How pretty!

It looks lovely.

Beautiful!!!

Dianela, how perfectly exquisite. I love the way Florentina drapes so gracefully on your trellis. How can red be your least favorite color? Impossible. Sorry, I'm just teasing you. I want a Florentina so much. How tall do you think it will ultimately get? What's the beautiful rose growing on your shed? Someday, that shed will look like a little English cottage, and it's getting there fast. Diane

I planted Florentina this year because it’s on the Kansas State University recommended roses list. It’s beautiful so far but not blooming yet. Like you, I don’t love red but I’m looking forward to this one. I planted it with a white clematis to tone it down.

You will see. It does not need toning down as it is not allowed A loud rose. Almost a cherry red. Do you have a link to that University website website? I will try and type Best reds in a moment.

Here is one I referenced a lot but don’t see Florentina on it. I’ll keep looking. https://www.johnson.k-state.edu/docs/lawn-and-garden/in-house-publications/roses/Growing Easy Care Roses 4.10 REVISED.pdf

For years Kansas held trials to find the best annuals and perennials that would grow in the state. They have sadly lost funding but I found the perennial list and roses are at the end. We had an experiment and research station here in my town and it was so fun to see all the flowers growing. These roses may be dated and our climate is harsh, at least in the part of the state I live in, so keep that in mind while perusing the list. https://www.sedgwick.k-state.edu/gardening-lawn-care/documents/Prairie Bloom Perennials MF2772.pdf

https://www.sedgwick.k-state.edu/gardening-lawn-care/documents/Prairie Bloom Perennials MF2772.pdf

Ugh it’s not posting right

When I copy the link it opens though.

Perhaps we all find red a bit challenging, either because of the KO-s everywhere or maybe just because it is difficult to combine with other colors; but the reality is nothing pops like red in the landscape and there are few things as elegant and dramatic as red roses against a white wall.

Your Florentina is beautiful, dianela!

Thank you! my Florentinas are 3 years old

Sorry my messages are not posting right. I do not think it needs much toning down either it blends nicely with Olivia next to it.

Diane I planted mine in a very tight spot and I am keeping it 6 to 7 feet max. It responds well to pruning so far. The pink rose is Peggy Martin and definitely a wonderful rambler.

My entire bed.

Olivia, the Fairy and Flamenco all nearby as well as Kendy Marie

dianela,

What are the light pink flowers in front of the Fairy?

What a full, gorgeous front bed! Your Florentinas really are the stars of the show.

That’s an incredibly impressive rose, Dianela! My tastes are similar, I prefer red roses to err on the side of blue/purple. I find a pure or orangey red much harder to place.

I surprised myself with how much I liked bright red Thomas à Becket though, which was a substitute for something else. Fast growing, healthy and a very generous bloomer for a 2yr old:

But my absolute favorite red is Tantau’s ‘Soul’. Even when very red, which it can be, it just seems to blend so much better with the white, pink and purple colour scheme of my east garden. Beautifully clean, healthy, glossy foliage with incredible richly fragrant blooms. It took a while for the blooms to build up rain resistance but it loved full sun and heat from the start:

Dianela your entire garden is so beautiful! Nollie I just love the Soul!

Dianella, Your Florentina is gorgeous on the black metal trellis! I love the blue reds. I don't much care for orangy reds, in general. Some of my blue reds will get magenta in extreme heat but I still like them. My Florentina bloomed for the first time this fall. It is graftedbut just sat there last year, gaining size but didnt really bloom. Its still potted but really getting huge. I need to decide a permanent location soon. Not much fragrance. Right now, it is next to Don Juan also still potted from my move lol. Don Juan is a little redder not quite as blue red but no means orange and smells much nicer. I like Florentina's bloom shape better so far. Florentina seems like a more vigorous plant.

Nollie, That Tantau’s ‘Soul is a beauty.

What a gorgeous bed . Red is my favorite color in roses actually but in my heat , almost all reds turn in hot pink .

Ill post when my son naps 😊

@dianela7analabama，that is very beautiful. Same here, I like deep red with blue or purple tones, but cannot handle the orange red. But a true red is really a treat.

