Great topic! I think most of us have pondered this question over the years. Generally, I'm with Jeri on this one (maybe influenced by similar coastal climate limits!). But, I also think that Malcolm has it right - it is more effective to actually compare results from using the same rose on its own roots vs grafted. So, I think I would combine the two perspectives here. Not only comparing the same rose, but also including how different local climates can determine which method is more appropriate. So, for me, I have been struggling with trying to encourage some of the hardier teas to thrive better in my PNW coastal garden, where our hot summer days are limited. I remember reading a comment from Paul Barden a while ago about how he would like to try Gloire de Dijon, as a grafted plant, to see if that would add more vigor. I second that particular desire! I think this ties in with what Jeri was also saying. Maybe I should try to get a grafted version of Lady Hillingdon and compare its progress to the plant I have (own roots), which has been slow ( to say the least!). Hmmm. It would certainly save room in our greenhouse if it worked! Happy new year, especially for all those Ox people! Ian

IMHO David Austin has made a grave mistake by not promoting RADIO TIMES more to his U.S. customers. I get the impression from his writings that this cultivar isn't as good a performer in the UK. Pity, because here across the pond it is one of the few Austins that can be kept as a medium sized shrub (with pruning). Repeat is reliable and the disease resistance is on par with the rest of his collection. The color is a rich pink, a bit warmer in tone than GJ. While the fragrance is not quite as strong as GJ, it is still "strong" and will please any parfume junky. I consider RADIO TIMES and SHARIFA ASMA to be the best pink Austins available for the American rose gardener. The only vendor I know that sells it is HEIRLOOM ROSES (heirloomroses.com). Please note that what they sell are "bands"; i.e. rooted cuttings. I can't stress this enough. The plants are tiny. On the plus side they are guaranteed to be virus free. I've always had success with them but put this disclaimer in simply because I don't want you to be shocked when you open the box.

What a wonderful family heirloom, vincekoers45! A rose that moves and lives where ever your family relocates. Thank you so much for the story about your family's Harison's Gold. There seems to be contradictory info about the origin of Harrison's Gold. According to this site: "Fun Facts: The original plant was discovered in the garden of amateur hybridist George F. Harison in Manhattan in 1830. Suckers of it traveled west with the pioneers" Wikipedia says 1830 was when it was marketed and also indicates it was a hybridization between Rosa foetida (Persian Yellow) and Rosa pimpinellifolia (the burnet rose - haven't heard of that one before.) I didn't read the whole article but I didn't see anything about when the rose was actually "discovered;" if it wasn't marketed until 1830, could be that it was 1824. Here is a quote from the site: 'Harison's Yellow', also known as R. × harisonii, the Oregon Trail Rose or the Yellow Rose of Texas, is a rose cultivar which originated as a chance hybrid in the early 19th century. It probably is a seedling of Rosa foetida and Rosa pimpinellifolia.[2][3] The cultivar first bloomed at the suburban villa of George Folliott Harison, attorney, between 8th and 9th Avenues on 32nd Street, north of New York City. The site of Harison's villa is now just south of the present General Post Office. The nurseryman William Prince of Long Island took cuttings and marketed the rose in 1830. 'Harison's Yellow' is naturalized at abandoned house sites through the west and is found as a feral rose along the Oregon Trail. Whenever it came into being, I think it is a very desirable rose cultivar and would have it in a prominent place in my garden, if only I had the space to let it grow unchecked. :-( By the way, suckers from my Harrison's Gold continue to come up years after I removed the original plant. As I mentioned a few years back in this thread, I had to remove the rose because it was too big and rowdy for the area in which I planted it and, sadly too big and rowdy for my small yard in general. I usually let one or two of the suckers go into bloom because I love the look and smell of the flowers, but then I force myself to cut them down. Holly

So best laid plans and all that - Sombreuil was unexpectedly sold out from one supplier and MAC from another causing both to drop off my orders! MAC I can still get hold of relatively easily and Sombreuil is still in stock at Trevor White's but nowI'm wondering if I'm brave enough to have a punt on some of the tenderer tea-noisettes. Lamarque takes my breath away but I'm dubious - just how tender is it and how bs resistant? I have loved Macharel Niel since I first saw it in an old rose book - but again, it's reputed to be tender and I'm wary of bs in yellows especially if it's tender here. I also like the look of Reve d'Or although I think that would be smaller? Clair Jacquier is another noisette that sounds great, but I've not seen much reference to it? Alister Stella Gray is another option - a lot of people seem to rate it and it's not generally considered very thorny? There's Mrs Honey Dyson as an outside option - Gertrude Jekyll apparently rated it - but I can't find much reference to how thorny it is, and the wichy heritage suggests a spiky thing, does anyone know? Crepuscule gets raves from lots of people - but I really want white/cream/yellow/ buff possibly, not pink or orange - I'm not convinced about those two colours with red brick and deep yellow trim on the house, unless anyone has photos that might change my mind? The same goes for Bouquet d'Or. Thoughts? Should I be sensible amd stick with the original plan? Am I nuts for even contemplating Lamarque here?