I planted this rose as a small band in the summer of 2012. It didn't bloom last year, but it grew well and remained disease-free for the entire season in spite of our heavy blackspot pressure. It survived an extremely harsh winter and produced four good-sized buds this year (2014). It bloomed for the first time today, and the flowers are a dark, rich reddish purple and beautifully shaped. The flowers have a nice fragrance and stand up well to the rain.

Of the Barden hybrid gallicas, I also grow Marianne, Umbra, Gallicandy, and Allegra. At this point, Rook and Umbra seem to be most disease-resistant, while Marianne and Umbra are the heaviest bloomers.