I don't grow LoS so I'm no help, but yours is own-root and those at the test garden are possibly grafted, and that can make a big difference for how some roses perform. Some are fantastic on their own roots and some are much better grafted, and that also depends on your area/soil/etc.

@Mischievous Magpie (CO 5b) Oh I hadn't considered that the ones at the test garden might be grafted. I assumed they were all own root there as well. Would that make the flowers so much bigger? They are at least 4-5 inches across and 1" deep.

Like I said, it MAY make a big difference in flower size and plant size. Some roses are pathetic on their own roots, some great. So if LoS is not a vigorous own-root grower in your area, it's possible that the grafted version is performing better and producing bigger and better quality flowers. But I'm not in your area and not a LoS grower so I couldn't say for sure.

Only a handful of DA's are that orange, the only one I can think of right now is Pat Austin but there may be another few.

@Mischievous Magpie (CO 5b) fascinating. Thank you for that insight!

My own root lady of shalott is 2nd year and its growing vigourously but the flowers are small too. its still young though so who knows. i certainly am no expert at identification but i think it looks pretty much the same as mine.

Thanks @Sam CO z5 I would agree--they look identical to me. Perhaps the bush just needs a couple more years in my area to look good on its own roots.

I have LoS, and I think yours is LoS. Helen

The Lady of Shalott is still under patent. It's really not legal to be giving (or selling) cuttings of this rose. Diane

Thanks @Diane Brakefield neither of us knew anything about patents at the time and it was an honest mistake. She just wanted to try a cutting for the first time to see if it worked and it did. I'm not about to chuck it now, however.

My LoS, grafted. The leaves look very similar, I’d say.

Do all of your LoS bushes throw out octopus canes? Mine does not. At all. It seems that everyone else’s does so I’m still questioning mine. New growth is 10-12” maybe. That’s it. I’m still wondering if it’s another DA orange.

I am late to weigh in, but my 4th year, own-root LOS cut blooms do not look like OP's cut blooms. In fact, after they are cut and brought indoors, mine close up and hardly open back up again, even if they were cut after having opened fully and after having been on the shrub in an opened state for 2-3 days--but perhaps this is normal/depends on multiple factors/not a true difference. They shatter cleanly. Both my LOS shrubs also throw out octopus canes, and are fairly variegated in color (less orange in our KS clay). Pictures from this morning.

My neighbor's LOS is being grown as a climber if that gives any indication of octopus arms.

I'm glad that I'm growing LoS as a climber on a pergola. It would be a constant battle to prune, this rose wants to climb so bad. I planted a 1 quart sized own root in October 2020 and it's now 8 feet tall. More vigorous than three other climbers that started as 1 gallon own roots at the same time: Laguna, Tess of the d'Ubervilles and Red Eden.

PDXRobertZ8 I watch the YouTube of your rose and your leaves match with my Carding Mill.

I also have Lady of Shalott and your pictures DO NOT match with LOS leaves.

Below is 11th-year own-root Carding Mill in my zone 5a garden, see if it matches with your leaves & growth habit. Carding Mill is more fragrant and lasts longer than Lady of Shalott in the vase:

Carding Mill roots VERY EASILY, below is a rooting of Carding Mill that I rooted for a friend. Note that the leaves match with your pictures.

Lady of Shalott has "grayish dark green" leaves and NOT medium-green like your pics (look more like Carding Mill). Below is 8th-year own-root Lady of Shallot in my garden. Lady of Shallot throws super-tall octopus canes and NOT a compact & upright grower like Carding Mill:

Even in my Zone3/4, LOS throws octopus canes….

@strawchicago z5 you might very well be correct that it is Carding Mill and not LoS. I still am not convinced it is LoS despite all the back-and-forth about it last summer. We are now in year five, and still not a single octopus cane whatsoever--and the plant is in full sun and blooms non-stop so I know it's happy. In fact, all the new growth is about 12"-15" only, and it's straight up. The blooms are also pretty straight up as you mention. The foliage currently looks like a medium green with no blue/glaucous color to it--but I feel like that changes at different times of the year too.

I did read on the DA website that they describe Carding Mill as having a myrrh fragrance, but my rose doesn't seem to smell like other myrrh-scented roses to me. I do have difficulty discerning rose fragrance at times--I mean, I smell it, but I'm torn on how to describe it. The only fragrance I know I can nail is "old rose."

In any case, I do think it's more likely than not that my rose is Carding Mill. Thank you so much for all of your examples! I'm going to snap some pictures when I get home and re-post what it looks like now to see if you still think so.

Do you happen to know if Carding Mill growth is more subdued? Also, what about disease resistance? The rose I have never gets any blackspot or powdery mildew--even when every other rose around it does. It stays sparkling clean.

@Kelly Tregaskis Collova that's one of the main reasons I didn't think I had LoS--in five years I've not had a single octopus cane. But also, my flowers don't seem to nod either and LoS flowers often have a bit of a nod.

