I have a four years old grafted Rosarium Uetersen and I think it has a great potential, but needs time to develop. The first thick climbing cane appeared in year 3, and in the following spring I had well over 50 buds on it. Now I think I won't have much of a second flush because two more thick canes are growing.

Mine is not particularly sheltered and still survives winters pretty well ( 3ft of surviving cane in 2019, 6 ft last winter). There is some fragrance and the bloom form is very nice. Sawflies love it, unfortunately.

Another one you may like is Felix LeClerc. Much fewer petals, but a very similar colour, and tip hardy for me. It's also one of the first roses to bloom for me. I have it own root, also four years old, and it is certainly taking its time. I see the first thicker canes appearing right now.

I will just note that the color of Viking Queen plays better with others than RU does. I have my RU near a red Cadenza which works for me in our Mediterranean climate but it would not work for everyone. I think VQ and RU are both great roses.

How many Quadras do you have?

Wow !! I love that arch with climbing roses. Gorgeous !!

Beautiful, Flowers! My RU is really more coral here.

This is RU on the right, and Cadenza on the left.

I had a RU...I finally dug its monstrous root ball out last year. Thick canes, covered with sturdy lethal thorns, chunky growth. Not really trainable -- the canes were too thick. Bloomed heavily in the spring and then sat there until fall when a few sprinkles of flowers appeared. The flower stems are too short to effectively cut, and the flowers have only that mild 'kordesii' fragrance. Super hardy.

I still have an own-root 'Viking Queen'. Fragrant blooms on and off all summer; long, easy to train canes; great health, hardy -- when it was young I untied it from its support and let it lay on the ground under a mulch for the winter, but I haven't covered it in several years.

Thank you all for the comments and photos. I had some doubts about the color of RU also, since I am mostly into pinks and purples these days. Quadra is too red. It sounds like Viking Queen would be the best choice, if I can find it. Flowersaremusic, that's a great idea to add a clematis in with it.

Roses Unlimited has it!

Flowers, your photos are stunning, as usual. I especially loved RU with the clematis, and the giant John Cabot. Of course, the arbor photo is outstanding. You should see my out of control Colette. I don't know what I'm going to do with that one. I know you've had awful problems with heat this year, as I have also. Were the RU and John Cabot photos taken early in the season before the heat struck? I haven't had much that wasn't completely burnt up or sub par since June 9. Heat is still with us, too, as it is in your area. Diane

rosesmi5a: thank you for the fantastic write-ups about roses, including their faults. Appreciate that very much.

Straw, you are very kind. The arch is a mess this year. I dread cutting it all back. It's leaning with most of it off the arbor. There's only room for a small animal to get through.

Sheila, your RU is a wonderful example of how floriferous she is. Fabulous color and size of blooms! She's definitely a happy girl in your garden.

Rosesmi, perfect assessment of RU's pros and cons. Mine blooms a little more than that. She is a beast to train. Gorgeous blooms, but awful canes.

Thank you, Diane, None of those pics were from this year. We had about the same cut off date for decent looking roses. Just before all the company came. Wouldn't you know it! I can't imagine Colette out of control. I hope this doesn't mean you'll be up on a ladder again.

Magda, thanks for letting me know about Felix LeClerc. I'm looking into that one now also.