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Roses - Not David Austin

OffshoreOffshore Posts: 14
in Plants

I have planted David Austin roses in the past in previous gardens - some years ago now actually.

I have had variable results - from excellent (Getrtrude J), good (golden celebration) to poor (quite a few actually).

Looking at the latest DA catalogue I have seen some of my geese described and pictured as swans - if you see what I mean! The marketing is pretty slick really.

I am sure some of the latest releases are very good, but at the price I am concerned about wasting money on the not so great.

I know nothing about the other breeders and their roses to be perfectly honest,.

Could anybody please suggest alternative modern shrub rose or climbing varities that repeat flower and are healthy from other breeders?

Or even good results from the last few years of DA roses!!!

Thanks for any help

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,980

    I find Classic Roses (founded by the late Peter Beales) supply really good roses, and the website descriptions have been accurate on the roses we or our acquaintances have bought.

    https://www.classicroses.co.uk/ 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • lizf4619lizf4619 Posts: 30

    Have a look at Harkness, or Cockers if you are buying quite a few.

    Last edited: 20 July 2017 12:32:53

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,137

    I've bought from Peter Beales and David Austin and very happy with my purchases from both.
    Albeit -it was a few years ago


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Bright starBright star Posts: 1,153

    I've had several DA roses over the years with varying success like yourself. One of the best and most beautiful was a short climber called A Shropshire Lad, the scent was good and it's almost thornless unlike Gertrude. The contrast between the coral coloured buds and the pinky apricot flowers was stunning against my victoIan red brick wall. I do miss it, left it behind when we moved house.

    Life's tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late.

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,852

    I find new roses do best if potted up to develop their root system in peace and without competition from other plants in the border.    Then it's a question of choosing colours and perfume and growth habit to suit your own needs and taste.

    In my Belgian garden I planted DA roses except for one Kiftsgate, one Hot Chocolate and a couple of carpet roses which all did well and a New Dawn and a Guniée which succumbed to hard frosts below -25C.   My rose supplier sold DA roses that were hardy for him in the Ardennes and that was good enough for me but I did have trouble with Grace, Molyneux and William Shakespeare bought direct from DA.  Wussy and fussy and mostly dead.

    The ones that did well (and some have come with me to this new garden) are Falstaff, Generous Gardener, Crocus Rose, Queen of Sweden, Jacqueline Duprée, Tess of the D'Urbevilles, Benjamin Britten, Teasing Georgia, Malvern Hills, Gertrude Jekyll, Sceptr'd Isle and Constance Spry.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • OffshoreOffshore Posts: 14

    Thanks for the replies on this.

    I will look at the other suppliers that have been mentioned.

    Could I ask, were there any varieties in particular which were exceptionally good?

  • pbffpbff Posts: 433

    In terms of David Austin roses, I have found The Alnwick Rose, Lichfield Angel and The Mayflower to be very good. 

    Molineux is one of David Austin's weedy specimens - I certainly wouldn't buy those again!

    Ballerina and Bonica are two excellent roses not bred by David Austin.

    I'd certainly never want to be without Ballerina.

    🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌
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