I've been told by several knowledgeable people that it will grow in my zone 6 if I can get through it's first winter. I would think that would be even easier in zone 7.

I think it likes sandy soil.

Jeri

It was not hardy here. A friend got plants through one winter, but not the second. We are ~5 miles inland from the Atlantic.

Fortuniana grafts are usually very high on a long shank. This makes it hard to bury the grafts in zone 7a and colder.Then, Foruniana is shallow rooted and doesn't want to be buried an extra foot. I've heard of planting them on a 45 or 30 degree angle and cutting off the roots that would stick up out of the ground.

You do NOT want to "bury the graft" on any fortuniana-grafted plant. It is up high like that specifically to keep you from doing that, and to provide some separation between the ground and the grafted plant for disease control purposes.

So . . . if you live in a zone where the roses die at the graft if the graft is not buried, don't get fortuniana. That's called wasting your $$.

The reason for the high graft is to prevent own-rooting in
Florida where the southern root-knot nematode kills most rose roots, but not Fortuniana. (Incidentally it is convenient for the budder.) This nematode is not a problem outside of Florida and other southern coastal areas.

Incidentally, the Fortuniana shank and crown may be more winter-tender than the typical scion graft, but reports differ,

I think I've decided I have enough good options already, don't need to risk it. Thanks everyone.

Why don't you contact a consulting rosarian in your area? Go to the ARS website and look under the Resources tab to find a local society. I know Tulsa has some consulting rosarians. And I know some of them grow their roses on Fortuniana.

Good suggestion Roselady, thanks.