Dilemma: I was thing of taking out Glamis Castle (own root) to replace with Tamora (grafted). Am I making the same mistake again? Should I forgo Austins all together and opt for something different? Or shell out $20 and try Tamora anyway?

Any replacement suggestions?

FJ

It can take 3-5 years to get a satisfactory plant from a rooted cutting even in outstanding conditions. Before trying different cultivars, first determine exactly what problem(s) you are dealing with.

San Jose area is a wonderful growing area--before it grew houses and technology companies, it was one of the premier agricultural areas in the world.

The problem may be grafted vs. own root or they require extra water/fertilizer or my yard does not like Austings.

FJ

Grafted, I have Molineux, Charlotte, Huntington Rose, Jude the Obscure and Carding Mill. All doing well (not all of them are appropriately located and some will be moving this winter). The jury is out on my grafted Glamis Castle-- I have it in too much shade. I'll move to sun and see.

Own root I have 2 Pretty Jessica and 1 The Prince. All are 1 year old and growing and blooming. None are in the ground yet, they'll go in the spring.

My only problem with English Roses has been that some of them have octopus arms -- too much thriving, the opposite of your problem.

I amended the ground well and I drip irrigate so they are adequately hydrated in Livermore's high heat.

Hope that helps. My two best are Carding Mill and Molineux, which look great side by side.

Debbie

Tamora - no complaints; nice rose with no disease other than seasonal mildew. Plenty of bloom. Wickedly thorny. Nice smell once you get used to it.
Jude the Obscure - from Target, 2003. Is slowing down. I figure it needs a good rain. Thorny! Fragrant.
Scepter'd Isle andMary Rose - Grow back in the corner of the garden plot . They both are good size bushes that flower freely. I don't do much of anything with them at this point.
Lilian Austin - again, not much care but plenty of love for this little bush with big flowers.
Pat Austin - Like JO, is slowing down. Had problems earlier this year but has recovered nicely. Needs rain. Blooms freely.
Wm. Shakespeare 2000 - no complaints
but next to him:
Tea Clipper - Rampant growth. Lovely Bloom in spring. Saw no fall bloom. On the SP list. I don't have any room unless I move to the back corner with the others that grow freely SI & MR. Oh there I go waffling again....LOL.

Both Tamora and Ambridge Rose were miserable failures here.
Building on a base of fairly severe chlorosis, they mildewed a bit and rusted badly.
I don't mind a rose that rusts a bit on old foliage in late Fall, but I resent rust that shows up on nice new leaves.

The blooms were pretty (when they appeared) but on such miserable plants, it really didn't matter.

We grew them on both multiflora and on Huey, so it wasn't a multiflora rootstock issue. They just hated our conditions.
I think they might grow well where conditions are somewhat acidic, but not in my alkaline conditions.

Jeri