I've never ordered from David Austin, but I have lots of Austins from Regan's Nursery. They have always grown very well, but all of mine from Regan's are grafted. That's why I was disappointed to see so many own-root Austins on the Regan website this year. You're right, though, that Regan's own-root roses are going to be larger than bands or 1-gallon plants from the own-root nurseries.
