If I wanted a superb white Austin like rose, I'd rush right over to Austin's site and order his new one: Clair Austin. It seems to have everything going for it. THe only reason I'm not ordering it is that I have absolutely no space left for another rose.

Kate

I've had Claire Austin for a year now and so far it's been a superb rose, always many blooms, strong grower, extremely healthy, but the scent is only moderate.

Andrea

I have my eye on the new one, Claire Austin, but they may be sold out of her this year already. There is also a white sport of Heritage called Rose-Marie which is a good rose.

A rose you may wish to consider would be the shrub rose Summer Memories. The white blooms are fragrant, very double (like Austins), and the bush stays around 3' with continuous bloom.

Dana

Here is a link that might be useful: Summer Memories

Hi CJ, I'll recommend Louisa Stone by Harkness.

Big blooms on a compact mannerly plant & the blooms seem to open well. (Though I remember we've had different experiences with Tiffany in that department, so YMMV.)

Reads as a white (with a bit of blush) in the landscape. Good disease resistance no spray (though can suffer from rust.) I'd say mild-medium fragrance but it wafts when conditions are right. I've had mine 8? years and I don't think it's ever hit 3x3.

Available from Pickering. It was also sold as Guinevere by Jackson & Perkins a couple years ago, not sure now.

Dawn

Here is a link that might be useful: louisa stone at helmpefind

CJ, I have just the rose for you. The Austin rose Dove is right up your alley, White in color, although it can open slightly pink in cool weather it has a strong scent and reaches to four feet tall and wide and not much more. At Heirloom roses the group they have planted are right next to the sprinklers and they open well without getting brown spots on the petals. It is also very resistant to blackspot. I just checked the Heirloom Roses website and it is available.

Lance

Thanks everyone for your great suggestions! I'm going to check out Claire Austin, Summer Memories, Louisa Stone (I also have a weakness for Harkness roses), and Dove. It's great to have options and know about your experiences. Thanks again! CJ

People seem to suggest Fair Bianca alot so I thought I'd chime and and say she wasn't so fair in my experience. She was VERY black spot prone and I did not care for the myrrh fragrance. She no longer resides in my garden. I'm not sure this helps that much but at least maybe it rules one out--at least from my experience. Jeff

'Bolero', the Meilland rose has been very good here. Strong citrus fragrance, pure white flower, compact growth habit.

I like Bolero for form and fragrance I also had Louisa Stone for 3 years it may have just been the bush but it wanted to grow more like a ground cover.

My Bolero was also very pretty and superbly scented, although it didn't do so well in my garden, hobbling along with quite a bit of canker and dieback and no vigor. But I think I got a weak plant to begin with, and the location was probably a bit too wet.

As to Fair Bianca, it was absolutely superb in my garden. The plant was always in bloom, had a very delicious variation of myrrh (usually I can't stand myrrh), was quite healthy (but certainly not BS bullet proof) and very mannerly in its growth without being weak. But I've heard others, like Jeff here, stating that it didn't do well for them.

Andrea

I have Claire Austin, just planted, and Bolero on order. I have heard excellent reports on Bolero. For a smaller white rose - I was at Chamblees yesterday and bought Baby Alberic. It was blooming and had small but beautiful hybrid type blooms, also some that were cabbagy. It was lovely and I couldnt resist.
Judith

Judtih, hope you'll let us know how these do for you. I don't grow DA's here, too fussy, but am veryveryvery interested in how Baby Alberic does for you. Andrea, if I were to try a white DA I think it'd be Fair Bianca if I could figure out where to get a healthy one. CJ--don't know how she is in your climate but Madame Plantier is a white rose any breeder would be proud to claim. This oldie but goodie is as gorgeous as Mme. Hardy to my eyes, and will succeed in milder climates. You might like Lamarque, the climbing noisette, too. And to round out worthy whites that aren't DA's but are great garden performers, Faith Whittelesey. Tooo big? well Ducher then.
Stop me now!

If you live in Oregon, you have two excellent rose nurseries in your state to choose from. Heirloom, in particular, offers many Austen and Harkness varieties, as well as the hybrids bred by their late founder, John Clements. If I were growing in Oregon, I would look for a Clements cultivar, which ought to do well in your climate.

Rogue Valley Roses is offering Proud Titania this year, a small bush with light pink flowers. It seems to be a cold climate substitute for SDLM. If you like pale pink, that might be one to look at.

'Fair Bianca': nice blooms, spectacular scent, no vigor, constantly suffering from Blackspot. It met Mr. Shovel.