this year. It’s La Park that smells like Eau de Damp Basement to me.