New Dawn because she was my first and has remained constant; Sugar Moon because she combines the most beautiful flower with the most exquisite scent; and recently Cl. Clotilde Soupert whose blushing petals beguile with their soft scent reminding me of the sweetness of a young child. She's under my eaves so no balling yet!; ) However, I did see a Peace flower in a regional garden that made me understand immediately the sustained popularity of this rose.

Hands down, Belle Portugaise. I know it's an antique rose, but you said "of all time", lol. It's the only rose that has ever made me seriously consider moving to a warmer climate so I could grow it!

If I were to choose a more modern rose, it would probably be either Tiffany, or Peace, both of which I have never been without. If I could find a virus indexed Peace on Fortuniana, I'd be in Heaven. And I might just settle for a Peace on Fortuniana, virus be #!*@!%, lol.

John

Mme Jules Bouche & for a climber it would have to be Pinkie.

David Austin 'Heirloom'. She was my first DA ordered along with Fair Bianca and Graham Thomas. She has seen many roses come and go, has been through all the ups and downs of my gardens, moved twice and never complained, killed to the ground several times and came right back to bloom another season, and smells great. How can you not love that?!?!

It's a three way tie for me because I simply cannot pick my all time favorite from among the three. I love them for different (and some of the same) reasons. They are: Evelyn, Augusta Luise, and Julia Child. Diane

Irene ford would be my first choice. My second would be elisabeths china. If I had to pick a modern variety Julia child and for a climber Florence bowers pink tea

It’s next to impossible for me to choose one favorite rose. However, my choice is Tiffany HT, because it has been a very good rose for me. It’s tough, but the blooms are delicate and beautiful like they should be, and the fragrance never disappoints!

I could name at least ten more that would run a close second, but I won’t.

Hands down, the HT, Louise Estes. But trust me, there are at least 6 others that are pushing it real hard.

Oh gee! I think maybe I'll add some picks to my faves in a bit, so everyone can see why I'm in love with mine. : ) These are all so beautiful, it's easy to see why they are faves.

Would love to see pictures vaporvac.

I think for me it would be Grande Dame. Power house of a bloomer! The only rose I have that makes it look like I'm really, really great at growing roses!! LOL

Carol

You are, Carol. Diane

I can only spoke of what I have seen out there (looks, not performance) - because I only recently got my first two roses (Good as Gold and Dick Clark) and I have no idea how they will do here in the South.

I really love Good as Gold - my favorite...I could not resist that bloom when I saw it in the store even though it had never crossed my mind up to that second that I could ever grow a rose.

But based on local nursery visits and online pictures, I also LOVE:

- Chicago Peace

- Rosie the Riveter

- Joseph's Coat

-Olivia Austin

- Autumn Splendor

- Mayflower

Awwww...thanks, Diane!! And that's from an expert!!! Seriously...your roses are ultra fabulous!! Drool!

Carol

This place is just a love fest! I love it!!!!

Mine has to be Evelyn. Or Spirit of Freedom. Or Evelyn...

really I think it’s Evelyn because no other bush has such perfect, fragrant blooms, but spirit of freedom is a close second. I’m just so happy both grow here because many roses don’t. I would never be without either.

The one rose that makes me look like I really know how to grow roses is Wedding Bells. Man, anyone can grow that thing. It’s unbelievably easy, and huge and bloomy. It should be called Easy Bells. Lol but I prefer Wedding Bells as it makes it sound as if you really do know how to grow roses. ;) if they named it Easy Bells the gig would be up.

I think its better if you also put a photo of the your favs for everyone to see. :) Im thinking about getting a forth rose and this could be an inspiration thread. :) Photos please!

Beth, that is absolutely my favourite rose that I don't/can't grow. I would never tire of these pictures. the colour reminds me of a faded silk ballgown of yore.

Is it terrible I can't answer so I've been avoiding this question?! How can I choose?

Teasing Georgia always pops into my head first. But when blossomtime is blooming.. swoon! Then I always think I will plant darlows enigma anywhere and everywhere I live .. then lavender lassie says what about meeee ???

This is such a hard question!

Beautiful, Beth! And I would have had no idea about these oddball roses without your pictures. So thanks for opening up my color palette for roses! :)

Lilyfinch - your TG blooms are so stuffed!!! Glorious!! What kind of dog is that? Looks like a border collie crossed with a Japanese Chin. LOLl lovely, heavy coat!

Carol

Aw carol , he's a cavalier King Charles who never gets proper grooming! Haha we always get him a puppy cut and let it grow , then back to puppy cut . He's the sweetest ever .

My all-time favorite was DA Jubilee Celebration. I say "was" because it declined after 5 years and I had to remove it. It was so susceptible to BS that by mid-July it was naked... The color and scent were divine, though... I miss it terribly.

Lilyfinch - that's what we do with our dogs...their hair gets long and wild looking. :) Yes, the face does look like a Cavalier KCS. I love (swoon!) your pictures of Jubilee Celebration!!!!!!!!!!! It's one of my favorite roses too!! The fragrance is completely insane!!! YUM!! You should try it again!!! Gorgeous!

Carol

While I agonize over postings of top 10 or (heavens) top 5 roses, I always come back to one rose when talking about favorites. Edgar Degas is the rose I have more photos of than any other, and it's virtually no care in my garden. Tip hardy in zone 5, profuse bloomer all season, bushy vase shaped shrub, incredibly variable blooms, healthy foliage in all season, and a genuine oddball striped rose. Not as breathtaking as Butterscotch and that elusive paper bag brown color, but I've repeatedly tried and failed to overwinter that one around here.

Here's a bush shot of Edgar - you can see at least a 6-8' spread of multicolor striped blooms that's all his glorious exuberant presence. His stripes aren't garish either so he plays well with a variety of other colors in the garden

Ok, I'll limit myself to one closeup shot

I've sung Edgar's praise many times before so I'll be quiet till he's available commercially in the US. I have cuttings out at two places so hopefully it won't be too long. Svetlana, it might be more available in Europe so it's worth a look.

Cynthia

Carol, if I ever move to a more rose-friendly climate (and why would one move anywhere else???), I'm planting a Jubilee Celebration hedge!

Cynthia!! - that's really lovely!! So cheerful and exhuberant!! I love the close up shot!! And what a huge rose!! Oh my!

Festiva Maxima - ooooh!!! A Jubilee Celebration hedge! That would smell wonderful!! I can't wait until mine flowers again...mmmmm. :) Our snow is finally almost all gone...just a few patches of snow. Come on summer! :)
Carol