Dave,

I greatly appreciate your valuable input, and the photo.

Ah, what price beauty! I spray anyway, so how's one more "fungusy," rose going to matter much?

Love Rouge Royale's vividness and form...haven't come across another like it, have you?

Moses

Had one for 3-4 years. I liked the color & bloom shape but terrible disease resistance & the blooms did not stand up to heat & afternoon sun. It survived my z4 winters but always seemed to struggle in the spring so I suspect it wasn't happy this far north, thus I shovel pruned it.

I am glad you have posted, Dave and wirosarian, because I couldn't believe it when my newly acquired Rouge Royale, home from my local nursery in a five gallon pot last May, erupted in a rip roaring case of powdery mildew while I dithered and delayed about where to plant RR. Now, I haven't had a case of powdery mildew like this on a rose in 25 years when I grew The Fairy, notorious for mildew and chlorosis when grown in alkaline soil. We just don't have fungal diseases here in the desert--so I'll have to see what happens next year in regard to the mildew because I don't spray for fungal diseases, and don't want to start. Blast it. Diane

Diane - I’m sorry you experienced powdery mildew like that on RR. I was hoping to hear it would do well in a dry climate like yours. Darn.

Moses - There isn’t another like it! Along with it’s susceptibility to BS and PM it has also rapidly defoliated three times from downey mildew and so it gets sprayed with Aliette twice a season.

It appears I will be saying, "Hello and goodbye," to Rouge Royale.

Do you ever wonder if a seriously disease prone rose like RR is marketed by a big name nursery, Meilland in this case, they knowing full well it has major cultural issues? I think they do. It must have shown disease early on in its trials.

They should market it with a, "DISEASE PRONE," warning. I would greatly respect a nursery that did that, and specifically patronize them for future rose purchases, just because of their integrity.

In the last century when the disease ridden Hybrid Teas dominated the rose world, those basket case roses which needed regular spraying were accepted as the price to pay for beauty.

Introducing a diseased throwback to an old type Hybrid Tea in the present 21st. Century does serious injustice to us, the rose gardeners, a step backwards, don't you think? Rouge Royale's flower is exceptionally beautiful to me, though. That's the hook.

My hat goes off to Kordes and their 'healthy rose,' directive, which makes them come pretty close to being a nursery of integrity. They have so many ADR winners in their rose line, and their non-ADR roses, like Beverly, are quite impressive, in the easy culture department.

Moses

Meilland actually has some great disease resistant roses but I’m not entirely sure why they haven’t nixed RR yet except for its stunning blooms. I mean, I almost gave up on growing roses several years ago because of my experience with HTs and this one is no different but it is unique. As soon as a suitable healthy replacement comes it wilI go. I have been hoping Tantau’s Soul will somehow make it to the US but I doubt it.

To each their own. Lots of non-disease resistant roses or weak growers are beloved by exhibitors or collectors. My personal favorite is Grey Pearl, and it would sadden me greatly to see it become extinct. I would rather have a garden full of Rouge Royale versus any ugly Knockouts.

RR is the perfect rose somewhere for someone, just not us in particular. Other members have had great success with RR:

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discussions/1689818/does-anybody-really-grow-rouge-royale?n=52

RR churns out huge roses on good cutting stems, the flowers have lasting power, and one of the best fragrances on the market. The plant is vigorous and the leaves are attractive.

The key to success with RR is location, location, location. The flowers will burn in hot sun and benefit from some afternoon shade; however, they will also ball in cold wet conditions. I don’t spray in my ginormous garden, except for Grey Pearl. Mildew is a big problem IF you don’t observe some rules. Good air circulation will help keep it clean from disease. RR is a heavy feeder and water hog because of the huge multi petaled flowers; however, water only in the morning at the soil level and do not get the leaves wet. Simple yet effective. If mildew appears out of nowhere, check when and where the leaves are getting wet.

Because my rosebeds are tightly planted with overhead watering, I can’t mix RR in gen-pop, but will plant it out of sight in the cutting garden. I have three plants and want more because they’re still blooming in December!

