Question
What is now the best source for David Austin roses? And why?
Background
Four years ago I bought Crocus Rose, Tess of the d'Ubervilles, Abraham Darby, and two lovely damask roses Ispahan and La Ville de Bruxelles along with a few other roses from David Austin Roses in Tyler, TX. These have grown steadily and form the backbone of my rose garden. With most roses in the order I was pleased. With some I was wowed. If all my experience with DA roses had been this good, I'd not have a question.
Last year I made an emergency order to David Austin Roses in March. I got 3 Claire Austin roses which were small, but might eventually catch up and make wonderful plants, one L.D. Braithwaite which I think will amount to something, one William Shakespeare 2000 which I think has disappeared permanently, one Jubilee Celebration which started out three inches tall and has grown not a whit, and one Young Lycidas which has turned out to be the only rose in the shipment with which I am fully satisfied. I wonder whether my bad experience was due in part to placing my order late. Or is this what I should expect from DA roses now?
I find that Graham Thomas on its own roots - just as does Don Juan - leafs out too soon here for weather conditions and ends up being killed by frost. It was not so much of a problem on multiflora rootstock; but Palatine has discontinued shipping DA roses. Because of my experience with Don Juan which doesn't have the freezing problem when grown on Dr Huey rootstock my inclination is to buy DA roses on Dr. Huey rootstock, especially those DA cultivars prone to spring freeze damage.
So, for the sake of argument, suppose I were planning to get Molineux, Golden Celebration, Pegasus, Perdita, Pat Austin, Heritage, Ambridge Rose, Comte de Champagne, Cottage Rose, Sweet Juliet, and Lady Emma Hamilton over the next several years. Some are available from more than one of these suppliers: Heirloom Roses, Chamblee, and David Austin Roses - which supplier(s) should I choose?
