Markay,

I haven’t had much luck with Munstead Wood (as well as with DA roses in general) - it’s not very vigorous and tends to get black spot. I can recommend Olivia, Eustacia Vye, and Bring Me Sunshine as the most black spot–resistant DA roses in my garden.

Eustacia Vye

I don't really have BS pressure here -- sorry -- my MW is small but lovely. I just got an email from DA that they are selling it again! p.s. Eustacia Vye is a STAR in my garden. Way better than Olivia for me.

Its ok for a David Austin, but I would not call it blackspot resistant. The color is so unique that is worth having, but def not for its disease resistance.

I agree with you Eustacia and Bring me Sunchine do well. Also Silas Marner has surprised me with being more vigorous than Eustacia and healthy.

I have had MW for 4 years and I'm in a very high BS area. Of the Austins I've tried it's way the best for disease resistance, but I haven't tried any other than it for over 10 years. - and we're way behind in getting the new varieties. It does get blackspot in Autumn, but at an acceptable level. It didn't flower much for me till this Spring and it's still a fairly puny plant. The blooms and perfume are something, though.

I planted Soul, a Tantau (at least I think it is) 3 months ago. Already it has 3 or 4 blooms and is sending out a basal. The Tantau website give Soul 4/4 for BS resistance. The bloom is a lovely velvety red, which can apparently be crimson purple. I'm not usually a fan of red roses, but this one is beautiful.

We have to take into account that black spot has many regional strains, so resistance to black spot is often strain-specific — a rose that’s highly resistant in one climate may perform poorly in another.

Munstead Wood is about at the top for me when it comes to Austin roses, but I have no business advising about black spot issues, since roses don't get it here in this dry climate. However, it's such a glorious rose, I'd get it, black spot or not. Be adventurous. Austin sent me several notices today just as Deborah mentions above, and MW is selling currently on the Austin site. I fear they will be discontinuing this rose before long, since David Austin Roses seems to be on a company suicide mission. The only rose they'll have left to sell before long is Olivia Rose Austin, cause that rose is named after DA junior's daughter. Diane

elena, someone else on here has posted that if you get one blackspot strain, you'll likely get the lot, as they mutate. I have no idea if that's so, but it sounds right.

Well, everything living mutates eventually, so that's logical, Trish. Diane

Too bad Soul isn't available here. I agree that it's lovely. Can you post any photos of Soul, Trish? Diane

Diane, I only think my rose is Soul. My rose is called Dolly's Rose, but it's a Tantau and looks very similar. Nollie has posted photos of Soul on the European thread.

Black spot strains are truly mysterious. Munstead Wood, WS2000, and Yong Lycidas get severe BS in the coastal PNW, while Lady of Shalott, Molineux, and even Sharifa Asma are doing far better. The propagation lines of red/deep pink DAs seem not to be BS resistant, which makes me curious about how Gabriel Oak performs here. Eustacia Vye also can get some BS but not a big deal. Only Olivia and Queen of Sweden stay clean in my garden.

Eustacia is not at all black spot resistant in my garden. She even parades around half naked most of the summer. This summer has been unusually hot and dry. She has kept more leaves this summer. Her flowers are washed out and small during hot weather. In fall and early spring, she can be beautiful. She is next to a white block wall on the south side.I keep meaning to move her. Maybe if I sprayed for fungal issues, she would be better. One of m Spirit of Freedoms, Bathsheba, and Mill on The Floss are along that same wall but they have no issues.

Munstead Wood is much better here than EV for sure.

Thank you all for the input! I will content myself with admiring everyones pics because it doesn’t sound like MW would be a winner in my garden.

Nollie, wow, your Soul is prolific. I'll take photos of Dolly's Rose and post them on the UK thread (when my webmail is working again) and maybe you'll be able to tell me if it's Soul or not.

I think one has to try a MW on one's property before thinking it would not work. I just ordered another one.

'Munstead Wood' was retired by DA because it wasn't very disease resistant according to Michael Marriott, former DA hybridizer. That being said, MW is a rose that blooms well even while having some affected leaves. In my PNW garden, the flowers are so stunning that it's worth a bit of blackspot for me. As you can see from this picture, the blackspot isn't particularly noticable.