I’ve had first crush for 5 years. It started slow but now gets dozens of full pink blooms all summer long. The smell is amazing too- both to me and Japanese beetles so this is the rose I collect beetles from every morning to keep them at bay. My bush is now about 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide. No issue with fungus and leaves are beautiful too. Zone 6b.
Watch the video provided for best results this first year. Very happy with the health and vigor.
First crush has always been care free. Resisting black spot (in Arkansas and never had it) blooms like a fiend. I have several Kordes roses .. they are my favorites as far as faithful blooms and hardy.
I have +50 roses in my garden, almost all of them I have bought them at Heirloom Roses. I planted First Crush in an area that doesn’t get much sun in the morning but some in the afternoon. I will say it is in partial shade, nonetheless it is thriving, growing slowly but has strong canes and the foliage is luscious and resistant to black spot which is a real problem in my area (6b Maryland, north of DC). Blooms have a nice scent and are pink/cream colored but don’t last for a long time. It was a nice addition to the garden and provides some brightness on that particular spot. I treat my roses for black spot and even with that there are always leaves that get the disease, this is not the case with this particular rose.