I cannot really answer you on this. I need to pay more attention this season. I'm always fluttering around the yard seeing what's going to bloom next! But I wanted to say your photos are great!

I'm pleased to see such luscious photos of your Evelyn... as I think I've got it growing in my garden unintentionally, as I ordered a different rose and I feel sure I've been sent this one... I'm not complaining.. but I shall be checking back to confirm i.d..

My first bloom on Munstead Wood opened on 6th May and it disintegrated today, the 18th... that's pretty good going...

Oh! I just planted three Evelyns (which are taking their time in getting going) this year and those pictures are amazing.

I found Boscobel to have large, long-lasting flowers, generally impressive. I don’t remember them shattering at all. I lost the first one I had, but am growing new ones this year.

And the bush this morning.

I second Munstead Wood as a good one. Abraham Darby gets 4 or 5 days on a vase for me, as does Gertrude Jekyll. Ben, your Evelyn with that magenta clematis looks amazing! Beautiful color combination.

Ben, I totally agree about Evelyn, and your rose is magnificent. Her colors are glorious, and the clematis sets the blooms off perfectly.

I also agree with Stephanie and Nicole. Golden Celebration and Boscobel are great runners-up. Love your GC, Stephanie. He's a favorite of mine (don't ask why "he", but GC has always been a guy-ha). Boscobel is a he, too, and he's another winner. Funny how he, or she, happens. Diane

That's funny Diane, I also refer to him/her as well. Some are obvious in this situation, ie. Benjamin Britten is a him & Gertrude Jekyll is a her. Others just get genderized without thinking about it. But Boscobel is a her to me! I think it has to do with the colouring, shape & fragrance.

I've only had one bloom of Evelyn, and that lasted I think for six days and even when I snipped it off its little bush it wasn't a total goner. Bishop's Castle has lasted 3-4 days in a vase when the weather was cool and Potter and Moore about the same, so Evelyn is clearly a winner for me in my very limited experience with the Austins.

I second Munstead Wood, and will also throw in a vote for Molineux. Here's a bud I accidentally snipped off while deadheading, & stuck in water in a votive candle holder (the red is Darcey Bussell - Darcey is already faded & gone, but Molineux is still holding):

P.S. I also do the he/she thing with roses - for example, I've been known to call Munstead Wood "Mr. Munstead" - I have no idea where that came from!

Thanks for all the replies, I appreciate your input!
The clematis paired with Evelyn is Mme Julie Correvon, a sort of wine red, very easy and vigorous. I had originally planted her to be a companion to Aloha. But Aloha seemed to have all sorts of trouble opening, so Evelyn got her spot and is filling in nicely

Halloblondie,

Looking forward to see all your blooms soon, you have a beautiful garden.

Malorena,

Thanks for the Munstead Wood recommendation, she was near the top of my Austin list already, I might just have to go ahead and get one. How wonderful to have a surprise Evelyn.

Nicole

I’m sure Evelyn will be great for you, I’ll need to pay more attention to Boscobel.

K S

I just got Abe this spring, love the scent and the form, I’ll have to put him in a vase and see how he does.

Diane and Stephanie

I enjoyed your pics of Golden Celebration, I have one too that blooms well here (below with Iris Florentine Silk)

However, I still find in my garden, Evelyn lasts much longer. I’m hoping to find another that lasts like Evelyn, maybe she doesn’t exist. I tried to pair GC with her own clematis, Tye Die, but they they didn’t coordinate well...you can see a few spent GC blooms at the base of Tye Die...I need GC to last just a bit longer!

Ingrid,

I totally agree...I also have limited experience with Austins, but among mine, Evelyn is clearly the longest lasting.

No other rose exists like Evelyn, Ben. My humble opinion, of course. Your guy, Golden Cel, is gorgeous (plus lovely iris), too. My GC is blooming now and huuuge. I've got to take some photos when the weather calms down.

Cyndita, Molineux is a beauty with such rich color. Lots of us love that rose. Diane

Diane,

Your Evelyn and Golden Celebration are truly exceptional, hopefully you’ll get some sunshine so they open properly.

Cyndita

Molineaux is one of my favs, I love the apricot centers. Might have to try that with Munstead, good thing they’re both compact as I’m running out of space.

cyndita, that bloom of Molineux is simply stunning, and it's good to know that it's long-lasting. A rose to keep in mind for a yellow rose in my garden.

I have grown around 150 different Austin roses over the course of 30 years or more in 3 different houses. In my experience, the longest lasting flower by for is Claire Rose (NOT Claire Austin), one of the older Austins. In my garden, the petals do not fall off the rose, so the flowers in the garden will last for weeks. The petals will finally turn brown and will stay on the plant and they become unsightly and then need to be dead headed. In my area, this rose needs to be pruned severely to keep it as a large shrub. If you have the space, you can peg the canes, which can grow to 8 to 10 feet, which will produce a spectacular number of blossoms. Hortico may still carry this rose; Hummingbird Roses and Palatine Roses may have this rose for sale this year.

John

Thank you, great information about an Austin probably few of us know.

I looked up Claire Rose, it looks a bit like SDLM! Who wouldn’t want a super long lasting version, given that SDLM is so popular yet very fleeting? Pic from paulbardenroses.com :

Great question Ben. Gets me thinking... I haven't had as good a luck with Munstead Wood in the vase, but on the bush it lasts a decent amount of time and that fragrance. Amazing. Since I don't have Evelyn (yet) I can't say. My overall best in a vase is Abraham Darby. Not the prettiest plant - sort of skinny, but those blooms!

Darcey Bussell is the longest lasting Austin in the vase for me - approx 7 days for me. This is followed by Evelyn and then Abraham Darby and Golden Celebration. Beautiful pics, everyone!

Gorgeous Austin’s. I think my longest lasting ones are Boscobel and Olivia. Also Princess Alexandra of Kent seems to last but I haven’t been able to test it very well because the deer keep eating all the new growth. It must taste really good.