We've seen R. roxburghii growing in many places in the South, including old old antebellum gardens where it seems to have been the only rose to have survived. I never saw any disease on it.

Jeri

It's totally clean here, as is the double form (which at times has the odd flower or two on it during the summer). It also has fantastic dormant-season interest from the stems and bark, which can be accentuated with artful pruning.

I saw the most exquisite specimen of this at the Heritage Rosarium up your way...it was about 12-15 ft tall and limbed up similar to a crepe myrtle if I recall. I can't imagine it was sprayed. I decided right then and there I wanted to have several of them in my garden.

Robert

ooh goody. My parents are totally going to forbid me from purchasing plants by the time I'm done with our yard!

I agree it's a splendid rose, in bloom and out. It appears to be very fond of sun and warmth. I took cuttings of mine last fall and so far they look alive, though they haven't leafed to the point that I know they'll catch. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Melissa

One thing to watch is that it may have the same tendency as many other roses to freeze down at about 5-10F. Not sure if different forms of it vary in this respect. The one I am used to, known from several locations here is a version of R. roxburghii hirtula that has a nice picotee flower, that is light pink with a darker edge (see photo in Phillips & Rix picture book for what appears to be same).

The forms of Rosa roxburghii I've seen don't appear to have any hardiness problems whatsoever in this part of the country. Though I haven't yet seen R. roxburghii var. hirtula in person, I've seen pictures of Stephen Scanniello's huge specimen in his New Jersey garden and doubt that it is overly tender (differences in climate from one side of the continent to the other notwithstanding).

East Asian plants may ripen their growth better in hot eastern climates than here.

bboy,
I think you may be right about the ripening. Mine have withstood down to -8F with little damage. Last spring's late freeze did minor damage so that the size of my hundred year old big one is undiminished. It is beginning to sucker (it outlived several nemesis trees, a sugar maple, a second sugar maple and two huge white maples, and a smoke house.)
Mine repeats well through summer and into fall when its bloom production equals spring.

Lest I get rose proud, you should know that my hirtula has still not bloomed. It's down in the species bed (where a clone of my olde one is blooming happily) and the single blooms, that I have been anticipating for at least four years still haven't happened. So, it's spring, and I'll be watching for any sign of flower buds down there (and there is a deer fence.)

I made the acquaintance of R. roxburghii in Olympia, Wash., where there's a handsome specimen in the Olympia Rose Society's rose garden. While this rose likes heat, it can grow well in the Pacific Northwest, with its year-round mild climate.

Melissa

I am PNW and have had trouble getting a specimen to thrive. I have lost two young ones to unusual cold. My plants have come from Heirloom and Vintage. My third one is in a more protected spot and is finally making some growth. It remains to be seen if it blooms. I had read it was tender so wasn't surprised. Now I see that people alot colder than me can grow it. This latest one is Chamblees-I dont know which one it is, the others were the double form. Hmmmm...

patricia