Paula, I didn't find Distant Drums to be resistant. It is like a typical hybrid tea in most respects except for scent and color. For Bucks with blackspot resistance in a no-spray southern garden, I'd suggest Earth Song, Winter Sunset, Prairie Harvest, Carefree Beauty, Quietness, Country Dancer (gets some BS), and Prairie Sunrise (some BS and low vigor for me, but a good flower). All have been very good roses here. Sorry I'm not familiar with the other two you are interested in.

That's disappointing to hear about Distant Drums. I planted Carefree Beauty and Prairie Sunset this spring. I expect Carefree Beauty to do well. I hope the Prairie Sunset is OK because it is next to my yellow cannas and I was looking forward to the combination. Quietness & Winter Sunset are very pretty so I will definitely consider them. The picture of Enchanted Autumn on the Roses Unlimited site was so pretty, I may give it a try unless I hear reports of bad BS. Thanks for the info.

I have several, maybe more than a dozen Buck roses and Distant Drums if the only one that I would consider not worthy of carrying Dr. Buck's name.

No to Ebb Tide too (it is already available at local garden centers around here, grafted on Dr. Huey), from what I see it isn't in any way resistant.

Hi, Paula,
Of the ones you mentioned, I have Blush Noisette and Natchitoches Noisette. I have only had BN a little while, but it is already a favorite. Mine so far hasn't gotten very tall but is more of a sprawler. But, I have a feeling with time, it will become taller as well. It is always covered in the prettiest light pink clusters of flowers. It is also disease resistant for me. NN I love as well. It is a graceful bush form and it, too, is always covered with clusters of pink flowers (a darker pink than BN). It is about 5 by 4 in my garden. I have had it about 2-3 years. It is disease resistant as well. I have Carefree Beauty (Buck Rose), in fact, I have several of them. Mine took a little while to get going, but once established they do wonderfully for me. Mine so far are about 4 by 4. I really love this rose as well. I just acquired Winter Sunset. I am hoping it does as well as Carefree Beauty. If you don't have Le Vesuve (Antique Rose Emporium), you are missing out on a beauty. So beautiful, covered in gorgeous pink blooms and healthy as a horse. Hope this will help you some. Vicki

Where are you in Arkansas? Some closer may help with the selection.
Beerhog

I just moved to a new house and was going to get a large section tilled in July in order to sterilize it to kill the weeds, but we have had no rain so the ground is like a rock, and so it is looking doubtful that I will get any roses in this fall...:(
Sharon

Do try Enchanted Autumn and let us hear how it goes. I wasn't trying to spook you off Prairie Sunrise, it's a good rose, I just wish mine would work a little harder than it does. Kaye down there probably has one the size of a Volkswagen bus. If you have a space for a vigorous blush pink, don't pass on Quietness. The flower is exquisite, maybe the finest of all Buck flowers, and it stands up to thrips and petal blight better than most blush and white roses, at least in my garden.

I'm in North Little Rock, Arkansas. After reading these replies I did some more searches on the web and found this link which is a good reference about Buck Roses: http://www.houstonrose.org/gbtexas.htm
I guess the list does not necessarily mean no BS, but heat tolerance should be better than with some others. There are definitely some beauties on the list, so if one is not successful, it's an excuse to try another one!

Sorry to hear that about Ebb Tide. Quite the stunner that one looks like it could be.

HMM, I have Ebb Tide,and I do spray, but last fall when I stopped spraying and all my roses had BS, I don't remember ET being that bad. It had it, but not to the point of defoliation as some did. It also was the one rose to come through the Easter freeze with almost no damage, although that could be the spot it is in in my yard. I would get it, but give it some afternoon shade so the blooms don't fry. It's a prolific bloomer and stands out from a distance.

Paula, most of the Bucks do well here..but I do spray them all. Michael was right about Prairie Sunrise..not that mine is the size of a VW bus, more like a MGB. Mine did take a while to get up to a decent size but the foliage is lovely and large and has been healthy for me even though I planted it behind a taller grower that shades it a lot.

The only thing I have a problem with some of the Bucks is their lack of tolerance to the heat here..not all, just a few. Prarie Harvest has to be my overall favorite Buck. Hi Neighbor is another good producer given afternoon shade because the foliage will burn some. I do love Distant Drums and added another last year..however, I've never tried growing any of these without spraying.

Just a thought..but early on we tried fall planting one gallon ownroots and ended up losing quite a few. Being further south, you may not have the overwintering problem for small roses, though.

I'm glad to hear Michael's good report on Quietness..I just added it and Queen Bee from Chamblee's this year.

Thanks for the link to the Houston list of Buck roses. Hm, Prairie Clogger must be a bad one for suckering ;)

Quietness is listed as heat tolerant, Kaye.

I have Quietness and it is wonderful. It is fragrant and blooms all the time. I just planted it this spring, but so far, no blackspot, and I have not sprayed--but we have not had any rain either to make the leaves wet--I water by hand.
Sharon

Hi Paula ~ I'm in love with my Ebb Tide! So far disease resistant and a prolific bloomer. Stunning color and very strong fragrance.

{{gwi:279790}}

Ebb Tide is so gorgeous, I can at least try it in a pot. I'm trying to reserve the few remaining spots in the beds for roses with the potential for no spray. I know I can't keep up with all the spraying maintenance so I keep telling myself that with my small amount of space, I should be able to have pretty roses without spraying.

I will see how Carefree Beauty & Prairie Sunset do this summer. Prairie Sunset is getting full sun and Carefree Beauty gets some afternoon shade. I may need to rearrange and put the Bucks in an area with a little more shade in the afternoon. I am hoping none of the other Bucks I'm considering reach the size of a VW bus. I am using the size listed on Chamblee's to determine where they can go and I am reserving the remaining larger spots I have for two noisettes.