Just received my 2008 catalog in the mail. Never ordered roses by mail, prefer to pick out plants in person to pick ones in good form, however, after wasting money time and again on roses (much blackspot) I've decided ordering proven roses might be the best bet. Worth a shot anyhow. It's been suggested that I try KO roses instead for their bs resistance but it's not that I'm unwilling to treat bs I just don't want whole plants to be engulfed in it. I had some nice roses and when I introduced a new rose that is highly prone to bs it ruined the rest of them which had bloomed quite fine for over a year with no bs. The culprit was Queen Elizabeth. Plus I need more color variety than the KO's offer.
However I have a great friend here in Texas who says, "The David Austins will bloom very heavily in the spring and then fewer intermittent blooms until fall. Make sure if you decide on them to get one that is proven in our high heat and humidity. I've tried five of them, and only one was worth keeping, but it was spectacular in it's full spring bloom."
So if you have any recomendations of some DA roses that have survived and thrived more than 1+ year in your Texas garden, would you please post? Has anyone ever checked to see if all the DA roses are in the plantfiles? I was about to go though and search those but thought I'd check in with you first. Help with David Austin selection is appreciated. I'm in zone 9a, I think.
David Austin Roses In The Texas Climate
I'm also looking forward to the recommendations to be listed here. I am a new gardener, and have gone head over heels for DA's and the extra full cottage rose look. So, I took the plunge and ordered quite a few! I have not had them in the ground long enough to make a good appraisal of them, but I realize lately that MOST roses get some blackspot at one time or another.
Here is what I purchased:
Heritage
Molineux
Portmeirion
Sophy's Rose
Pat Austin
Glamis Castle
The Dark Lady
Abraham Darby
Golden Celebrations
Plus a whole bunch of "other" roses!!!!! Including Bourbons, OGR's, Teas, Hybrid Teas, Floribundas, and Grandifloras!
I made my selections based upon a (unfortunately rather brief) visit to the Tyler Rose Garden in the middle of hot, humid August. I chose the DA's that were looking good at that time, as we had just been through a very wet summer. The top performer's at the Rose Garden were SOPHY'S ROSE (hands down), Golden Celebrations, Molineux, Dark Lady, Abraham Darby.
Two that I had intended to buy, but discovered to be looking terrible were Anne Boleyn and Graham Thomas.
To be honest, there were lots of roses that were outperforming the Austins, with perfect foliage and tons of blooms. I made a HUGE list of them and was able to find several at Chamblee's.
Some others that were performing well at that time (unaffected foliage, big healthy blooms, etc...) were:
Janice Kellogg
Summer Dream
Julia Childs
Elle
Opening Night
Medallion
Shreveport (foliage not as good but OMG the blooms!)
Apache Bell
I definitely intend to purchase some of the above, especially Janice Kellogg and Julia Childs.
Laura your review is chock full of great information!!! Visiting the DA Tyler garden is a perfect way to pick the best.
To be honest, there were lots of roses that were outperforming the Austins, with perfect foliage and tons of blooms.
That worries me a bit as I'd love as many blooms for as long as I can. That would be the whole point in entertaining the rose in the garden!!!! I will review your list again soon and compare to the catalog. THANK-YOU!
You are most welcome!!!! And hey, I drove past the Tyler Rose garden just last week and showed it to some friends. Would you BELIEVE that the majority of the roses were still blooming their little heads off!!!!
The Austins are not situated fairly at the Tyler Rose Garden. They are partly shaded from the south. This time of year, that means a mostly shady day. So they looked pretty bad and had stopped blooming for the most part. Back in August, they had more sun hitting them.
Anytime someone wants to organize a DG meet at the Tyler Rose Garden just for funzies, I'm ready to go!!!! Pen and pad in hand!
Laura, the DA's perform a bit better with some shade in Texas. The petals are thin (somewhat typical of fragrant roses) and shatter or melt quickly. The cabbage shapes tend will ball in high humidity (something to think about in Houston)
I love the TRG, but probably won't be able to make it back until next Spring:(
Rats cocoa, I have a full sun spot for some great border roses. :(
No I'd not heard of them. Looking for mostly shades of pink, yellow and true whites would be nice to. :)
I have several from the list and so far nary a problem, great roses.
http://earthkindroses.tamu.edu/EKroses.html
While these are not DA, they are wonderful performers for Texas. For a white rose, Ducher. Yellow, Nacogdoches. And pink, Duchess de Brabant . I've had great success ordering delivery from Chamblees, with the plants arriving in excellent shape and I didn't have to shlep them home. Tip: ask for a volume discount.
Thank-you!
I recommend 'Abraham Darby' as tough! It has survived here through several years of drought, insects, and no time to do the things for roses that they need. My 'Graham Thomas' has also hung on, but it's not as healthy.