Avalon, I just came to that conclusion myself - that RPN's Cracker Pink is very much like Caldwell Pink/Pink Pet. I hadn't grown that rose so didn't know to check it, but it hit me this morning to question what else it could be. Hopefully, it doesn't get any bigger than White Pet because I have it in a pot. It's been putting on growth that doesn't look like it wants to be a mini which is what I was expecting. Tammy, haven't seen Pam's website so can't compare. My LP is very pinkish in the middle. Others say white in the middle which may be semantics. The mix of white and red looks pink to me. Florida's LP looks nothing like FL's CS to me which is very globular and dark with an occasional red streak - I believe. For some reason I was not successful in growing it - climber or bush. They both balled really badly throughout the year. Very disappointing. Sherry Here is a link that might be useful: If only sweat were irrigation...

Thank you for the response, the 2 you mention Tammy I have not heard of but will investigate, I don't know how they would do here in Fla., and Sherry, I could start spraying again, Spinosad and Bayer 3 in 1 are suppposed to be effective, but I now have a nice colony of butterflys and bees, and even a Hummingbird! yay! so am trying to find roses that the Chili Thrips, and BS, don't like... and nothing seems to bother Louis P., also Spice, and Ducher, and Mrs. BR Cant, and Prosperity... so maybe they have some sort of nasty taste, or oil, or whatever, that makes them resistant.... also, I have noticed that the Drift roses, 2 coral, and 2 red, seem to be clean... but maybe the thrips have just by-passed them, who knows? anyway, the OGRs seem to be fairly resistant, some are better than others, certainly a lot better than the 'modern' roses... Belinda's Dream has defoliated a lot but is putting out more growth and buds, so she does have some resistance... these thrips like a lot more than roses, they have invaded my peppers, what's on the bush is shrivelled and twisted, so yes, I guess I have a bad infestation... I'll have to gradually find roses that are resistant...or spray... sally

I do absolutely nothing for blackspot. I refuse to be a slave to my roses. :-) I have quite a few old garden roses, and they're very tough. Most of mine have been in the garden almost nine years, so they're established, and black spot isn't noticeable. The old garden roses in the China class do the best for me (Louis Phillipe, Old Blush and St. David are some Chinas I have in my garden). I also have a hedge of the bright magenta colored Knockout roses in an area that only gets afternoon sun. They're fine. They'd bloom more if they got more sun, but they're doing really well. I prefer Louis Phillipe to Knockouts. I personally think Louis is less maintenance. My Knockouts look a little ratty if I don't deadhead them, but Louis doesn't look too bad if I don't get around to deadheading. Size could be an issue. Louis Phillipe will get gigantic if left to its own devices - 7'x8' easily. In my experience, Knockouts don't get as big. Louis Phillipe has a nice spicey fragrance, whereas I can't detect any scent in my Knockouts. But as far as your location and the amount of sun, I think Louis Phillipe or Knockout would bloom about the same there. I've seen huge bushes of Louis Phillipes growing in very shady areas in St. Augustine and they had blooms. Have fun! OGRs are an addiction!

I believe you have Pink Pet. There is some further confusion between Caldwell Pink and Pink Pet. They probably are the same rose. There is a climbing version, too. LP is cherry red with a lighter pinkish center, very cupped and somewhat full, though not packed with petals. If yours has A. a white eye or B. white splotches in the eye or C. sparsely petaled, it is most likely another china. Country Side Roses has good pics for comparison. You can see how similar they are. Scroll and click catalog and click Chinas. This is another extremely good rose for Florida. Low growing, scentless and reblooms in flushes. "The Cracker Rose" is a great marketing catch phrase and misused frequently. But... it also COULD be an old time folk name for any good Florida Rose. To further confuse the issue, I have both. The one I bought as Caldwell Pink and the one I bought as Pink Pet. My PP has a slight ruffled and pinked look to the petals. The difference is VERY slight to my eye. Here is a link that might be useful: Country Side