You can always try one in a pot first and move it around to find a good location. It’s not an overly expensive experiment and you might be charmed by the flowers after the experience. Worth the risk considering all the ugly duds out there these days, and you can pass it along if it doesn’t work out.

Years, no, make that decades ago when RR first came out, Christy in metro Atlanta posted magnificent pictures of it.

She sold a lot of plants. Those plants disappointed a lot of us for many of the reasons listed above. Mine were never anywhere near as wonderful as hers.

So...how did she grow hers so well? Mostly by accident. She started with large plants from a major metro nursery. Hers were all in pots (large pots) next to her large swimming pool. Something there made them magnificent. I'd guess the heat, the reflected sunlight, the reflected heat off the cement, the lack of many bugs that thrive in a concrete jungle and a dedicated spray program and irrigation system.

Stillann,

Maybe the chlorine fumes from the pool water kept fungus disease at bay in Christy's Rouge Royale's case. Is that possible?

Moses

Moses, that's a hypothesis that I'd love to follow up on. How far apart are Cl and S on the table of elements? (Now we need Henry, retired chemist) A friend who had a small rose growing company found his best protection against fungal problems was burning suphur in the poly house, with it totally closed off.

Chlorine is a halogen, closest to bromine and fluorine (between the two), and sulfur is closest to oxygen. Diane

My RR when young would get extremely bad Rust but it has improved significantly over the years. I love the fragrance so I'm willing to put up with the Rust. It's not a rose for everyone.

RR is quite a good repeater. I pick a lot of the flowers and bring them indoors to enjoy. Since the drought, hardly any Rust in the garden, so RR is having a good run the past few years.

Chlorine and oxygen are strong oxidizing agents and their compounds are used as disinfectants and antibacterials, such as Chlorox and hydrogen peroxide. When sulfur burns, it combines with oxygen, thus oxidizing fungal spoors in the process, I guess. It's been a long time since college chem classes. Diane

Our well water that we use in the garden has high sulphur content..it has that odor to it..my roses get a lot less black spot than most people say thiers do in hot and humid areas. I've always wondered if the water had anything to do with that?

Sultry, I think the sulfur in the water might form a weak acid that would disinfect (H2S, the rotten egg smell). At higher levels it's a horrible poison. Diane

I forget who was asking about Rouge Royale -- though I clearly remember who inspired me to grow it! (her name rhymes with Fry-Ann). Anyway -- if you want it -- check out your local ACE hardware. I saw some today when I went to buy a bucket.

That's amazing! What a deal!

I an own root RR summer 2021 and it's finally getting some size. It's one of my favorite roses and I have rhymes with Fry- Ann to thank for recommending it

Hello Debbie, this is Fry-Ann. How is your Rouge Royale doing for you and do you have pics to share? I noticed that Edwards here in Boise is again selling RR as a 5 gallon plant (a true 5 gallon--heehee). I noticed way above that my RR got some powdery mildew just after I brought him home from Edwards five years ago. That was a shortlived thing because RR has never had it since, and until just reading this now, I'd totally forgotten about the powdery mildew incident. Mine is fine, but must be moved to a better spot--maybe Olivia's. Diane

tee hee! I pruned off five buds so I could do the pruning of my RR, but it's been a week, so I think they weren't on the bush long enough to be able to open. It was worht a try. No photos right now, and I just don't have the energy to troll through old photos. I had a tiny bit of PM when I brought mine home, sprayed it with copper, and never seen again! I love my RR. And, it's near a dryer vent, so if it were prone to a disease, I think it'd have it there!

I got an email from RVR letting me know that they had a few Rouge Royal roses if I was still intetested .I decided to let someone else have it since I have 6 new reds.

I will have to enjoy all of .yours

Kristine, I think this rose needs to be grafted, and I'll bet RVR's roses are own root. Diane

In our climate own root RR seems to do okay, but it did take the first year in ground to really establish before blooming much.

My RR is also own root and while still a baby (new last year) the growth is ok. As I’ve said before nothing in my yard is ever going to be as large and covered in blooms as Diane’s are so I have much lower standards!

