Question
QUESTION: Hi Lynnette,
I live in zone 6B.  Can you recommend roses that are good for cutting, relatively disease  free, have a good rebloom, and tolerate part shade (about 5 hours of direct sun during summer)?  Thank you.

ANSWER: 6B should be a good zone for rose growing and 5 hours of direct sun is okay for certain classifications of roses such as Hybrid Musks and many Modern Shrubs. The queen of the cutting roses are the Hybrid Teas and they usually will last the longest. However 5 hours of sun is on the borderline of what they want. I will give you a few suggestions on some that should do okay on a limited amount of sunshine. I can promise you right away that when a breeder comes up with a disease free Hybrid Tea that will tolerate less sun and last in a vase, they will make a fortune! This type of rose really hasn't been bred as yet. There is a classification that will do well in your situation and those are the Hybrid Musks. They will bloom well all season long, have very good disease resistance amd are fragrant but.... their vase life is not a long one. If a rose is a good one for cutting, then 5 days is really all you can expect from it as they start to die as soon as they are picked. Cutting them in the evening or very early morning, then cutting the stems under water, plus putting a few drops of bleach and some sugar in the water plus cutting the stems daily, will help them to last. Here are four Hybrid Teas that don't seem to mind a little shade and are fragrant except Elina.
Double Delight
Mr. Lincoln
Granada
Elina
Some roses that do need more sun but are good for cutting.
French Lace
Mr. Lincoln
Duet
Deep Purple
Gold Medal
Honor
Iceberg
New day
Olympiad
Paradise
Touch of Class
Sunset Celebration
Fame
If you want to grow other roses than the Hybrid Teas please get in touch again and I will give you a list of other classifications that should do well for you but all will not last well in a vase. Hope this helps.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your help.

Can you please recommend some other kinds, lasting in the vase is not as important to me as their thriving.  If you know of any roses that would do well with the 5 hours of sun, grow no more than 4 feet tall, and resist disease, then I think vase life is not so important.

I do have a spot that gets a lot of sun, maybe 7 hours a day, but it tends to be a bit crowded with other perennials, so I am not sure any rose would do well with the lack of air circulation.  I should mention that I live in Connecticut, on the border of NY state, so summers are hot and humid.

So maybe you can recommend roses for each location, if you know of any.

I appreciate your help.

Laura  

Answer
I have mentioned a class of roses called Hybrid Musks here are a few of the best ones for 3 hours of full sun. All have good disease resistance. Prune back by a half to keep at 4 feet.
Felicia...5 hours  better
Buff Beauty...some shade okay
Prosperity...some shade okay
Penelope...best for the least amount of sunshine.
Modern shrubs that will do okay with 5 hours of sun.
Bonica
Out of Yesteryear
Baby Blanket...spreads prune back to half
Christopher Marlowe...spreads prune back to half
Marie Pavie
Ambridge Rose
Cinderella Fairy Tale...prune back by a half to keep bushy.
There are some excellent rose nurseries which do mail order so you should be able to get all of these roses from them.
Here are a couple of my favourites.
Ashdown Roses
Roses Unlimited has ADR roses
ADR roses are European ones that have been tested for 10 years and have excellent disease resistance.
Palatine Roses (Canada) ADR but ships to the States