My Reine des Violettes took a while to get established. Now, years later, it's actually a remarkably tough rose in my garden, surviving quite well with my occasional neglect. Don't give up, she hasn't been around since 1860 without reason! I refuse to garden without her. At this moment, on our master bathroom counter, there is a perfect single RdV bud in a vase with her unique foliage all the way up to the bud. The bud hasn't even fully opened up yet, and you can already take in the legendary RdV fragrance. Randy

I have two own-root, one from The Uncommon Rose and one from Chamblees. Both were planted in 2007. My gardens are no-spray. My RdV are not shooting out long canes, but many thin pliable canes, the longest of which is maybe only 5 or 6 feet. Karima, is yours a grafted rose? If so that may explain the huge growth spurt in one season. It really doesn't explain the stout canes though, that doesn't seem to be a characteristic of this rose but I've never seen a grafted version. I have trained some of the longer canes along a 4 foot high fence and temporarily tied the shorter ones to a pyramid that I move around the garden as needed. The young canes are so lax that they'd be in the mud if I let them be and I want to see those beautiful blooms.

Ingrid, I thought Marchesa was a Portland, too, but HMF, ARE and RVR all list her as HP, so who knows. Whatever she is, I do like her a lot. Buford, IâÂÂve been following your posts about the yard âÂÂdigâ and can imagine itâÂÂs a muddy mess with all these storms. Mine is a gushy nightmare even without being dug up. Thank goodness I havenâÂÂt put out my fall seeds yet or my neighbors downhill would be growing some pretty poppies and stock next year :) And evidently all the work weâÂÂve done to correct the basement flooding issue hasnâÂÂt worked! Our conditions should be about the same, so I think Marchesa would do well for you and maybe a RdV from a different source would do better, as well. Mine from ARE is the thornless one. I top dressed her with manure and mulched with pine straw when I planted her, but havenâÂÂt given her any special treatment. Her foliage has been good, and she has been a better bloomer than I expected for a first year rose with questionable rebloom reports from others. SheâÂÂs not lighting the world on fire with her prolific blooming by any means, but after her spring flush, she has given me a handful of beautiful, smelly purple blooms about once a month. I was worried about planting her in full sun, but didnâÂÂt have a part shade spot available. SheâÂÂs handled the sun just fine and maybe thatâÂÂs what is helping her to rebloom. No radiated heat in her spot like Ingrid has, though, and different soil, plenty of rainfall & humidity that IngridâÂÂs climate doesnâÂÂt give her either.

If it has not turned black, it is still alive. You only planted it in August? If the summer heat has not killed it, it is probably growing roots. You have to give these plants a chance. 'La Reine' and 'Reine des Violettes' are completely different sorts of garden plants. The former is stiffly upright, for the most part, and of moderate size. It can be troubled by rust in our area, and occasionally by mildew. Its very fragrant blooms are pink. The latter is an arching plant of some size, which can be used as a modest climber. It is not troubled by any disease in Southern California, but it is not tolerant of alkaline conditions, and can be troubled by chlorosis. The blooms are loose and graceful, and decidedly violet in color in cool conditions -- fading to shocking pink in heat. The foliage is pepper-scented. Jeri