My recommendation is that you give it more water so that it can bloom, and you can experience his color variations. Just about all Chinas of that sort will have variations in color, though perhaps not as dramatic as Jeri's "Orange Smith". And the colors might be more to your liking if he got a wee bit of shade?

He's given you a chance, so return the favor to see what he has to offer. Some roses are meant to be enjoyed outdoors; the flowers may not last long, but they'll flower enough that you won't really notice the short lifespan of individual blooms.

I think also that there is more than one rose in commerce as 'Louis Philippe' in the U.S. One is quite fragrant, and the other not-so-very. Do you know which you have?

Virginia

Hi, Virginia! I'm not sure about mines fragrance, but it actually has a bud forming, so I may soon find out. Of course, it will probably bloom while I'm out of town this weekend. As for giving it some shade, those spots are becoming increasingly scarce. The new neighbors did a "chainsaw massacre" over there, and there went a large portion of my afternoon shade. I do admire Louis Philippe's tenacity though, and will be watering him regularly again. As the weather cools in the fall, and I get my pot ghetto planted, I'll see what can be done for him. He's obviously a survivor, and deserves a chance. If a rose can survive that kind of treatment, it will probably be trouble free with proper care. Lisa

Lisa, I'm so glad Louis Philippe is proving his worth to you! I find that LP, like most red Chinas, grows lovelier with age. The sight of a bush in full bloom is spectacular...even from a great distance! Jeri's photo of the central pale coloring on the spherical bloom reveals LP's close-up attraction, too. The color is a variable shade of red which looks stunning with white, pale pink and deep purple. I love LP's tough nature and resilience. I wish I could grow it really well in Portland. In TX, it's much beloved for its beauty and its historical value. Some versions of LP can be found tucked into old home sites, cemeteries, early 20th century gardens and other locations. Feed, water and enjoy! Carol

The photo is lovely, Jeri. I don't know why I have an aversion towards reds. LP is more towards crimson, without any orange tones though, and that is better to my eye. I will give LP a chance, and when the weather cools, find a better place for him. If I still don't love him, Jeri you are welcome to him. I would be more than happy to send all or part of LP to you. When the weather cools, he will need to be moved either way, so you could have all or part of him either way.

Thanks Carol. I did purchase him greatly for his historical value. He is resilient, and that's already earned him my respect. When it's so hot out and I'm so exhausted, I sometimes take shortcuts and "play favorites ". He's getting better treatment now. He didn't shrivel up and die, when most other roses would have. He deserves a second chance. Lisa

Lisa, I remember that you and Ingrid prefer to stay away from reds, and I agree that they can turn strident in hotter climates. However, I think you may enjoy LP when he's accompanied by cool pastels or deep blues and purples. He definitely presents his calm side when partnered with serene buddies. Please keep us updated on your thoughts as he matures and mingles in your garden. I enjoy reading your thoughts. Carol

I think Lisa makes a good point about reds. I also don't care for reds that veer toward the orange range (and you will not find an orange rose in my garden).

I'm not quite sure why it was that the blue-reds fell out of fashion, but they did, and I'm not comfortable with the brighter, more-strident reds.

There was a red Tom Carruth Floribunda called 'City Of San Francisco' which someone generously gave me.

We planted it at a location in the garden where it was visible from both of my big windows. It was vigorous and completely disease-free. It was SO continuous-blooming that it was impossible to miss in almost any season. It was like having a flashing stop sign in the garden.

We both quickly grew to hate it, and removed it after less than one year.

And I am sure many people would have loved it. But . . .

I'm with you on that, Jeri! I call that color "fire engine red." For sentimental reasons, I grow a number of roses that my mother, aunt and grandparents grew. At my last garden, I trained Blaze on the fence because my grandfather grew it. The hot, yellow-red toned blooms always pestered me. My grandfather and mother both grew Tropicana, but I still haven't been able to bring myself to grow its neon coral self. The only colors that are more jarring to my eyes are bright bicolors like neon coral AND fire engine red! I appreciate that others on the forum have found ways to successfully incorporate and enjoy bright specimens in their gardens while I surround myself with pink, purple and blue-red roses! I don't believe there are any colors that Tom Carruth hasn't worked with. Cerise to aubergine. Carol

"I don't believe there are any colors that Tom Carruth hasn't worked with."

Oh, so true! And I DO grow 'Fourth of July' which (tho bright) seems to blend in well here.

I had to have myself a laugh about your "City of San Francisco" rose, Jeri. Carol used just the right word. "Pestered" When you truly don't like the color, there's just no getting over it. Whatever color aversion you may have, in your own garden, THAT rose will be the one your eye goes to immediately, every single time. I can actually enjoy some of the orange reds and orange roses, in someone else's garden. I really mean it and don't say it just to be nice (Ok, maybe once in a great while, I say it just to be nice. Not often, though:) In my own garden, no way. It doesn't "grow on me", nor blend in nicely. I'm glad everyone has different tastes. It would be pretty boring if we all had the same. Lisa

Virginia, my Louis Philippe IS very fragrant! He’s blooming and making a good comeback. Lisa

Looking good, Lisa!

He just needed some love.

Hello all I bought Louis Philippe rose plants from a nursery. I am debating between potting and planting in ground any suggestion?

That depends upon your location, climate and conditions. If you will need to protect it from harsh cold, pot it so you can move it into a sheltered position. If it won't require cold protection, put it in the ground as it wants to build into a large plant. Let it do that and it will provide you with constant color.

Thank you. I live in south Florida so probably in ground will be the best. What is the sunlight requirement ? If I place my ( still in nursery pot ) plant in full sun the plant looks all swirled up.

You're welcome. Being in hot, full sun in a nursery pot will literally cook any plant. The common knowledge that "roses like full sun" was likely true in Edwardian England when and where it was written, but the world-wide climate has dramatically changed in the ensuing decades and the sun intensity of south Florida is substantially more intense than anything occurring in England. If possible, I would provide at least part day shade or filtered light, but I realize that is not always possible. With your kind of sun intensity, in the ground, I would think the rose would be quite happy with approximately six hours of sun daily. Ideally, morning sun as that is "cooler", brighter light with less of the heat aspect of afternoon sun, but again, you do the best you can with what you have.