Your request has been siting for 3 days so time to tell you about growing it in the zone 3a prairie so take the info at marginal value to you since your in zone 5.

Anyways, I have been growing it 5 years and protected from winter and it's what I would call a mid-range tolerant bourbon for winter die back - not as robust as Louise Odier and Prince Napoleon, but vastly superior to Zéphirine Drouhin for cane retention.

It's has very distinctive pale green foliage (not unhealthy pale) that I find attractive and very distinct leaf form when compared to other bourbons. The leaf form to my eyes borders on "columnar" and they have very gentle crenulations - not induced by powdery mildew. All round the foliage makes for an attractive bush as the leaves tend to also droop like a weeping fig.

It is a late bloomer in my garden mainly because it is in partial shade. It's not unusual for the first bloom to occur in late July.

The blooms have a high frequency of being malformed, but when you get a perfect one it has a very appealing double form with a mid to strong distinction between the pink and white markings. Acceptable fragrance but not in the same league as Prince Napoleon, MIP or Louise Odier. The blooms are about 2 inches in size.

It, as for most of my bourbons, has a susceptibility to powdery mildew. Black spot pressure is low in my area.

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Very pretty, Riku! Speaking as a member of the audience, thanks for the information. Melissa

Riku, Thank you. It certainly is a beauty. What you say about 'Prince Napoleon' is intriguing. Maybe next year...

What a lovely rose, somewhat reminiscent of Honorine de Brabant. I've wanted to grow an old striped rose since the modern ones are too garish for my taste but have yet to find one for my climate area. I did grow Honorine but she had few flowers that wilted quickly, although it was a shapely, healthy bush.

Ingrid

Ingrid, Versa Gallica, AKA Rosa Mundi is supposed to be a good one. Apparently the ARS gives it a 9.

It is the first verigated rose so they say.

Here is a link that might be useful: Rosa Mundi

Rosa Mundi is a good one, but short. I grow Variagota di Bologna which blooms 3-4 days, then it's done. This hot wind comes up about that time and it seems to hate that. Last year it made a sport back to red. It gets about 4 feet here.
I've often wondered what it would do in Seattle.

triple-b, I'm afraid if I were to grow Rosa Mundi in Southern California it would have a permanent fainting fit. Also, I really prefer re-bloomers.

I lived in BC for five years, first on Vancouver Island and then in various places on the mainland. It really is a very beautiful province.

Ingrid

AAAAAHHHH Vancouver Island. One of my favorite places in the world. My outlaws live there in Campbell River and we spend a few days there almost every year. The ferry ride is glorious too.