I have grown many (over 150) DA roses over the years in 3 different homes, and many were on their own roots. Most own root specimens have done very well. Two exceptions that I can remember are Ellen and Prospero. I bought a grafted Prospero rose 5 years ago and rooted a cutting which has been in the ground at least 2 or 3 years-the own root rose is growing more slowly than the grafted.

That's true about Prospero. I love that rose, but in my personal experience, it has not flourished on its own roots.

I bought a few from the DA website and they've been very slow to establish, though they have all survived. Since Austins can grow to ridiculous sizes here, the slow growing is an advantage, actually.

I have CPM and Golden Celebration on own root and they do very well.

Hopefully DA's own root don't have RMV that the grafted (Dr. Huey) ones have by some reports from the understock.

I bought my DA 'St. Swithun' (a massive climber) as a grafted plant, however, 18 months ago, when I was pruning back huge canes, I decided to make cuttings of them - even though they were quite thick. I ended up with about 20 plants - I gave them away to anyone who would take one and I was left with half a dozen which I've planted here and there around the yard. They're all growing very strongly - I'm hoping to keep them as large shrubs (I understand that all these DA 'climbers' are really shrub roses). In fact, even though they were only planted in the ground this spring, they're still flowering and we've had some very cold weather recently.