I don't mind "boring" roses if they winter hardy and reliable - especially if they are in constant bloom. The most boring roses I ever grew were the dead sticks that I found each spring before I found the internet garden groups and learned more about growing hardy roses!
I am glad that breeders like Radler are developing disease resistant roses suitable for colder climates. I think some of his newer roses look promising - especially Milwaukee's Calatrava and Orchid Romance. I like Carefree Celebration, a knockout relative. It blooms constantly in my garden while my "interesting" hybrid tea roses hibernate or sulk. It was constantly filled with blooms this year until after Thanksgiving. I don't mind knockouts, but I wish stores would carry a wider variety of own root and/or hardy roses. Maybe the success of the knockout roses will encourage both gardeners and stores to try other varieties.
I wasn't expecting a "groundcover rose" to get as tall as 2'. They may be similar to my Kordes "Baby Blanket" rose. It sent long, skinny canes up to 6' long that rooted where they touched the ground. I cut it back to a manageable size - about 3' x 3' this summer and gave away a couple of baby plants. I love the pretty pink buds and blooms as well as the disease resistance. I have seen beautiful pictures of "Baby Blanket" grown as a grafted "tree rose". I think it could also be grown as a short climbing floribunda.
My Kordes "Roseberry Blanket" rose is the kind of groundcover rose that I want! It is low growing, spreading but well behaved, disease resistant and constantly in bloom. It roots where it touches the ground, so I relocated baby plants to a couple of locations in the garden. I would like to add similar roses in different colors.
link to Roseberry Blanket
http://www.helpmefind.com/rose...
