Yes there is a marked difference in some roses. For example, my Sonia rykiel own root just isn’t vigorous. It tries but dosnt have the oomph in my zone. Sue in New Orleans has it grafted and is thrilled with it .

Eden is my biggest thorn in my side. I have it own root , going on 5 years old . Pitiful thing with one climbing cane and maybe 4 or 5 little ones. I complain every spring about it ! This year I ordered one from palantine. If that isn’t the trick , I don’t know what is ! :)

There was another thread I could start. Granted soil, sun water and lotsa elements may effect one's experience with a rose than another.

I swear, searching old threads on GW for rose experience. For every positive I can find, I will always find a negative post as well. I was looking up Olivia, PAOK, Charles Darwin, the list goes on. I find good reviews and negatives as well. Gosh, makes deciding hard

Well what would you specifically like to know ? Maybe we can help you decide. But yes, sometimes it is just luck and different conditions!

Heh. Want vs. need. Just thinking about adding any ~extras~ I should before my DA order ships any moment now...what extras I end up ordering, they will be in pots until I expand or find a new spot/spots ;-0

I really have loved my olivia and would recommend that ! Mine are all going in pots too . I always read up on roses but if I like something there’s a good chance I’ll try it no matter what the reviews say . ( like Sonia rykiel !)

a1an, remind us where you are. This can be added to your name on here. That will allow people to help you more. Not just zone, but State really helps. Are you Long Island, NY? That will really help. Plants will grow for you more like others in your area report. You learn to look at the postings from people in proximity to you. You will enjoy other posts, but eventually realize they don't apply to you in a different location as far as different varieties go. Out West here in the dry summer, blackspot is not much of a problem. In the East or mid Atlantic it is more of a problem. Every area has roses that do well. They are just different varieties than those in different climates. That is why the comments are all over the place. The people are all over the map.

Yes, LI. The location has always been in my profile.

10-4 on the growing characteristics based on location and ones' experience. Location aside, I'm sure it can also vary widely on the siting, etc. Kinda like soap. You can go 2 miles over to the next town, and ones experience with soap may be completely different than anothers, simply due to the interaction of the water differences

Let Nature decide. Buy a grafted rose. Cut off a cane and start a new rose with the cutting next to the original. Keep the stronger grower.

Good luck, a1an. Your location does not show on my computer.

Henry -

Indeed that is the plan. TBD on when I take a cutting though. Like all shrubs, year 1 is crawl, year 2 is walk and year 3 is like Jump . But I do plan to take a cutting and observe the difference in cane bushiness-development-footprint. Like most things gardening, these things can't be rushed....

I would say Gardening has tested my patience or taught me patience. All the same I suppose ;-)

Hallo -

I hear ya post loud in clear. Bearing my last post, it's more like a 3 year *settle in an decide period* , like most shrubs before one makes a judgement call. Ha, call it my OCD. I just wanna go all in on roses (and of course tweak and add more on the next years plantings if I like it) cross off the next task on the never ending honey to-do list and just move on.