Deborah that’s funny about your RR being near a dryer vent-mine is too.

Although I have a fern, peony and hosta between so maybe they steal some of the humidity

This rose is just so beautiful!!!

be still my heart! :-)

I love my RR. I put beach umbrellas over her in heat waves. The petals will burn in +90 F temps.

Hi all RR fans...mine arrived 3 days ago full of BS but, l removed only spotty leaves & it is recovering fast & no stem canker at all.

The only spray that l used is # Organic plant acid i.e a recovery tonic to avoid stunted growth.

I love the raspberry damask smell ! My mom loves it too :)

I am new to this rose so, we'll see ya but, l.think it has a good disease resistance measuring its unaffected much by the fungus though the foliage looked spotty & ugly. Hahaaa

New buds are out now...yayyy

I have two Rouge Royale Roses now--that's now much I love them. RR is my favorite vase rose, and its scent is my favorite among all my roses. My new RR was also from my favorite local seller, Edwards, and came to me as a 5 gallon, grafted rose with all its Meilland tags and docs. It was starting to bloom when I picked it up in May and bloomed all summer in its nursery container, until lazy Diane planted it in September. Rougie, as my new guy is called, had to ward off repeated attacks from a pest male deer that's bothered us all season, so that affected his fall flush. Bummer. Diane

Rougie in May in his nursery pot, blooming away.

Big Brother Rouge Royale, grows in a horrible spot on our slope, but does well.

Bouquet in August

In October, big RR

Ravishing of course ! I'm on your tail Diane, going through the Roses Forum posts , drinking my tea in bed. i couldn't resist the topic but should rest my eyes in awhile.

My squat little RR after I trimmed it down for Winter is nestled into leaves. It's the first year I have tried a leaf blanket instead of just hilling the roses with extra dirt. I hope it won't create a big soggy mess in Spring. i thought the leaves could then be worked into the dirt for added nourishment. It may start forest of ginkgo trees.

My RR got some yucky leaves in Fall; after the worst leaves were plucked, and a few milk showers, it has perfect leaves again. I'm learning what these roses like.

For anyone considering Rouge Royale, you won't believe your eyes, the bloom is outrageous . I totally agree with you Diane for a vase rose it's hard to beat even by any Austin.

My RR baby came from Northland Rosarium - I love their nursery.

Mine were sickly and never made it—I bought two as own root bands from RVR and two grafted bare roots, I think from Edmond’s. Might have been a me problem, but I won’t try it again.

Aaron, I wonder if your winters are too cold for this rose, a non traditional hybrid tea. I'm in zone 7 and you are in 5. Big difference, and of course, we are given wrong info by sellers all the time about hardiness and ultimate size of plants. I'm sorry you lost all those beautiful RR plants. I don't blame you for not trying RR again, but I don't think the sellers were correct, probably, in their zone hardiness info. Diane

Thank you so much, Berry, and I hope your RR does well over winter. More later. Diane

Aaron Rosarian Zone 5b William Shakespeare 2000 is one gorgeous rose that rivals Rouge Royale in color and form.

My WS2000 was apple tree- like in it's growth, you will want to plant yours where it has top growth room and air to breathe.. In it's glory you will have a rose comparable to the drama of RR.

I will have to buy AUSromeo, perhaps at garden roses LLC if they prove to be on the level. Has anyone ever gotten anything from them?

Oh, my mistake Aaron, I thought you had already ordered your WS2000 from them. I ordered two roses figuring I can take the chance,. It's worth the gamble to me to get own root rare Austins. I'll follow Strawchicago's directions to treat the new roses. The first year I ordered from Mindy at Hummingbird there were no reviews . Now her roses are over twice the price with no mail ordering anymore. I'm famous for missing opportunities , hopefully that will change for the better.

Aaron, I checked HMF and according to their info, Rouge Royale is hardy to zone 6b. My guess would be just zone 6a or b. So, you're a little too cold, maybe. Diane

Sounds about right—I’ll try to keep to ones clearly in my zone