Patrick, I replaced my FC this year, it was always a puny plant (although grafted) and it didn't survive the winter. The new one is grafted as well, I bought it for $10 at a local nursery. Well I think I have gotten more blooms out of this new rose in half a year than I did with the old one for the past few years. It's very robust.

I've been getting into exhibiting, and I've learned from exhibitors that the rootstock is important. Especially with these HTs. You can probably try it own root, but it's going to take longer to establish and probably never be as robust.

Since I'm a bit further south than you, I am going to try some roses on Fortuiana. The exhibitors down here swear by it. You should see the size of their roses on fort. I think it would do well in your zone, if you apply a little winter protection. I have also ordered some roses on multiflora to see how that does here. I am also excited because there are two nurserys here that are now carrying Austins on fort. There are some Austins that have struggled in my yard and I am going to try to replace them.

Some roses are good own root. I did get some own roots earlier this year. Playboy is doing well. Paul Ecke Jr, not as much. Not sure about Twilight Zone yet, it's still in a pot. IME Fragrant Cloud is a bit of a delicate rose, I've never seen it own root, but maybe someone has had it.

Here is pic of my FC I took this weekend:

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My FC is grafted and it's a total wimp for me. Even though it some how manages to survive my winters it never grows more than a couple feet tall and only blooms once in the spring. After that it defoliates from black spot and sits leafless until the next spring. It is going to be shovel pruned. If it's that weak grafted I can't imagine it would be better own root.

I did this experiment specifically -- side by side Fragrant Cloud own root VID (from Vintage) vs. probably virused (although no symptoms visible) Fragrant Cloud from Home Depot grafted on Dr. Huey. They were planted probably 5 to 8 years back -- don't remember specifically which year, but it was in the same year.

The Dr. Huey version has always been the better rose -- the own-root one stayed puny, although it is still there and still growing a little bit. The grafted one is doing fine, and blooms much more than the little one. They both attract a great deal of mildew in my mildewy climate. This rose must be sprayed here, and regularly.

This post was edited by kstrong on Mon, Oct 27, 14 at 15:14

I've attempted to grow FC on its own roots a couple of times. I came to the conclusion that it's one of those HT varieties that remains puny as an own-root simply because it doesn't develop a strong root system on its own. It was only when I gave up after several yrs & SP'd mine that I realized how inferior the supporting roots were.

seil, I had my first FC for years. If it hadn't died, I would still have it. Treat yourself to a new one. Palantine has it grafted on Multiflora. You will be happy. FC is a great rose when it's thriving.

This is Fragrant Cloud grafted in zone 7. It stays around 2ft and blooms well. No sprays very healthy, continuous blooms and very fragrant.