Red Cross versus Ekstase , which do you prefer ?

I've got all my new roses sorted out in my head for the bare root season , except for the reds and yellows , just putting it out there , which do you prefer , for colour , health , fragrance , Red Cross or Ekstase . Valencia or Soul Mate , i know most won't have Soul Mate , but just in case . Have spent days , weeks , deciding on the combo that will fit into the garden , and have just about got it i think , finally lol , these will have to be standards , cause thats what will fit in the space i have Thanks

I have got Red Cross Maree and got it this last season.Very healthy and good rebloomer and blooms a few flowers in a cluster at a time to.I think one of its parentage is 'Oklahoma' so great pedigree.

What others have you got in mind this season maree to order ?.It's so hard you make your mind up and choose a rose and then see another one and change again lol.I'm going through it now.

Lol Danny , i know exactly what you mean , been driving me nuts , must have changed my mind a hundred times , but i think i've got it sorted . My selections are Fragrant Cloud , , Fionas Wish , Charles De Gaulle , Ekstase or Red Cross or Camp David , Olde Fragrance , Nahema, these i am planting .I will trial ,Soul Mate and Valencia in pots ,and Amazing Grace and Jardins in pots too and see which one i like best, AHH , there we go , done ..... had to really cull my list though , unless i win tattslotto and can buy a bigger house lol ....

Great selection Maree.I got Fragrant Cloud on my list to so much gardeners talk about it's perfume and nice flower.Camp David is another that is nice to.

Last season I got Charles De Gaulle and to be honest must say a little dissapointed.Out of all the roses it has been the slowest to grow and flower for some reason.Maybe it's just mine the plant wasnt the best quality I dont know ,but others next to it a thriveing.

I'm a bit like you need to make some room for the next alot and keep on scratching my head lol maybe another garden bed.

Danny Charles is slow to grow and establish , i think , but when it does i think it is worth it , if you have the patience lol !!!!

hi maree,

i would go for red cross instead ekstase, i have both red cross is a better healthier and a more reliable rose with a killer scent . camp david is also a beautiful dark rose with an nice perfume

You know, maree, I'm sadly and with much regret going to revise my advice to you. To be really honest, Valencia is just not built to be a standard. I don't care how short you cut it back, it won't be compliant. It will always throw out super long canes in a non-shrubby vase porfile, that's just how it behaves. Like Firefighter, its DNA is pretty insistent " Hey, I'm a big girl and I reach for the sky. I laugh at your puny secateurs!"

I think Soul Mate/Julia Child is a near-perfect compact yellow for standard treatment. Like roseman's idea of getting three grafts on the shank - my god what a specimen .

Quote Betsy "I think Soul Mate/Julia Child is a near-perfect compact yellow for standard treatment. Like roseman's idea of getting three grafts on the shank - my god what a specimen . You will have to get in early and get this custom grafted if you proceed with this idea Maree.

Thanks Betsy / Roseman / Jordan, i better have a talk to Finbaar , i have a standard Firefighter , and it is way too tall for a standard , i have to stake just about every cane , i think i might replace it with either Camp David or Red Cross , i read Camp David is more heat tolerant , but back to SoulMate , i'll trial it in a pot this year and hope Swanes will do me a standard next year , thanks

Maree, I am a dumb bugger, but if you are looking for a standard that is compact "HT'S" are out. HT's will always shoot long canes, so if you are looking for a round/compact/fragrant rose you will have to look at Floribundas IMO.

Roseman , you are no dumb bugger thats for sure , and you are exactly right , exactly about hybrid teas but after staring at my standard rose garden for months and colours going around and around in my head , tonight in cool after a 40 degreee day , and again staring at the standard garden , its finally coming together , the roses i want to put in , will go and firefighter will stay with its stakes lol !!! Floribundas , hybrid teas , i just go for fragrance and colour but i do prefer HT's ,i do like bush floribundas for the windy front of the house , where they are much more resiliant though .....