I've been trying to get David Austin's Buttercup for two years now. They must only grow three or so per year cuz it's always marked order for the NEXT spring. :

I've searched the internet numerous times to find this one elsewhere to no avail. Any of you 'connected' people have ideas??

Not sure what the deal is on that one, the HMF entry for it shows that the Buy It tab only lists it from Austin's site.
http://www.helpmefind.com/rose...

Maybe it's just a difficult plant to propagate or they may have decided not to carry it any longer as new and improved intros have come along since then.
Is there a particular reason why your heart is set on this one?

I don't know. I have had it in mind since I first saw the photo. Last year I was on the reservation list for this spring, but didn't make it.

Just one of those rose things I guess..................it's a puzzle to me to why it is always sold out! Last year I emailed a number of other growers Roses Unlimited, etc. and no one had it. It is just very beautiful to me. I am genetically a 'rose' person My mother was, and so are my brothers........I have no clue why this one touched my heart-and never left (I know that sounds goofy, but true!)

It's a pretty, delicate looking cupped bloom and I love most yellows too! Personally, I prefer his fuller old fashioned blooms.
Have you ever considered something like Julia Child? While not an Austin, it's a great rose, similar in coloring and fragrant too. One of the healthiest roses as well and that goes a long way in my book. I don't spray so if a plant looks great and performs well, it's a keeper. Good reviews in the Member Comments tab.
http://www.helpmefind.com/gard...

If I could throw in, Shockwave is an awesome yellow! Doesn't fade to a blah, has a strong scent, grows rapidly, and is good to at least zone 5! Yay!

Guess I'll be stretching my range a bit............Thanks! I've heard good things about both of those. Fragrance is high on my priority list, except when I totally go off track, like buying Abracadabra, and China Green.

Charlotte is a similar Austin, hardy to zone 5b, but fuller with more petals.

Hortico supposedly has it in stock right now:

http://www.hortico.com/roses/v...

I don't know whether I'd advise you to order it from Hortico. They have a nasty habit of mislabeling their roses, but if your heart's really set on it, you could give it a try.

After your post I e-mailed David Austin and they said that Pickering and Hortico are their primary US distributers, other than their own web-site.

Then, I read all your feed-back on Hortico. How big are the plants? i.e quarts, gallons, etc.Are they pretty small, damaged or sick? I saw the mislabeling was frequent.

Now my dilemma is do I want to bet 23$ that I get the 'rose of my heart' , or search on. Wish I truly knew why it is so unavailable-poor disease resistance, weak plant, or what? I can't believe there is a yearly stampede to this particular rose...........

Has anyone had a good experience w/ Hortico? I 'm going to browse GW and see what the feedback is there. This is my self-portrait right now!

And they say it's just a plant...............

Pickering and Hortico sell bare-root grafted plants, so they're not measurable in quarts or gallons. Grafted roses are typically grown in the field for at least two years before they're sold, so they're much bigger than most own-root roses.

I used to love Hortico and I have hundreds of Hortico roses living happily in my garden, but they started going downhill a couple of years ago, to the point that even customers of long standing have given up on that nursery.

Where did the $23 come from, by the way? Hortico is selling the rose for $14.99.

You could take a chance on ordering it from Hortico. They may have learned a lesson from so many of their customers abandoning them, but my best advice is to wait until the end of September, when Pickering updates its Website and starts taking orders for 2011, and order it from Pickering instead.

Looked like that was what it would cost w/ shipping. Maybe I was off a bit when I checked.

I have that rose. From David Austin USA. No blooms yet this year or I would add photos. It doesn't look weak or diseased to me and I'm not the best rose mom in the world. About the only thing I would say that might be slightly negative about it is that it does take off slow. It does want it's fertilizer, but I have plenty of cow poo and chicken/peacock poo so that's not much of a problem at my house! And I planted mine in a grouping of three and am glad as it looks like a big honkin' full bush (or it will as soon as it gets up and going). And it does get bigger than advertised. The usual complaints for an Austin. I think it just may be that most folks want the big full Austin blooms and the stock for the singles and doubles just isn't there. I've been going after the singles and doubles myself this year, so if that is what you are doing too then maybe we should e-mail them and warn them ;~!. Oh, and when it is in bloom it really does look like the buttercups in bloom in my pastures right now. The yellow is just right! I would just keep after it...they've got to send it to you sometime!

Thanks Terri. I was beginning to think it was an illusion or something! Planting in threes sounds like a good idea. It IS the buttercup look that appeals to me. Just realized that-I never know why I've stayed on the 'quest'. LOL I like the singles and doubles also-you're probably right about lack of demand. Guess I'll just suck it up and reserve 3 from them for next year.

I'm putting in a new bed so I'll save space. Just got a yard of Sweet Peet from the nursery to cultivate in tomorrow. (Not me-a burly neighbor!!) Maybe if the home is already there, they will come? If you think of it, I would love to see a pic when they are in bloom.

See you in the race for the 'different' Austins!!

Hmmm, bruly neighbor, hugh? Does this call for a lawn chair and a cocktail with an umbrella in it? Not for him, for you?

Perhaps...............

He worked for a six packed of Bud Light w/ Lime. I had a glass of Chardonnay...............and observed technique...........

Woohoo! You go girl.:hurray:

PS. I have Windrush on order. Don't know when I'll get it, but I want it sooooo......Another Austin that doesn't look like an Austin.

http://www.davidaustinroses.co...

As promised, here are the first few blooms from Buttercup here in hot, windy, humid Texas. The first bloom I posted elsewhere and it was a bit washed out. But the richer color is starting to develop now. The bush is holding it's bloom pretty well in these fairly harsh conditions.

And another shot.