I have 2 Princess Alexanders & am pretty disappointed with them. After 3 years, they're both only about 12" high. The flowers are pretty, but there are not many of them & I wish I had made a different choice.

I don't get it. Some of the Austins are such losers in my garden (Port Sunlight, Lady of Megginch) while Teasing Georgia & James Galway have taken off like gangbusters. Anyway, that's been my experience.

Of the roses on your list, I only have experience with Princess Alexandra of Kent. Mine is a little over one year old, and has been a fast grower that blooms quite a lot. The blooms are large and have a changeable color that can vary from a salmony pink to a darker straight pink, so be prepared for some possible color variation if you choose PAK. Many Austin roses can start out slowly though, and after two or three years become some of your best ones. I nearly dug up Golden Celebration, but then decided to give GC a one year reprieve, and that year was all it took for that rose to kick in and become one of my best. PAK's color may stabilize as she ages, I hope. On the balance, I do recommend her as one of the better Austin's so far. Here's a pic when PAK is in her darker pink mode which is my favorite. Diane

That is interesting how differently it is growing for both of you. I would guess Idaho is much drier than New York. Thank you Diane and View1NY for helping me!

Karolina

Depends on whether you want a shorter rose (in which case, PAK) or a climber (Wedgwood). I am growing Wedgwood but it is less than a year old in my garden, so I can't say a lot except that it started out rather slow, but later had fairly vigorous growth and it had some of the most fully packed buds/blooms I've seen in a long time--but they didn't seem to open up wide. That could be because it is still young and developing or because that is its nature--I'm not sure. Pretty pastel bloom at any rate and I think it has a lot of promise. Just hope it is as bs-resistant as Austin's catalog claims.

Since it takes longer for climbers to settle in and attain a decent climbing height, I'd probably go with it--get it started as soon as possible.

Other good Austin pink climbers includes St. Swithun, Mortimer Sackler, and Generous Gardener. Have you checked out them also?

And for a shorter pink, have you looked at Austin's Wildeve? If I had any room left in my garden, I'd be tempted to try this one.

All the roses I listed here are supposed to have very good bs-resistance, but I have not grown them all, so I cannot guarantee that claim. : )

Kate

Diane, that's a beautiful rose. I agree. The DAs sometimes take a few years to be great. It's hard to tell and even then, moving to another spot in the garden can make all the difference. Some of mine weren't the best until I watered more and then it was a whole different rose.

I'm not in your zone (N. California), but Lady Emma Hamilton is one of my favorites - maybe THE favorite rose in my garden! Beautiful, intensely fragrant, and with a gorgeous colour. It's not a very large plant, but definitely one that I wouldn't be without! Blooms have a wonderful fruity fragrance - like all my rose dreams come true.

In 2 years, so far no blackspot and no mildew and has been very carefree (i have a no-spray garden and some of my other roses have been bad black spot and PM magnets). Young foliage is a striking dark reddish colour. :)

So many choices!

Kate I do have Wildeve and Mortimer Sackler so I will have to check out the rest.

Right now I am leaning Lady Emma Hamilton due to the color and the Wedgewood Rose as it is a climber. I need to fill in the front of my borders so PAK is still a contender but I am worried I will have the same issues View1NY is having.

Thank you for the opinions! I am waiting for the new catalog to come to see if it changes my mind. Although I have a feeling that is a bad idea as I will want everything in it...

Karolina