HMF says the patent was issued in 1993. A patent lasts 20 years and is not renewable, so this one should have expired in 2013.

Contact some of the online rose nurseries. They may like to obtain cuttings of this plant for their collection, and then could offer it for sale in the future. I've done this with Angel Gardens in Florida, so might be worth reaching out to them.

-Chris

You might want to contact Rick @rideauroselad OkanaganBC6a here on the forums. He has a mission of saving older Austins in a public setting, which is exactly what you're looking for. He has amassed a wonderful collection for posterity, God bless him. I @'d him, so hopefully he'll see this, lol.

John

Good old Francine. Here in the West, Francine layered herself all over, spreading crown gall everywhere she touched the ground. Where gall is an issue, Ballerina and The Fairy genes will provide it every time. Francine was from Allister Stella Gray X Ballerina. It's a pretty thing when it's healthy and it did smell nicely.

Must be pretty hardy if it grows in New Hampshire, for those from northern zones. Also, if it layers easily -- take the hint. :)

Gall can be rather location dependent. Your Lavaglut issue can easily be due to the stock it was budded to, but more likely to the source producing the plant. Some producers have had some pretty severe.

Roseseek ... There is one company ... EVERY rose I ever got from them had root gall.

Now, that company has changed hands -- and maybe they no longer have those parent plants, but believe me, I'm not chancing it.