I got my NG the first year RU offered it. I had it for only 2 seasons, so consider my observations inconclusive. It was a slow grower for me. Since yours is apparently a more mature plant than the one I received, perhaps yours will establish more quickly. NG is reported to be a heavy bloomer, but I can't attest to that. The few blooms I did get were well-formed and fairly large -- but without even a trace of fragrance. Mine apparently succumbed to an early spring freeze (the only rose I lost that year), so I'm inclined to suggest a protected spot in your garden and/or extra winter protection. (Now that I finally think of it, winter protection even in my zone is a no-brainer for ANY rose having close R. gigantea ancestry.)

I had high hopes for VV's roses, but no longer grow any of them. 'Incense Indigo' I sp'd early on (I think that one was dropped from RU's list 2 or 3 yrs ago). 'Southern Sunset' I passed along to a friend. It had lovely blended color on smallish, nondescript blooms & had some health issues in my garden environment.

I'm curious about the new VV Teas, so maybe I'll try a couple of those next season.

Haven't tried Naga Belle but Faith Whittlesey, a VV tea, is doing beautifully here. Silver Dawn is also prospering--I love the quirky petals. My Krishna's Peach is too young for me to comment meaningfully.

Colleen

My plant has plenty of buds for its size. However, hearing of it freezing out in zone 8 is not encouraging. I hope that was a fluke.

'Naga Belle' is a winner here in So Cal.

Own-roots take time to settle in. Like all own-roots it's going to take at least three years to show itself.

It also ought to be a winner with exhibitors. It's garnering high praise from those who've already won with it in the UK.

No disease issues at all so far. It should be at least as hardy if not hardier than most Teas.

Remember, Teas are also gigantea hybrids.

'Naga Belle' is a winner here in So Cal.

Own-roots take time to settle in. Like all own-roots it's going to take at least three years to show itself.

It also ought to be a winner with exhibitors. It's garnering high praise from those who've already won with it in the UK.

No disease issues at all so far. It should be at least as hardy if not hardier than most Teas.

Remember, Teas are also gigantea hybrids.

Anybody else with experience to share?

Not I, but I wanted to say you Enabled me into 'Irish Hope' a few years ago, and it's been an amazing rose. Flowers galore and no disease to speak of. And mostly your fault. ;)

Hoov, I've done my best to promote 'Irish Hope,' a beautiful rose with exceptional blackspot resistance in my garden; I'm very glad to hear it stands up to West Coast diseases too. Give us a picture of the bush sometime.

I've never grown 'Naga Belle', but I have tried to grow another Viraraghavan HT, 'Ahimsa'. The breeder either doesn't know, or has chosen not to reveal anything about the pollen parent, so 'Ahimsa' may, or may not, be another Rosa gigantea hybrid. I rather suspect that it is. Unfortunately, that lovely & fragrant rose didn't survive in my garden. It simply didn't return one spring, but I've no idea why.

Is Naga Belle a climber or a shrub? What is it's habit like? I'm thinking of trying it, but don't care for the look of typical HT plants... regards, bart

My plant was fully hardy after the winter where we had a low around 5 F on several occasions, so I suspect windeaux's experience was a fluke.

I can't answer with confidence about the growth habit after only one season from a 1-gal. plant. It doesn't seem like a typical HT so far, rather tall, rangy, branching, and arching somewhat, but it's a young plant that got less than 6 hrs sun exposure.

Thanks, michealg.I seem to think that, though listed as an HT shrub by some, that on the Roseraie du D�sert site, they list it as a climber (must check to confirm). Colour-wise, would you say the photos on HMF are accurate? Thanks! bart

It is a strong mid-pink, neither bluish nor orangey, but slightly to the warm side of traditional rose pink and more saturated. Perhaps similar to 'Country Dancer.'

I did not see any climberlike shoots in the first year, but it doesn't look like a HT plant either.

Since I mentioned this rose on another thread, I thought I'd revive this 2-year-old thread about a little-known variety.

This year, NB was tip-hardy at 5 degrees F (cold as it got last winter). It is early in the third season in my garden. NB has grown vigorously on its own roots and reached 6' in fall of the second season. I pruned it back to 30" this spring. It produces basals freely and makes multiple branches at pruning points the way tea roses do. However, it is not twiggy, but each flower has a long stem. The habit is upright but willowy, and some blooming stems can use propping up.. I don't know if it would be sturdier with more sun, or more age.

It's very productive and kept going during the unusual heat of last summer, although flowers had fewer petals. Usually they are large with many petals and a tight, high center.

I decided to order it because of the reputation for blackspot resistance (see member comments on HMF). Mine was clean for two seasons, but the evergreen foliage got pretty spotty over last winter, so I seem to have a strain of BS that affects it. However, it is worth trying in a no-spray garden, if you like pink HT flowers.

Here is a link that might be useful: HMF

Since I mentioned this rose on another thread, I thought I'd revive this 2-year-old thread about a little-known variety.

This year, NB was tip-hardy at 5 degrees F (cold as it got last winter). It is early in the third season in my garden. NB has grown vigorously on its own roots and reached 6' in fall of the second season. I pruned it back to 30" this spring. It produces basals freely and makes multiple branches at pruning points the way tea roses do. However, it is not twiggy, but each flower has a long stem. The habit is upright but willowy, and some blooming stems can use propping up.. I don't know if it would be sturdier with more sun, or more age.

It's very productive and kept going during the unusual heat of last summer, although flowers had fewer petals. Usually they are large with many petals and a tight, high center.

I decided to order it because of the reputation for blackspot resistance (see member comments on HMF). Mine was clean for two seasons, but the evergreen foliage got pretty spotty over last winter, so I seem to have a strain of BS that affects it. However, it is worth trying in a no-spray garden, if you like pink HT flowers.

Here is a link that might be useful: HMF

(Didn't come to the top after the previous post.)