I didn't grow either when I lived in So Cal, but have grown RdO here in the Sacto area. Buff Beauty is pretty stiff and this makes it more of a challenge to train as a climber than RdO. We did train BB as a climber in the cemetery, draped it around a headstone, but had big rebar arches on which to tie it. Makes sure there is something to tie it to if you place it along a wall.
In my experience, RdO blooms more continuously and more often, BB seems to have true flushes. Both are beautiful. I planted RdO at home and it scampered up a pine tree. Looked great cascading down (until I had to trim the tree and cut back the rose). No way would BB do that.

Here is a link that might be useful: Buff beauty over headstone in cemetery

Yeah, RdO would be my choice too.

I live more inland and have grown both roses. In my experience Buff Beauty bloomed heavily in the spring and not very prolifically at all thereafter. I also wasn't fond of its stiff growth habit. I adore Reve d'Or as it bloomed very often and had a more limber, easily trainable growth habit, with not many thorns to boot. BB lasts longer in the vase and has more petals, but it never won my heart the way RdO did.

Ingrid

I'm in southeast Texas, so my input may not be as pertinent as the opinion of others growing these roses in your area, but I can say that, after having grown both of these roses, I find Rev d'Or to be the more rewarding rose. Buff Beauty has blooms that are, IMO, more beautiful and more fragrant, but RdO is easier to train and blooms more frequently.
Molly

reve d'or

In my experience (inland with little whiffs of coastal influence from time to time), Buff Beauty, in the ground 11 years, 7' tall x 3' wide x 20' long along a wood fence, is the more easily controlled climber ("mannerly" is a description that fits it well). Reve d'Or is young (3 year in the ground) and, as I discovered today while working with her, already has 15' canes heading everywhere and amok, like every other tea-noisette I have, though they are certainly more flexible than those of Buff Beauty. I think Reve d'Or is going to be more of a challenge to control in the future than Buff Beauty has been.

Reve d'Or does bloom more often than Buff Beauty, who is more flush-y, though with fewer blooms (but she's young).

The character of the blooms differ, with Reve d'Or usually (ironically) more "buff" than Buff Beauty and more slinky/silky. Buff Beauty's blooms are fuller, more "fou-fou" and frilly. Below are photos of mine from last spring.

Buff Beauty:

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Reve d'Or

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Thanks for the feedback so far! Beautiful photos!

It seems fairly reasonable to deduce that Reve d'Or is the more prolific bloomer from your experiences. That probably means a bit more than just about anything in this case to my mom. I feel good about RdO for the friend still.

One rose that I forgot to ask about -and will start a topic for- is Mel's Heritage. Any of the same folks have experience with Mel's Heritage? It is quite the beauty and has the reputation of being very prolific. Pink is fine by my mom, and this would be for her in the spot slated for a wide and large shrub/climber/rambler against a wall.

Jay

Have you thought of Crepuscule? I have both BB and Rev in pots waiting to be planted.......but Crepuscule is one of my very favorite roses - blooms its head off, mostly thornless, pliable branches......a great rose!!
Judith