Chinas?

Jeri

i don't have jb's but it is my understanding that ducks eat them. My guess is that most of your older roses are probably more drought resistant than given crdit for.

Silk or plastic.

Don't know about drought tolerant, but one with disease resistance that japanese beetles supposedly don't like is Illusion.

Rugosas, esp the "pure," as opposed to hybrids. AS deer proof and JB proof as roses come. Every summer I stare around the yard looking at the damage the JBs (and black spot) have done and there are the rugosas, just perky as can be.

Well, my rosa rugosa alba was the worst JB magnet in my garden, the least bothered by them has been the pink knockout.

Seriously, ONCE ESTABLISHED, China Roses tolerate drought better than many other roses.
They may not be quite as pretty, particularly in dry times, but they survive, by more or less shutting down when it's dry.
That's why so many of them have lived to be Found Roses.

Jeri

That's interesting about RR Alba. I put one in this last fall, after the JBs left, so I don't know. The rest of mine are reds and pinks, except Fimbriata and they did leave her alone. I ahve heard that the Knock-outs survive pretty well.

lol at the silk or plastic!

Knockouts grow just about any where. JBs don't like species roses like Cherokee, Lady Banks, Fortuniana. Hybrid Musks roses are pretty tough rose, too. So are many polyanthas. Chinas are really tough and drought tolerant, but I'm not sure they do well in zone 7. Have you tried Buck roses and Canadian Explorers.

The old floribunda, Eutin by Kordes, is resistant to both JB's and BS. Goor rose too.

Re: Chinas  IÂve just started growing them but my new Louis XIV, Archduke Charles, and Cremosi Superior made it thru winter w/o a problem or any protection.

In my experience, there are no JB resistance roses, but they do seem to have preferences. For me the more fragrant and lighter the color the more they like it. IÂve found spraying is the only effective means.

As far as tough, all of these have been vigorous for me. For me vigor is defined as good looking plant whoÂs only real issue is the need to spray for BS every 2 weeks and fertilize heavily in spring with rose tone. .

Big (over 6Âx3Â)
Queen Elizabeth
Heritage
Ingrid Bergman
The Squier (but very thorny)
Traviata
Brother Caedfael  no thorns, but not a heavy bloomer, JBÂs seem to love this one.
James Galway - no thorns, but not a heavy bloomer, JBÂs donÂt seem to bother this one since it doesnÂt bloom very much during their season.

Moderate (4 to 6Â)
Fragrant cloud, a JB magnet but seems to bloom faster than itÂs eaten.