Who says they "top out at 3-4 feet"? In a warm climate like yours, most Austins get taller than Austin or even HMF say - sometimes MUCH taller. Your best advice on that is to find someone who grows them near you and ask what they really do in your climate.

Jackie

caldonbeck, thank you for the gorgeous photos. I'm really beginning to wish I'd ordered Munstead Wood instead of Young Lycidas. Lady Emma Hamilton is really beautiful, even to someone like me who is not hugely fond of most apricot-colored roses.

Thanks for the comments. I am also considering Tess of the D'Ubervilles or Spirit of Freedom if anyone has any experiences with those.

Lady Emma and Munstead get sulky in the heat of summer here in Florida. They go semi-dormant. Queen of Sweden is a good rose in the heat. The plant keeps all its leaves through the summer. That's pretty excellent in my garden. These are also "tolerant" of heat in my garden-Windermere, Wollerton Old Hall (wants to be big), Jude the Obscure, Alnwick Rose, and James Galway.

not a fan of tess. She throws up long octopus arms even here in the UK.

Thanks I ended up finally deciding to order Lady of Shallot and Princess Anne.

Munstead Wood lost out because I wanted a flower with a higher petal count and Reagan doesn't actually carry LEH.

Good choices.

I am near you - about 3 hours from Galveston in east Texas. I love my Tess. I have her on a huge fan shaped trellis - she has very healthy foliage and lots of nice blooms. Two of my favorite Austins are Carding Mill and Abe Darby. Wollerton Old Hall, new for me last year, does get really big, don't find the blooms fragrant like Austin says, but they are pretty. Sophy's Rose is a really good one - healthy foliage, lots of big pretty deep pink blooms. Bishop's Castle is good. Lady of Shallot looks to be big. I have quite a few new ones that are healthy and growing - they will do better next year. Great big for me are James Galway and Scepter d'Isle - like them a lot. I have Lady Emma and Munstead Wood planted where they get full sun until 2pm - hope they like it there. I really like Ambridge Rose too. Love the blooms on Jude......mine is very small though. I am getting another Young Lycadis - my chickens were scratching in that bed and killed it. The color is a different, brighter looking pink that I really like. Englands Rose was new for me last year - it started off looking and blooming fantastically.....then it starting dawdling around. Am hoping it will get going again in the spring - it was really nice. I want to try Princess Alexandra of Kent - have heard good things about it.

Do any of you all plan to try the new Austins? I want Boscobel, The Lark Ascending.......not sure about the others.

caldonbeck, the photos are fabulous!
Judith