Sylvia, I've also been really curious about Burlesque since I was first made aware of it a year or so ago (either via Heirloom or a post here). I'm a huge fan of striped roses, purple roses, and fragrant roses. Not enough info on HMF to convince me. Hopefully someone who grows it can chime in here, no matter what the zone! I'd say if I was already buying some from Heirloom, I'd probably give it a try :-D

Did you read the customer reviews on Heirloom’s site, they are quite descriptive. People like the fragrance, one person said it was a long lasting bloom. Some negatives were lack of garden performance, extreme mildew susceptability, more crimson than purple. The color concerns me most, it seems far less purple/blue than say Twilight Zone, Ebb Tide, Lavender Crush, Blue for You. I wouldn’t want yet another ’purple’ rose that is in practice magenta red or pink.

I do think one person might have been comparing it to her row of Icebergs, and asking a novelty to perform like Iceberg hedge is really setting oneself up for disappointment!

Thanks, all. Susan,that’s two of us in Southern California who want this rose. Let’s start a trend!
Ben, I did read the reviews on Heirloom’s site.Mildew is generally not a problem here. I’m hinting of Burlesque as a replacement for Princess Alexandra of Kent, which is ok but stingy with its blooms - also an awkward-looking bush. That site gets morning sun only, which I think might work well for a purple//magenta rose. On the other hand, I have Munstead Wood in full sun and, while it does pink out in the hot summers, I don’t mind that much.
Cynthia, I’ve always loved stripes. I have Raspberry Cream Twirl and Flamingo Dancer,also near the front door, and Camille Pissarro in the back. Burlesque reminds me of Red Radiance and Red Intuition, and the sale price at Heirloom is tempting. Is it thorny? People would be walking in front of it..

Thinking, not hinting

I think Burlesque would be a great replacement for PAK. It's showy and eye catching in the way Red Intuition is. The individual blooms are striking on their own. I can't comment on the thorniness as I don't tend to notice it unless it's extreme, and I guess Burlesque isn't extreme. It's not thornless though so like most roses keep it a bit of a distance from a walkway.

Cynthia

Thanks, Cynthia! I usually wait until early spring, Feb or Mar, to sp a rose and start a new one. I hesitate to do it now, since we’ve had almost no rain since April, and the forecast calls for a warmer, drier, winter. I wonder if Burlesque will sell out quickly…