Thanks Jim!!! yours does look closer to magenta than the online pics. Maybe my climate is just not conducive to this rose?

SophiaTheReader . , I got rid of mine after 5 years as it was not productive enough to keep...I was only getting like maybe 18-20 blooms per season and they blew fast... MAYBE grafted might do better?

I think the growth and foliage look like Mister Lincoln, but color is a hotter red than I’m used to seeing. The blooms do fry in hot weather!

Yeah flowers not lasting and stingy blooms dont make a good rose bush!

A lot of older HTs go off color as the bloom matures. Mr. Lincoln, Crimson Glory, etc. do this. Also, as the bush matures it will strengthen up and show typical flower size, petal count, etc. but going off color is the name of the game still, no matter how mature, well cared for, or how much we wish it would be different. Enjoy Mr. Lincoln for what it does have, especially the superb fragrance.

Moses

Sophia,

Regarding your assessment that your MIL's Mr. Lincoln, "looks so different," don't the weather conditions there as compared to hot and humid here make a difference in how a rose bush performs? They certainly do. I saw a Mr. Lincoln growing unpruned, unsprayed, unfertilized, unwatered...growing on a rental property that was enormous, for Pittsburgh, 3+' tall and about 5' wide. It was old for sure, but in spite of the: black spot, powdery mildew, downy mildew, aphids, rose midge fly, spider mites, Japanese beetles, rose slug, caterpillars, borer, and on and on, it thrived, making the most remarkable rose hips that were just under ping pong ball size.

Your Mr. Lincoln will be a joy to have, just give it time to show what it's got!

Moses

Moses, you are definitely right about climates and temps. I didnt know these old HT lost their shapes. this was on the first day it opened. however the bloom is still on the bush SO it does seem to be getting better!!! Cant wait to see year three. I'm glad it is mr lincoln though. So cool to hear about the neglected rose. We always think of roses as so fussy, but a lot seem really tough☺️

Thing with me is I don't waste time with roses or any plant that doesn't make me happy...lol...But I respect those that do take the time with plants...Its just not for me......

Gotta do whats right for you and whatever makes you feel happy......

My ML never got any better or lived up to my expectations BUT I'm hoping your ML continues to get better and better... :-)
SophiaTheReader . Best of luck!

I don't have the pic handy , but I had a grafted Mr Lincoln last year. One bloom cycle consisted of one pure magenta bloom. Not faded to magenta, but completely magenta from the bud. The leaves were pale too. I gave it fertilizer and iron, and next cycle was pretty much normal. It died at some point and I forget why...is that a bad sign? 🤔 But it did smell very nice! I wish it had bloomed more, and not died as much. 😀