sara_ann, there are only "best" roses in climates that they like. What I am trying to say is that a rose which performs to perfection where you live might die, or not grow, or not bloom, in a different climate. The "best" old roses where I live in No Calif. are chinas and teas, which would not survive the winters where you live.

So, I would recommend, as well as the info that you are in zone 6b, you tell us approximately where you live (climate consists of more than heat zones), and hopefully someone who lives nearby can give you the information you are asking for, which is really "what are the best old garden roses for my conditions"?

Jackie

I will echo what Jackie said. My roses are still young, having come as bands in Spring 2013, so my experience with them is limited. If you're interested in trying some of the older once-blooming roses, I'll happily recommend 'Botzaris'. Initially, I wanted 'Leda' but couldn't find it available when I was placing my orders. I'm very happy I got 'Botzaris' instead. Compared to the other Damasks, it's not nearly as big and gawky, having a growth habit more like a robust Gallica. For me, it stayed healthy without spraying. The scent is heavenly, and it bloomed profusely its first season with me, even as a small plant. Then it focused on growing, and by the end of last year, had reached about 5' tall, with a nice shape. I left it unpruned but will take it down a bit after it blooms.

'Cardinal de Richelieu' is another once-blooming OGR I'd recommend, if only for how purple its blooms are. It's not particularly fragrant, but it's virtually thornless, and stays healthy for me. I've seen some pics of rather large individuals, so I'm looking forward to mine putting on more size.

Though technically Polyanthas are not OGRs, they are "older". Many will bloom through much of the season, but only a few are fragrant. 'Marie Pavie' is one, as is 'Clotilde Soupert'. For me, they remain healthy and keep blooming until hard frost. 'Clotilde Soupert' does experience some balling of flowers when it's cool and wet, but for me, that's usually only in parts of Autumn. Mine doesn't ball when it's warm and wet, which is much of the Summer.

:-)

~Christopher

I'm going to make you jealous Christopher. My Leda, which I got as a band last year, has it's first bud, and it's nice and frilly! When it blooms I will post a picture. I hope to get it planted soon, along with the other damasks and moss roses I ordered. But the bed I had picked out for them needs work. After they finished wrecking my yard, the county said they put down topsoil for me, which they did. But only a few inches. And underneath is tons of gravel. They were trucking in two dump trucks a day with gravel to cover the new drain pipes, so it's not surprising. But now I have to dig it all out. Also it rained very hard the other night and the drainage in that spot is not great, I have some standing water. GRRR. I will have to mound up these roses.

I'll tell you a couple of roses you can't go wrong with. Rosa Rugosa and Rosa Rugosa Alba. After they have been in the ground a couple of years, they like to spread and sucker, so give them a place all their own. Don't put them anywhere near where they will get any sprays (fungicides or pesticides) on them. They will drop ALL their foliage. Their native soil is sand, so I mixed a bunch of sand in a big area. They seem to like where they are. A few others I really enjoy are Compt de Chambrod, Pink Pet, Sydoni. These 3 stay a good size without getting way out of hand.

But, depending on conditions, you CAN go wrong with R. rugosa and all of the other wonderful rugosa roses. They do not tolerate alkaline conditions well at all. I've seen them in the Eastern states, and they're wonderful there.
My area is where Rugosas go to die.

I'm in the same zone as you and grow roses no-spray. Some of my favorites include once-bloomers that bloom for weeks and then aren't troubled by the later attacks of Japanese beetles. The roses you grow (bourbons & hybrid perpetuals) I have grown in the past but no longer do, because I have found them to be very blackspot prone (requiring fungicide spraying here to stay alive) and needing a lot of feeding, so perhaps if you try some other classes you will find they are less troublesome and equally (or more) enchanting. I love gallicas Charles de Mills, Duchesse de Montebello, Tuscany Superb; albas Semiplena, Felicite Parmentier, Great Maiden's blush; centifolias Blanchefleur, Paul Ricault, Shaler's Provence; and damask Ispahan and Leda.

If you like Portlands such as Rose de Resht, you should also try Jacques Cartier, Marie de St. Jean, Quatre Seasons, and Sidonie.

I even grow some English roses no-spray, Sharifa Asma, Munstead Woods, Teasing Georgia, and the Generous Gardener are some favorites.

Enjoy and try some other classes of roses!

I grow 200+ varieties of old, semi-old roses and Austins in zone 5 b in the middle of Sweden. You will learn the hard way that black spot pressure is different in each environment. My best roses are several, some already mentioned, from many classes, Rose de Rescht, Chloris, Munstead Wood, Ispahan, 36 gallicas, Bourbon Queen, Alfred Colomb, Stanwell Perpetual, Agnes.

Here in North Texas my sweetie pies that survive cold, hard freezes, heat and drought are:

Madame Lombard , Duchess de Brabant, Souvenir de Malmaison, Marie Pavie, Perle d'Or, Ducher, Kronprincessin Viktoria, old Blush and Mrs BR Can't.

,

Thanks so much everyone, I do appreciate this. Looks like some awesome suggestions here. I'm going to enjoy learning more about them, I am so thankful for HMF.

Marchesa Boccella. Cardinal de Richelieu was great too, until the lawn service decimated it. I'm going to get a new one, it's flush was beautiful.

Diane, I just happen to have a small rooted cutting of 'Cardinal de Richelieu' sitting in my yard in a 1-gal container. If you haven't already ordered another one, and you're patient to start with a tiny rose, it's yours for the taking. I'm in New Brunswick.

:-)

~Christopher

I agree with the comments above. "Best" roses are almost completely climate specific. I have planted roses I fell in love with in England here in California. A few did well. Many others suffered and died. I started my rose gardening career in Pennsylvania, and can tell you with certainty that the roses that do well there are not the same as roses that do well here.

Many people are wary of giving too much information on the web, and with good cause, but a general idea of your region would help people give you advice that is actually useful to you.

Rosefolly

We can have all weather extremes here, almost always we have several weeks of very hot summers. Most winters here are relatively mild, with a few days of temperatures getting in the low twenties and teens. Rarely does it get below zero here, but it can happen occasionally. Our springs and summers are generally humid, but not as humid as some areas.

I only have one old rose. I am completely in love with him (shhhhh, don't tell my boyfriend). He has me completely wrapped around his little finger! Vick's Caprice! This is his first bloom and hopefully not his last. I adore his subtle stripes.

Glad to see Reine des Violettes was on your list ... that one is great in my garden too. And has been performing well for many, many years.

Mustbenuts, your Vick's Caprice looks great! I can see why you're so proud of it.

Randy