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squeakmommy

Rose nursery experiences, please!

squeakmommy
11 years ago

Hi, all,

I am not too on the ball this year, but have finally decided to place an order for two David Austin roses, Jude the Obscure and Lady Emma Hamilton. However, I am having a hard time finding them online, especially Lady Emma Hamilton. The only two places that I have found that have both are David Austin in Texas and Hortico. I have heard that DA has a regular problem with RMV on its roses, and of course I have heard horror stories about Hortico, though recent experiences appear to be better.

Does anyone have any recent first hand experiences that they can share about these two suppliers? Or can you recommend another supplier (I have found a few that have Jude but not Lady Emma).

Comments (10)

  • dublinbay z6 (KS)
    11 years ago

    I have ordered from DA in TX a number of times and have had no particular problems with any roses they sent me.

    My understanding is that modern roses almost everywhere have a good chance of being virused unless the nursery has gone to extraordinary measures to get non-virused roses. And most nurseries have not done that--which means you're playing a game of roulette with most nurseries you order from.

    I ordered again this year from DA in TX.

    Kate

  • squeakmommy
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    Kate,

    I have seen pictures on this forum of your DAs, and oh my! If you order from DA Texas, then I am convinced!

    Jill

  • squeakmommy
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    I have a follow-up question, please. What are the differences in performance (vigor, health, etc.) of own-root versus grafted in the DAs? Anyone noticed one or the other performing better?

  • lola-lemon
    11 years ago

    I've ordered from David Austin and haven't had any RMV. Love my LEH and Jude both!
    The local nursery here gets their Austins from D. Austin, so sometimes it's all just the same.

  • squeakmommy
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    lola-lemon: So good to know! I have place my order with DA and am eagerly anticipating my plants next month!

    I had some other Austins previously, which I got from Pickering - Golden Celebration did not survive one season, Glamis Castle and Tradescant, which I gave plenty of opportunity to perform but each insisted on one cane per year, and Redoute, which was beautiful but blackspotted a bit. She died when I attempted to relocate her to a better location.

    LEH and Jude are supposedly more disease resistant, stay manageable in size, and have wonderful fragrance. We are re-working our front beds into a "cottage" garden style (as opposed to a nothing-in-them style - LOL!), and these two will be anchors, along with a hydrangea, and my Zephie rose (the only Pickering to survive!).

  • nanadollZ7 SWIdaho
    11 years ago

    I hope you enjoy your new roses. I love Jude, but he does get VERY large for some people. I don't mind this, but plan ahead for a big rose in your future. Diane

  • kittymoonbeam
    11 years ago

    I had RMV show up in many of my DA grafted roses that I bought 2 years ago. In alkaline soil, some of the grafted roses perform better. William Shakespeare 2000 and Mary Rose both grew better in my soil grafted than own root for me. I bought own root WS 2000 as a band and grew it up to a nice 5 gallon size plant. In the ground, it started to decline so I decided to move it back to a pot with some azalea mix. Now it's recovering nicely. The grafted one never had any setbacks at all. So I think some of the DA own roots prefer acid soil.

  • vickysgarden
    11 years ago

    Roses Unlimited seems to have both these roses listed, but you would have to call to determine whether or not they are in stock for spring. I am placing my first order with them this spring, and although I have no personal experience with them, they seem to be highly rated by other users.

  • Beth Willett
    11 years ago

    I ordered my Lady Emma from Regan Nursery. They were very helpful and the roses arrived in good shape! They are sold out now...but maybe next year!

  • ken-n.ga.mts
    11 years ago

    Do visit Roses Unlimited web site. They carry some great roses. I have several DA roses on their own root and they have grown and bloomed non stop for me. I just GREATLY amend their planting hole, 24"x24". My red GA clay turns into a solid block by summers end. Roses aren't to wild about trying to grow in that stuff.