Antique Rose Emporium

You will be blown away by the HUGE three gallon roses you purchase which if you buy now, will bloom in the spring!!!

Here is a link that might be useful: Antique Roses

A 3 gallon rose by mail? I bet you'll be blown away by the shipping charges:).

Do you know what kind of roses you want? More for the garden or for cutting and bringing inside?

Sorry, they are 2 gallon. A rose is is $16.95, the shipping fees are calculated by % of each rose sale... we are their shipping zone 3 so it costs 33% of the total cost of your items to ship.
I decided when I purchased roses from Antique Rose emporium that it was well worth the cost because the roses are FULL in the pots, bloom and grow like a 2nd year rose and are healthy as horses. I purchased small, an not very well rooted roses from other reputable companies. It took a year or two to get to the ARE size and some died from transplant shock because they had roots only several months old (and had probably been kept in a greenhouse and then being planted outside was a shock, although I didn't think about that at first).

For this purchase, I figured the postage costs make it all worthwhile!

GGG

I would suggest a couple of resources-one being the rose forum here on Garden Web and the other being the Garden watchdog site which are a sort of "consumer reports" rating of online garden retailers.

I've purchased grafted roses from Pickering, and own root roses from Ashdown, Roses Unlimited, Chamblees, Antique Rose Emporium, and the Uncommon Rose. All sell quality products and are highly recommended.

There are significant rose diseases to be concerned about circulating out there, plus lots of seriously inferior versions of named varieties. I strongly second the recommendations to go with the listed speciality nurseries.

It also depends whether you're looking for modern roses or old garden roses (aka antique or heirloom roses). Most of the sources mentioned so far carry mainly OGRs, which I think far superior and is the only kind I grow. While they usually bloom the first year (for me), it takes them a couple of years really to start showing their potential. Some varieties take longer than others, judging by what people say on the Antique Roses Forum. This fall I ordered some from the Antique Rose Emporium and they set a few buds, except the once-bloomers, and one even bloomed before the hard freeze. I like ARE because they're in TX and have comparable summers to GA. I also ordered some bands from Rogue Valley Roses. I don't know how much they'll bloom next year, they're so small. RVR also has galllon and 5-gal. pots. But the bands are quite inexpensive and I love watching things grow. They'll be worth the wait, too.

Thanks everyone. I've ordered a few catalogues.
Buford, I want Roses for the garden, don't care about flowers inside.
Rogue Valley Roses sells some in 5 gallon containers!
I would like the flowers to look as if they have been planted for several years.
When I think about all the money spent on annuals all these past years...Roses really aren't that expensive.

No one has mentioned Jackson and Perkins, in my opinion, the absolute best roses that can be found.

I love Roses Unlimited in Laurens, South Carolina. The climate is similar to ours and Pat Henry is just one of the nicest people you would ever want to know. Her roses are own-root and she sends very nicely rooted roses. I don't think you would be disappointed. Here's a link to her site.

Here is a link that might be useful: Roses Unlimited

J&P is one of the best. However they mainly sell bare root and HTs (Hybrid Teas, which make better cut than garden flowers).

If you do go the J&P route, lean towards the floribundas (more shrub like) and get them in the ground early so they will bloom this year. The next year they will be more productive.

You could go the Knock-out route, which are available at Home Depots and Lowes usually in 1-3 gallon. They bloom all summer, but are not (IMO) as nice as other roses.

I purchased a few of my roses from Wayside Gardens. They are doing better than my 'Double Delight' roses that I had purchased from J&P.

Here is a link that might be useful: Wayside Gardens

Hi! Just checked in and saw the discussion on rose sellers. Those fans of the Antique Rose Emporium should know that you can avoid shipping costs by going to Nature's Fifth Season, a shop that sells garden collectibles and has a live plant section, too. They're located on Sugarloaf Parkway in Lawrenceville.

I first stopped by there in fall 2005 and met one of the owners who is an old rose nut, like me. I went a little nuts and bought about 10 roses. All survived, grew beautifully and bloomed last year. I mentioned that I really wanted a Natchitoches Noisette and he said he'd order one with his next order. He tried to talk me into purchasing one of his favorities, the Chestnut Rose, but I passed. As we were loading the roses in the car, he told me to wait and went back and got a Chestnut Rose which he gave to me. Talk about a way to gain loyal customers!