I was torn between Florentina and Lady in Red and eventually I got Lady in Red, in the hope of her good perfomace in the heat. Glad to say she hasn’t failed me

Above Lady in red, grafted from local store, below own root from HCR.

But I might still grow Forentina when we expand the rose garden. It is hard to resist

@NollieSpainZ9, if I can find Tantau’s ‘Soul’, then probably I can skip Florentina😼

Pink rose, it’s the same in my area. Almost all red flowers turn hot pink (and I don’t mind. I love pink.)

I've eyed Tantau's Soul for years in the Tantau catalog. So far, it's unavailable here, and just one more reason the US needs the full Tantau line of roses, not just a few from Grace Rose Farm, though mine has yet to arrive from them. I had to mention that--ha.

Newbie, Lady in Red is a stunner. I think I like the blooms on the grafted rose a bit better. But both are great. Diane

It is so frustrating when you want a rose that’s not available. I‘m pretty sure I have seen Soul on here before from someone in the US, Diane so it must’ve been available at some point??

I also do not like red roses, but bought Florentina this season as well. Hope for the best! This rose looks amazing!

PS. I do not understand why established business owners in roses world are not using the great opportunity to bring all line of Tantau in US.

Tantau does not want a business rep in the US, apparently. Several years ago, the owner of Palatine told me that. I am quite sure that Soul has not been available here, Nollie. How about all of us email Tantau asking why they are missing out on such a great business opportunity in the US? Diane

Diane, I did.

Good, and thank you, Elena.

Nollie, maybe you saw Soul Sister? Diane

Artist I think you are right on both accounts. I hear a lot of complaints even with the hotter pinks. Not long ago someone here did not want to consider Flamenco Rosita for their garden because he/she was concerned it would look like a knockout. My next door neighbor also told me he didn’t want red because that’s what everyone has. I personally think Florentinas blooms are very romantic and definitely wouldn’t be confused with a knockout. I actually think the knockouts are very great plants and that is a shame they haven’t been taken care of appropriately

Nollie your roses are gorgeous. I love your pictures. Unfortunately most of the older Austins are terrible with black spot here and that has included every red so far. Darcy Bussell has been my best but still lots of black spot. I still love the Austins and I am very excited to try all the new ones which so far seem far superior on the health department here.

Soul is glorious and I can see why she is a favorite in your garden. There is a long list is Tantaus I would love to try if given the chance one day.

Sultry I hope you find your florentina a good spot. I don’t think mine gave me but a single bloom the first year. I said these are 3 years old, but maybe they are even 4 since I remember they got accidentally cut down by my husband the first year they were planted. I am not certain but they took a little while to really impress. I definitely love their bloom form.

forever-a_newbie_z8_va

Your Lady in red looks great and it happens to be the other red rose I have been considering. I saw a video in one of the trial gardens and she looked spectacular. I am glad to hear she is not disappointing.

Diane I said I would post when my son napped two days ago and then I also napped. I hope you get your rose very soon because that is starting to sound like the second business not delivering this year. I have been meaning to tell you I ordered a baby Colette rose and she just gave me two beautiful blooms in the most exquisite color. I am hopping to choose a peach/pink, yellow or orange variety for the front of my future forever home. So far my candidates are Colette, Bathsheba and Golden Opportunity.

I guess Tantau must have all the business they want already? I would definitely jump at the chance of trying half their catalog in a heartbeat

I feel there are some posts missing in this topic. I remember a post with very beautiful red roses photoes?

Artist sorry I forgot to reply to your question. The light pink flowers in the front of the bed are dianthus apple blossom. https://www.waltersgardens.com/variety.php?ID=DIAAB

I purchased them at my local garden center but here is a link to the variety. They are evergreen and a very easy filler.

What do you mean Forever a newbie?

Oh never mind. I was confused myself. I remember seeing a few nice red climbing roses but they are in the other topic. Sorry about that

Your Florentina looks terrific, Dianela, very healthy and beautiful blooms. There is a another lady in Alabama who grows Red Eden no spray and has had very good result with it, and says repeat is excellent. Her video is below:

I always thought Florentina and Red Eden have a similar look. I believe Florentina is the larger bloom, but Red Eden has a decent scent. I’ve been very happy with my Red Eden, but it’s young and hasn’t climbed yet.