Steve, my Molineux is an own root from Chamblee's, received it fall of 2010. It's about 3 ft tall now and just starting to bloom this week. I would take a photo but it's raining right now. So it's a good one for own root IMHO.
This was taken about a week ago, you can barely see where it is behind a daylily and in front of the bronze phorium. I figured that bronze would set it off nicely not to mention this fabulous Anchusa 'Alkanet'. Love blue and yellow combos! (more about this in my recent blog post)

OMG, I WANT THAT ANCHUSA!!! I'm putting that in my phone to help me remember what to search for on Saturday.

Our Lowes carries Anchusa. you might check there, Toni. It should grow really well for you.

I've never seen it at any of the nurseries I haunt. But I'm going to some new nurseries.. I wonder if Timberline carries it? According to their online list they have Loddon Royalist Cape Bugloss

I know there are a few different ones, smaller ones, that's what iis usually carried in the nurseries. This is Anchusa azurea, it's also called Anchusa Dropmore, Italian Bugloss. But any anchusa with that blue would be awesome.

I was struck with awe and envy by that anchusa, too. My recollection is that Annie's annuals and Bluestone Perennials both have blue anchusas. I've had really good luck with both sources.

No JGG syndrome for Cindi in Kansas! Some of the DA roses in my garden are not very branched (Crocus Rose & Tess), but they were propagated in a way that produced lots of canes growing out at an angle, giving the rose a full look. I've got my fingers crossed for the DA roses I planted this year.

In my blog I added a link to Annie's for that plant. Last week I stopped in a picked up 2 more.

My goodness, y'all are a chatty group today! Let's see if I can catch up.

Sue, I'd love to have Sheila's Perfume if you can get it. Just let me know cost and shipping and I'll send it asap. And thanks for the link. I agree with everything posted, except that mine stays a nice, neat little shrub. I keep it deadheaded and it just blooms and blooms!

Steve, I have several DA roses, but none of them came from David Austin Roses. Can't afford those prices. Most of mine came from Chamblee's or Pickering. I've had Tradescant for several years; it was one of the first I ordered and I truly don't remember where I got it. I can look back at my receipt and let you know if you'd like, assuming I can locate it at this point!

I was just interested in whether it would grow that well on its own roots, or if it needed extra help.

Steve, I don't buy grafted roses, so that was an own-root rose. Sorry. Didn't mean to ignore the nut of your question.

My Molineux has lots of buds this afternoon when I was out, so it should be blooming by early next week. I'll post some photos.

Thanks, Angie. It's really good to know that some of the best DA rose can be grown to respectable sizes on their own roots. I'm looking forward to the photos.

Steve: Here are a couple of photos of Molineux blooms:





And here's a shot of the bush itself, which is not yet filled out. It blooms off and on like this all summer as long as I keep it deadheaded and I enjoy the view from my kitchen window:

Here in the eastern Great Lakes, the Austin's stay generally under 5 feet. I have a Graham Thomas that's never gotten above 4 feet.

As to the dark Austin's, I love my "Othello". it does get a bit taller and produces few roses often through the season. I don't sniff - allergic to roses - but just walking by gives a lovely aroma.

Austins stay under 5 feet here too. Some will go 5' wide. I bought Snow Goose and cl. James Galway this year because I have seen them climb to 7' in Kansas. Top of my "shoulda bought" list is Claire Austin, the climber. I think it would be lovely with Tradescant or Dark Lady next to it.

My Molineux didn't like being transplanted.. it's barely hanging in there. But it has a few leaves, so I'm hoping. It's a 3rd year plant from RU and about the thickness of a pencil right now. I fed it pretty good last night with Age Old Fish & Seaweed (boy does that stuff stink) and will water pretty heavily tonight (it's gonna be brutally hot here today.. supposed to get up to 91.. it's 820 right now and already 75 degs!). And I just learned recently that my Othello was a DA... gorgeous rose.. one of my fav's.

We're suppposed to receive some hot, humid weather here this weekend, but since we'll be going to the mountains, maybe it won't be quite so bad.

Most of my DA roses are smallish, but Gertrude Jekyll can become leggy. I trimmed those 2 large canes of Tradescant that were growing up into the ligustrum this morning and my Mary Rose is not looking very good. I think she needs a better location, along with Portmeirion and Anne Boleyn. AB is in partial shade, which I thought she could handle, but she doesn't bloom well. Mary Rose hasn't bloomed at all so far this year, so I know she's in for a change of scene.

There's not a tree or structure within 100 yards of any of my Austins so I can vouch for their full-sun capabilities. It takes 300' of hose to water them, so you know they don't get watered very often either.
Dark Lady is the only one I have problems with, so I ordered another one from Chamblee. Out of an order of 17 roses, it was the only one I thought was puny. It will have to grow in the 1 gallon pot for a while before it can survive the real world.

Thanks, Angie. Monlineux produces lovely blossoms. Your second photo looks just like the ones in the marketing brochures. I'm pretty sure I can find a place for it in the garden.

Both Abe Darby and Crocus rose are more than 4 ft in each direction after three years. And both are covered in blooms.


Crocus Rose by Solampic, on Flickr

(Sorry, file upload button is still not working... )

Rose Abraham Darby by Solampic, on Flickr

Lovely roses, great photos - well worth the wait!