Roxy from Kordes is very small and compact, but consistently gets the highest ratings for disease-resistance. Abundant blooms. Either no fragrance or moderate fragrance.

Thank you, Jo Jo. I love the color but given the size of this container ( 24 inches ), I wonder if something a bit larger might work well.

Not the most interesting, perhaps, but the old southern go-tos include Belinda's Dream, Caldwell Pink (Pink Pet), and Carefree Beauty. Savanah might do well too.

(Just noticed you said "bright" pink, however...)

Thank you, Philip. Any kind of interesting pink would do, except maybe the very light - I have Olivia Austin for that. I love Caldwell Pink! Would this perform better here than Princess Ann? I also wonder if in reality, that pink is warmer, more salmon than pics show or is it really that cool, almost bubble gum color? I’d love the latter.

I also love Savannah. In the south, I was bent on avoiding hybrid teas because they supposedly don’t work, but it sounds like Savannah was bred for humidity.

I had lots of Austins in my previous garden in Maryland, and they were extremely disease-prone. All would defoliate completely by mid-summer and eventually they declined after a few seasons from the stress. It was a huge waste of time and money in plants and maintenance. Even their "disease-resistant" roses couldn't handle the humidity. So I don't know about Princess Ann in the South... :(

The only clean and healthy roses for me were Gallicas and modern shrubs like Kordes or Knockouts.

There's a great book out there by Peter Kukielski "Roses Without Chemicals" that lists the most disease-resistant varieties. A lot of hybrid teas, but also floribundas and modern shrubs.

Jo Jo,

I have the book but the trouble is there are few he listed for the South that I like all that much. Most are not pink and don't have the larger, double, plump blooms of HT-s and floribundas which I like so much.

Neither Roxy nor Savannah are listed for the South but I suppose they could still work.

Roxy sounds the best so far.

Hearing all these negatives about Austins, at least for the South...makes me wonder what will my Olivia do her first full season. I planted her last fall so I am yet to see the bloom.

Great, I'm glad you got the book! I would just go by the numbers and pick something rated as close to 55-60 as possible. And then ask on this forum if folks have any experience growing it.

I hope your Olivia does well -- who knows, maybe growing it in a more controlled environment of the container will help.

I was so disappointed at the DAs performance in my garden that I almost lost interest in rose gardening. Now I live in a disease-free area, but there are other challenges, obviously... But I'm getting back in the saddle!

Princess Anne would definitely meet a some of your criteria (constant bloomer with gorgeous blooms and bright color). She gets blackspot here so I wanted you to know she is not as healthy as Olivia. It recovers quickly so it is still a keeper in my garden.

Jo Jo,

My only Austin is Olivia and it will probably stay that way. They look so beautiful and delicate but they seem too ethereal for the harsh southern conditions. I see lots of Kordes in my future. I need them sturdy with blooms that feel almost made of strong paper LOL.

So far, my best is Easy Does It. They have it at my local nursey - the epitome of health- and I am almost tempted to get another one to stick in the ground (in addition to the one in the pot). But this is rush.

Dianela,

Your princess Ann is gorgeous. How old is the bush?

I have two 3-4 year olds and they never seem that large. I wonder how long it takes a rose bush to reach maturity (maximum size).

I am glad to hear Olivia is healthy in your area (virtually same as mine). Can't wait to see what she does this year.

I don't get quite as hot as you but it is just as humid here and my best rose is Julia Child. Very disease resistant and blooms constantly.

So interesting, seil. Last year was the first season for my Julia Child (in the ground). She was great for the first flush but she didn't age all that well in the season. She BS-ed much more than I expected, considering I'd heard she was supposed to be disease-free and a bag of chips, etc.

I will try to be more diligent with spraying this year.

The bloom were also not very long-lasting - they faded out in a day. She's just OK for me.

Easy Does It, on the other hand... What a legend!

Severe my princess Anne was planted in March 2018 so they are 3 years old. They get pruned to 3 feet tall every spring and grow to 5 feet tall by fall. Mine are in full day sun.

I guess mine will never get that large because of a tree nearby. We'll see this season.:)

Every bodies mileage is different! Easy Does It was lovely here...the first season but it did not winter the first year.

How about Desdemona? I heard it does really well in containers, seems to be a good rose all around.

Thank you, Ceres. I jotted it down though white would probably be my last choice in color. It looks like a beautiful rose though!

Have you thought of boscobel? There's a floridian in this forum that grows it and it seems to do very well for them in a container.

Bp37,

I will have to wait for Olivia to prove itself before I venture into any more DA-s.

I am definitely thinking of Roxy but right now, there is no way to buy it.

I wonder if it will be available in the Fall...

Thank you all so much!

Belinda's Blush. It's a color sport of Belinda's Dream.

Princess Anne gets a lot of black spot and doesnt repeat that well.

Olivia is great but she is a lighter pink.

I just thought of Another rose that that may really work for you. Crazy Love is a beautiful bright rose. I am actually growing her in two containers on a balcony right now and looks very healthy. I do not have any blooms yet.

Thank you for the additional suggestions! I wrote them all down.

I have also been jonesing for Plum Perfect for a long time and it looks like it's available to buy. Would you recommend it for pot?