I'm a little warmer than you, but I've been growing 2 bush's of this red beauty for several years. No winter damage at all. Upright growth, long cutting stems, beautiful foliage that stays clean. Not the largest blooms but still good enough for me. I like it a lot and I'm a picky gardener. To get the big bouquets, 2 or 3 bushes are needed.

I was hasty in shovel pruning my Grand Amore. It was slow for its first two years, starting as a very small own root. As I was removing it in early spring at the beginning of its third year, amazingly robust looking basal growths obscured by mulch became revealed, but after I butchered its root system getting it out since my intention was just to pitch it, I proceeded to trash can it anyway. What a dumb thing to do! Grand Amore was getting ready to shine, and I destroyed it.

I will report that its growth is as vertical as a hybrid tea's can be. The blooms are just about perfect, but smallish. Its petals were as velvety textured as could be. Winter hardiness without any protection was great, but for you in zone 5, Mad....I question its ability to thrive. It was black spot free in true ADR winning form.

Grand Amore is on my short list.

Moses.

Thanks for the info. I'm very glad to hear about the disease resistance.

These aren't for my garden, but my other garden which is about 15 miles south, and usually a cold zone 6. It sounds like they should be planted rather close together.

They are passalong plants - originally from Star.

Yes, Mad, planted at two foot centers and no more would be my advice. Also, don't expect much blooming on the bottom half of the bush, so something in front will hide the emptiness there.

Moses.

I have 3 Grande Amore, 2 from Palatine and 1 from Edmund’s. The bush gets very tall and reaches for the sky in the fall. Blooms last a long time, no fragrance to my nose. It makes an excellent cut rose.