Hey, Alana. I have some information for you.

Last spring, my daughter and I drove up to Fredericksburg, Virginia to attend the Open House at Hartwood Roses, hosted by Connie Hilker. The rose "Orange Auto Parts", listed on Rose Petals Nursery's web site, had caught my eye a few weeks earlier because I knew that we would be driving through Orange, Virginia on our way to the Open House (from east Tennessee). So, I asked Connie about it. Here's what she said... It is a found rose (I think she is the one who found it). She told us that if we wanted to see the "mother plant" on our way home, we just needed to find the only McDonald's in Orange, look across the street to the auto parts store, and there it would be. And it was! We drove right up to it so that we could get a few photos with my phone, but unfortunately it was dark grey and raining and the photos are very blurry. I can tell you that it had a shorter, wide shrub feel to it as opposed to a taller, more lanky plant. It is the only thing growing on the edge of the parking lot and I assume that it was planted way before the property was developed as a location for a franchised auto parts store. I remember Connie saying that when it blooms for her, the color isn't as dark as it appears on Rose Petals' site. I asked her if she had a guess as to what class of rose and she said she wasn't sure, but something in the tea or china arena.

I've got it on my wish list, but it will probably be a couple of years before I have a good sunny spot for it. If you end up getting it, I'd love to hear how it does for you.

Thanks! I just ordered . My DH is hopefully not at home when they are delivered.