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anderson_dc

David Austin Roses for Zone 5a

anderson_dc
13 years ago

So ive been bit by the rose bug and am already planning ahead to next year and what i would like to plant for roses. Ive heard some good things about the Austin roses and i love the look of the Old English roses. While on the website i saw that they recommended a handful of roses which are cold hardy for zone 4-5 which is where im located.

My question is, of the roses below which ones can handle the cold of zone 5a which you have experience with. I also have some other requirements that the roses need to have; thanks!

Mary Rose

Graham Thomas

Gertrude Jeckyll

L D Braithwaite

Winchester Cathedral

A Shropshire Lad

Golden Celbration

Brother Cadfael

Eglantyne

The Mayflower

Crocus Rose

Charlotte

Requirements:

-Cold hardy zone 5a

-Blackspot resistent (we are quite humid during the summer)

-Large blossom

Comments (8)

  • dublinbay z6 (KS)
    13 years ago

    My understanding is that Mayflower is very hardy. I certainly can testify to it being disease-resistant--most resistant rose in my garden! The blooms, however, are not large--maybe about 3 inches. Good rebloomer.

    It's one shortcoming is that its blooms are sometimes reluctant to open. I have to place my thumbs on either side of the blooms and gently pull the outer petals down. Usually the rest of the bloom pops open then.

    Don't know about the others listed--but Mayflower is a very nice Austin.

    Kate

  • silverkelt
    13 years ago

    some of those will have more die back than others..

    All of them will get blackspot eventually.. the mayflower is probable the most resistant of the lot.

    Of the ones on your list the following is most hardy..

    in descending order..

    mayflower
    mary rose
    winchester cathedral
    eglyntyne
    crocus rose
    brother cadfael

    all others will experience winter damage to 6-7 inches, sometimes more or less.

    I found The dark lady to be a better winter hardiness than LD BRAITHWAITE , but that was my experience..

    Vielchen and Brother Cadfael have more experience than me with austins. Ive grown about 20-25, but between my move (some died in pots) and having to leave some, Im down to a whopping 4 of them at the moment.. Crocus Rose, Heritage, Mary Rose, and Abe Darby.. who isnt looking too hot, but its still alive..

    Silverkelt

  • greenhaven
    13 years ago

    I submitted a lengthy response on a thread on the second page titled "Austins for Wisconsin" I grow some, and I love them!

  • predfern
    13 years ago

    The following own root Austins from your list have died in my zone 5a garden:

    Graham Thomas
    A Shropshire Lad
    Golden Celebration
    Eglantyne

    Austin roses that have done well in my garden:

    Tradescant
    Evelyn
    Sharifa Asma
    Abraham Darby
    Pretty Jessica

  • silverkelt
    13 years ago

    I would highly recommend getting most moderns on a graft..
    prefer multiflora, but thats up to you..

    I know my growing season is way to short for own roots to make it back to any sort of decent growing size and bloom flushes without it.

    My first round of orders were own root, they were less hardy, less vigorous than those on graft, again here in my conditions. Some others were telling me that on this forum and I ignored it, I wish I hadnt!

    Again not all zone 5 are created equal.. I have almost a month less growing season than zone 5s in colorado and ohio and michigan even.. its just where I live. Ive had first frosts in august before!

    Silverkelt

  • veilchen
    13 years ago

    I grow all those roses on your list. I agree, none will be blackspot free except maybe The Mayflower. Also see my response in the Wisconsin post. You can see how things go the first couple years, but unfortunately, if you want to grow Austins you will either have to spray or deal with some blackspot. I deal with it and spray minimally because the Austins are hardy, fragrant, and have gorgeous flowers that rebloom right up through fall. Try getting all that with another rose that is hardy to zone 5.

    Crocus Rose and The Mayflower are very hardy, nearly to the tips this past winter. Mary Rose and Winchester Cathedral next in hardiness on your list. The rest should be fine if you bury the bud union 4-6" deep when planting. Expect a lot of winterkill, sometimes I have to prune most of my DAs down to just a few inches above ground after a particularly cold winter. But they bounce back by May.

    Brother Cadfael is my absolute favorite DA. It has huge flowers like you are hoping for.

  • ruthie5bpei
    13 years ago

    Crocus Rose has the least winter kill in our coastal zone 5b, followed by Sharifa Asma, Sprit of Freedom, Crown Princess Margareta and Eglantyne. We bury the bud union 4" below soil level at planting. If you don't mind a once bloomer, try Constance Spry, as it had no die back after its first winter. It is the only one we have own root, the others are all on Multiflora.