I returned in spring 2006 and sure enough, he'd ordered my Noisette. Could I stop there? Oh no. I added another 6 or so roses. They bloomed their heads off this year. I returned in fall to see if they'd marked down any bargains. They hadn't, but I picked up a couple more anyway. Sadly they're still sitting in their pots waiting to be planted this spring.

Now that I stumbled on a sale of arches, I'll be adding a rose allee to the yard and will be going back for more climbers.

I presume they'll make up another order this year so if you want to get a nice selection and avoid the shipping costs, check out Nature's Fifth Season.

Cathy

cathy, thanks for letting us know that. I'm not far from Lawrenceville (not too far for roses anyway). I may stop buy and pick up a few. If I don't get them shipped, I can sneak them home in my car and just put them with all the other potted roses I haven't planted yet. DH will never know the difference.

I have never ever wanted roses until I looked at the Roses Unlimited web site. Now I want them all. If only I had some sun. I think I'll go by the place in L'ville and see if they can recommend a rose for someone without full sun. I wonder if there is such a thing. Thanks for the info Cathyflam.

There are some that can tolerate dappled shade - the climber Zepherine Drouhin. I've just added it to my yard.

I just ordered several Roses from Jackson & Perkins...including 2 tree Roses...Double Delight and Mr. Lincoln. My first mail-order! I just got into the Rose-Craze last Spring...bought Knockouts and Floribundas at Walmarts' and Home Depot...but, finally couldn't resist J&P's photos. (and some other seller's photos sure are tempting)...But, J&P said that my plants delivery date by UPS, will be March 2nd. Does that seem a tad early to plant Roses?... I'm wondering...

March is a good time to plant roses.

No, in fact you can plant almost anytime in our area. The roses should be breaking out of dormancy at that time (although some of mine are doing it now! YIKES!).

If they are bareroot, they will benefit from being soaked for one - 5 days in a pail of water. So don't feel you have to plant them as soon as you get them.

Cathyflam, you must have a big yard! I would love to see your garden in full bloom.

I have purchased old roses from Habershams in midtown. When you purchase at a nursery you can get a decent size bush without having to pay the shipping. Some people make pilgrimages in vans to Roses Unlimited in South Carolina. Supposed to be one of the best around here, though I've never bought anything there.

I have purchased from Antique Rose Emporium, I think I got Maggie (fabulous!) and Cramoisie Superieur -- you couldn't ask for a more floriferous healthy rose.

I've purchased in a dirt-cheap sale from Wayside several roses and they did fine for the most part.

Jackson & Perkins seems to be mostly hybrid teas. They require LOTS of care and amendments (and most are probably very chemical-dependent) to look like they do in the pictures.

Rose

A couple of years ago I got some antique roses from Lost Mountain Nursery in Cobb County which they had gotten from Antique Rose Emporium which is very reputable. I don't know if they have them every year since I didn't go there last year but when I got mine they had a big selection. You might want to call and ask them.

Seems that Jackson and Perkins only sell bare root Roses...hmmm...I didn't read about them until AFTER I ordered...bare root vs potted... and from what I've read, I much rather plant container grown Roses...just dig a hole and plant...where bare root planting is time consuming...
soak the plants, dig the hole, make a mound of dirt, place the roots on top of dirt, spread roots out and over the mound...Also read that you could pot-up the bare roots, but couldn't plant them right away.
I think our house was built on a rock quarry...oh, my aching knees!
Another garden experience...fun, eh?

You can plant bare roots direct in the soil, they don't need to be potted. It really isn't that difficult to plant them, and their root system is usually more advanced than potted and they will be larger sooner.

If your soil isn't good you could prop the bare roots up on the rocks and surround it with good soil. I usually use a rock or a clump of hard clay under the plant...it's not going to put out roots right underneath it anyway.

I agree with alot of what several of you have said. Roses are not that expensive IF you comparsion shop. I have a two dollar J&P hedge rose that I got at Lowes a couple of yrs. ago that was originally around 17$. I just checked out Chamblee Roses online and they are very reasonable. I also have a patented William Baffin that I got again reduced from Lowe for 6.49$ this year. Cindyabs is right about the Garden web & Watchdog. Mail order companys ship according to your zone.