Carding Mill has the fastest repeat among my 34 own-root Austin roses (constant bloomer). Its growth is slow & upright & compact as 11th-year-own-root. It's very healthy if the soil is alkaline & fast drainage. The scent is wonderful old rose and myrrh, and not YUCK camphor & orange peel & black tea like LOS. Carding Mill makes good cut flower, lasting 4 days in the vase. LOS shatter fast & less petals. Below is Carding Mill in the vase:

Below left is Evelyn, and middle is Carding Mill:

The Carding Mill rooting that I gave to my friend in Texas: her soil is more alkaline so her Carding Mill is more orange. Note that Carding Mill has MORE tightly packed petals than LOS (looser & less petals):

@strawchicago z5 fascinating! I do suspect that you are right. I've attached some photos of it that I just took. The new growth this year is no more than 24" total.

First two blooms:

New growth:

I have HUGE hands--easily a men's XL. To give you an idea of the flower size.

PDXRobertZ8 Yours is 100% Carding Mill: slow growth & compact & upright plus many tiny prickles and identical leaves to my Carding Mill. You have loamier soil, thus deeper color and, more buds.

LOS has much LARGER thorns & more grayish leaves.

My soil is rock hard clay, thus phosphorus is less mobile with paler blooms and less buds in 11th-year-own-root Carding Mill.

@strawchicago z5 I took a few more photos today. What do you think? Still Carding Mill? I definitely no longer think it is Lady Of Shalott. I also can’t believe how different these blooms look compared to last year’s (earlier in this thread).

Ooh!! Carding mill is now on my want list!! If it’s not that one, Could it possibly be summer song?

Lady of Shallot

If your rose is Carding Mill, I think that I need it

It is really beautiful

@Kelly Tregaskis Collova no, it’s not Summer Song as that one is very difficult to get here in the states

@Kristine LeGault 8a pnw it seems like it might be Carding Mill. It’s definitely not LoS I feel now. If you are near me, I would be happy to make you a cutting. I LOVE this rose. The fragrance is wonderful and it blooms constantly.

PDXRobertZ8 Yours is 100% Carding Mill, from the abundant TINY prickles, LOS has much BIGGER thorns.

Beautiful rose. I saw both LOS and CM at friends homes. In my impression LOS flowers clolor has a hint of metal tint, which yours is without

Maybe Lady Hamilton rose?

@strawchicago z5 so I happened upon a random rose in the Logee’s catalog and think I finally know what this rose is. I feel 100% that it is Rosa ”At Last” and not an Austin at all. Every image I see of At Last online I can match exactly with pictures I’ve taken of this rose in my garden. I’d like to add that this is a WONDERFUL rose. I would get another. It is never diseased, has large, fragrant blooms, and it blooms constantly.

PDXRobertZ8 I still think it's Carding Mill for the below reasons:

1) At Last has less petals at 37 versus 80 petals in Carding Mill

2) At Last as a floribunda has a perfect round bush-shape, versus Carding Mill's irregular growth (few tall canes sticking up).

3) At last has smaller blooms than Carding Mill.

4) At last has a mild scent versus Carding Mill can smell very good (rose and myrrh).

The first pic. below is At Last from the web, note the round shape of bush:

Below pics. are 10th-year own-root Carding Mill in my zone 5a garden, note the IRREGULAR bush growth (a few tall canes sticking up), plus twice more petals:

Below center LARGE orange bloom is Carding Mill. Note that its bloom is almost as big as Golden Celebration above (can be 4" across):

@strawchicago z5 I love your explanations! Thank you! You are right about it not being At Last. Okay, does your Carding Mill throw out canes/blooms like this? with more coming from the sides?

Yes, mine throws out side way canes, so the bush is vase-shaped. Your soil has more phosphorus than mine, thus more branching of Carding Mill.

@strawchicago z5 thanks! I have never seen sprays of buds growing sideways from another blooming cane on my other roses. Wow! The fragrance from this bush is perfuming my whole yard.

@strawchicago z5 I’m sorry to hijack the thread with an off-topic question but do you have a thread where you’ve discussed your propagation technique? I’ve been trying without success (many losses) and would love to hear how you have had your successes.

Laura: I compiled all the tips on rooting roses in below post in ORGANIC ROSE forum:

Rooting methods that work best for your soil and climate (houzz.com)

I mainly post in Organic Rose forum after being put-down & criticized in Rose forum for my 2015 flu-shot reaction. That was worse than childbirth. Jim in PA plus Ken also got flu-shot reaction. For that reason, I never get vaccinated for Covid nor flu-shot (never have Covid nor flu either). Husband got very mild Covid last Tuesday June 28, but I didn't catch it.

@strawchicago z5 sorry to hear you experienced some negativity about your personal choices. I enjoy your posts here, if that makes a difference!

Thank you for adding the link. I’ve watched a lot of different videos and read a lot of different techniques. I am hoping yours will be a success for me.

@strawchicago z5 I put in an order for Carding Mill now that I know what it smells like. It is SO GOOD! I love that fragrance!!!