Shrub Rose 'Velvet Toreador'

I love this rose because it is a continous bloomer and because of the great fragrance, the only negative is that is it very prone to black spots

I have found this rose to be relatively disease-free and easy to grow. [Note: that was last season. This spring of 2008 we have had a lo...Read Moret of rain. Velvet Toreador had a case of black-spot the first thing. I defoliated the plant and sprayed with corn meal tea plus worked corn meal into the dirt around the plant. The leaves came back quickly and appeared to be doing well but now (May 19) I find the black spot reappearing.] The blooms last a long time and are shatter-resistant. They also last when cut and brought inside. Blooms are on very long stems. The only negative is that this rose is not fragrant although others say that theirs is fragrant. Maybe as the bush gets older the flowers become more fragrant? We'll see.