First Prize was new to the garden in 1998, it was obtained as one of a plant in a set of Bare Root Jackson and Perkins Rogue roses from their clearance catalog. They sell you a set of roses you wouldn't normally buy because the plants are small at a very deep discount.

The plant is doing well in the garden, it developed many prolific eyes within ten days of being in the garden. Buds had formed within three weeks of it being planted, very quick for this area. The flowers have an unusual shape, the buds start out as very long and narrow.

Light lavender to pink flowers formed on a very tight classic well shaped center. In July the flowers were still small, but that was probably due to the fact the plant was still very small.

It produced flowers on a monthly basis it's first year and grew to be 34 inches tall and 22 inches wide.