Mr. Lincoln ( I believe that was what it was called) was the best rose I ever grew. I had it at my previous house. It always bloomed throughout the summer and was so pretty right by my front doorway. I knew if I tried to take it with me at my newer house it would probably not do as well. It seemed to be in the perfect location.
I have tried roses at my current house without a lot of success. I have even tried buying from the David Austin rose company. I have had horrible success with their roses, unfortunately. It might be the location at where I am. I have tried putting roses at different areas. the only ones that seemed to do well were the Knockout roses. I had some foundation work done and hey had to remove those and I have tried growing them again. Not a lot of luck.
I bought two Double Knockout rose bushes from Stark Brothers nursery. They were so tiny they looked were the size of a tiny four leaf clover plant. Not a bush nor any sort of thick rootstock or stem. I was shocked to see how puny the rose plant was. NOT what I expected nor was displayed on their site.
Just looked for 'Red Radiance" rose that I planted about '78, apparently died overwinter. Suspect voles, as it was one of the toughest hybrid tea’s I’ve grown.
For warmer climates, few roses beat tea roses in terms of adaptability and year-round blooms. My current favorite is a “found rose” called Jesse Hildreth, a tea rose found in the cemetery at San Juan Bautista. It was named after the person on the closest tombstone for whom the rose was presumably planted in 1862.
This is the original plant in 2017. There’s photos online of the plant in full glorious bloom in the 2000’s, but after years of drought (it isn’t irrigated at all) and hacking away by the landscapers this is what was left. Apparently it’s made a comeback since then but I haven’t been back to see it.
