How lucky! Not sure if an answer for you, but what a steal! Wish I could find that sort of deal here. Happy planting!

We had that three years ago, but the plants were grafted and came from a Fl. nursery. They were also mismarked. Lucky you to find some this year. Maybe just wait til the rest are marked down. They often do it when they take a flowering break or have them for a certain length of time.

I am not a rose grower, but my husband is. He has about 30+ growing around our property. Most in the ground, three in pots.

When we moved here 7 yrs ago from New York, we did not know about grafted root stocks. In NY you bought the regular roses and they grew beautifully. Over these 7 years only about 5 have done well. All climbers. There are a few bush roses still doing fairly well.

He doesn't know if any were grafted. He doesn't think so because he bought some from Lowes, Home Dept and a few independent nurseries. The climbers are incredible. Huge and blooming all summer. I suspect being planted against the house might have something to do with it. He also mulches them. The climbers are also somewhat shaded by larger trees in front. Not being a rose grower, I tell him I think it is because the roots are shaded by the larger bushes and trees. Roses in full South sun seem to struggle.

Funny seeing your post because we were just talking about this today. He lost the tags on most and would like to buy more of the roses which seem to handle the heat and nematodes the best.

Jane

Jane - Yes, I have learnt the hard way that gardening in FL is very different from gardening in NY/NJ.

I was hoping some of the experienced FL gardeners would provide some input with regards to planting on own root vs grafted on Fortuniana but I think my headline is not helpful in terms of that. I might repost the question again tomorrow.

Yes, I think that if you put Fl. in the title that will grab more attention! However, I know for at least one Fl. poster, Houzz is acting up and she can't write without it erasing again. : ((

My wife and I grow a large variery of roses. We have found that in general David Austin roses require more spraying than othe varieties that are better acclimated to Florida. The grafting of plants onto Fortuniana root stock is to make up for the weakness in the root system of some roses. Unfortunately the academic types have used their lack of specific knowledge to proclaim that all roses grown in Florida be on Fortuniana. This is not the case.

When growing in Florida many areas lack organic material in the "soil" Have a soil test done through your county co-operative extension so that you can amend the planting area as indicated. We like a deep bed of mulch around our plants We use 4-6" of wood chips or composted horse manure, both will add organic material over time.

Some people prefer to grow in pots, this way you control the media that they grow in by using something such as Jungle Growth which is available at some Lowe's and Walmarts. The material is high in organic material and drains well. You might even want to use it when planting in the ground.

We went through a number of plants before learning how to grow roses. It also took several years to carch on. You can do it and be successful. You might try some native roses in the future. You might also consider going to the Central Florida Heritage Rose Society meeting held monthly in Lakeland, FL.

I live in South East Florida (Palm Beach area) zone 10. I have a few David Austins... Some are on fortuniana root stock and a few that are on own root.... I think own root David Austins do pretty well in the ground... but I can't say for how long term... the own root DA's have been in the ground apx. 5 to 6 years.... so far none of the DA's have shown any lack of vigor which one should see if there are nematode damage.... I have heavily amended soil with organic material in the area that I have my own root DAs....

If you want to get your DA's on fortuniana I recommend calling Cool Roses here in Palm Beach county..... I really try and get all of my roses on fort... the DA's that I have on own root were given to me as cuttings....

I think the ones on fort. will preform best.... you will bet a more robust plant... it will have more vigor.... faster growth and more flowers.... that being said I would NOT discourage you from getting own root DAs because I think you will be happy with them... and I think they will preform ok..... just not on steroids like on fort.....

Good Luck with your purchase.

Sharon, interesting views. My husband wants to take cuttings from his most robust. He is 'almost certain' they are not grafted.

How would you start cuttings from the healthiest? They are about 7 yrs old and blooming like crazy. Only mulched with leaf litter.

Jane

Roseguy - my soil is definitely low on organic material. I will make sure to amend it with a lot of organic matter and mulch the roses well. I'm not sure I will be able to make it to the Rose society meetings in Lakeland as that is a one and a half hour drive for me, one way.

Sultry - I was hoping you would comment. I already have the roses you mentioned written down in my 'want' list. I compiled the list last year after going through some of your old posts and those of other FL gardeners.

Sharon - I spend quite a bit of time in the Palm Beach area and have bought a few roses from Cool Roses both own root and on Fortuniana rootstock. Funnily enough, I only bought one DA rose (Abraham Darby) from them on Fortuniana rootstock and that it the only rose I have that did not survive. I have bought another Abraham Darby a few months ago, this time from a place here in the Tampa bay area and so far it is doing okay. I will take your and the other posters advice that soil heavily amended with organics is the way to go.

Hi vml! I think you found some great deals, and for $10 they are totally worth the experiment and the knowledge gained from trying it.

Are you sure they are own-root? Many of Lowe’s roses are grafted on Dr. Huey, which is why I ask.

Do keep us posted on how they do—it will interesting to see!

Out of the others you listed, I’ve only considered Golden Celebration. I don’t have any of those at this time, but my own-root ‘Munstead Wood‘ and ‘Molineux’ are doing very well here in NE FL. I do add lots of OM and a thick layer of mulch to all my roses. :-)