I only have one, Jeanne d'Arc. As long as it gets enough food, water, and spraying it seems to do okay. I have been having a problem with canker dieback ever since that awful Easter 07 freeze, however. I keep pruning, but the problem persists. I do not believe it is related to high heat. As long as you get a cold period to trigger the flowering cycle, you should be okay with albas in general.

I hope they can....I just got a M. Legras de St. Germain! I see that a couple of texas nurseries carry it, to we'll see.
molly

I have tried Albas and they always burned up..I have tried putting them where they just got morning sun and shade the rest of the day, and they still burned..I have given up..at least on Amelia...

I've got Konigen von Danemark, Celestial, Alba Semi-plena, and Felicite Parmentier all if FULL BLASTING BLAZING sun all day, and they seem to love it. I did have Mme. Plantier (part Noisette) in too much sun, and the flowers wilted in the afternoon heat, so I moved her to morning sun only. I'm trying Mme. Legras de Germain in dappled sun. Pompon Blanc Parfait gets some relief from the sun. So far so good for me. I love this class.

Robert

They're fine here in Sacramento.
Anita

Thank you for all the responses. I will cross my fingers and hope for the best. The Gallicas, Damasks and Centifloras I have do well here, so maybe will Albas.

Melva, when you say "burned up", do you mean died from the heat or just looked bad?

I read that Albas can take a fair amount of shade and planted Mme. Plantier in a place where she got less than full sun. She didn't bloom at all until I moved her, after several years, to a spot that's in full sun. Now she's a virtual bloom factory every spring. Ofcourse there are the facts that (a) Mme Plantier blooms only once a year, and (b) isn't universally classified with the Albas. Perhaps if she bloomed all season long I'd find that she can't take the summer heat in my garden.

I mean dead, dead, dead...Amelia at least ...
Ponpom Parfait did well for me but Amelia...sigh...and she is so pretty!

They can take heat, in my experience, but the bloom lasts only about two weeks, as opposed to, legend has it, a glorious 6 weeks display in colder climates. You might try a northern exposure with some shade. Mine did nicely planted right at the dripline of some locust trees. The water requirement is quite moderate, and if they are planted next to your lawn--if you still have one of those--watering the lawn will also give the albas the moisture they need. After the bloom is over, they make very nice trellises for morning glories.

I may try Amelia again....

Melva I read in several sources that Alba Amelia is the same rose as Damask Celciana, so probably it is really damask not Alba. I grew this rose myself here and flowers fried even here. It is very pretty, but I agree that leaves and buds look more like damask to me too. I think you should try some "real" Alba, like Maxima, Semiplena, etc. They are wonderful and take heat very well here. For me all my Albas are in full day sun and summers are quite hot here. High nineties for several weeks and quite often it heats 100.
Olga

I am so happy to read these reports. Many of the Old Europeans I currently have experience a "tired-and-wore-out" period that comes around late-September, the foliage falls prey to some crud. Then they look pretty nasty until the leaves fall off. But many of my hot-zone roses do this as well.
I love the Old Europeans, hope I can get them to work for me here in hot summer Texas.

Thanks for the reports!!!

I am not sure if it is the heat or the humidity that they do not like but my experience this far south is that they will not tolerate our heat/humidity.

The plants are fine, but if they wait to bloom until the heat of late spring or early summer, as they do here, the bloom can be short-lived.

berndoodle's warning is a wise one, I think. 'Blanche de Beligique' appears to be particularly untroubled by drought, heat, sun, wind.
Melissa

Ah yes, Texas heat. Last year I spent in Dallas there were over 90 consecutive days that were over 95 degrees, with little or no temperature drop at night. Zone 8 Texas is sure a whold different beast than z8 Virginia, is all I can say! Have removed a whole bunch of albas, damasks, and gallicas which got 8 hours of afternoon sun-- they just never performed like they do in cooler areas. Replaced with teas, chinas and noisettes and garden is much prettier! I do love the once blooming OGR's, but Mme. Plantier is the only one I grow here.

Madame Plantier is the only that was long-lived for me in zone 10, southern California about 2 miles inland from the ocean and definitely marine-layer affected about 85% of the time. I tried some others and they only lasted 2 years.

I could be wrong, but I believe I've read that the Romans grew R. x alba semi-plena in their gardens. If so I expect it can stand heat.

In my 6b garden at 37degrees north, the bloom period always happens but is woefully short in length. Nastarena summed it up well.
Here albas bloom in mid May.
The early blooming yellow old garden roses bloom much, much earlier, and their blooms last several weeks.

Oh, these reports don't sound so promising. But I am hoping our lack of relative humidity will be the key. Though I am pretty close to Dallas, 200 miles NW, the climates are very different.
Now I will close my fingers on the other hand and continues to hope for the best... They did pretty well last summer as tiny little bands, so we shall see.

As you say, 200 miles in Texas can make a huge difference in climate, soil, humidity, evening temps, etc.
90 miles to the east of Dallas, there are dense pine forests, "southern-style" humidity, and azaleas can just be plopped into the native soil.
Since you are on the other side of Dallas, with cooler evenings and even less humidity, these roses just might do fine for you northwest of Dallas.
I'll be interested in hearing your results.

There used to be an 'Apothocary Rose' growing in a local garden in my suburb. I was thankful to get to see this historic plant "in person". I went back to see it in the spring in hopes of getting a look at its blooms, but it was dead. So, I've still never seen a gallica's bloom up close and personal.

Randy

They definitely have no problem with heat, per se. I grew quite a few varieties in Fresno, and they all grew like mad and bloomed very well. The only problem there wasn't the heat, but hoplia beetles (the Valley part of California's answer to Japanese Beetles) which loved them. I think they can take any amount of heat in summer as long as they get a good winter chill, which they got in Fresno, and you'll get in NW Texas. The combination of heat and humidity? I'm not sure about that. I think even there they're OK as long as they get that winter chilling, which for most of the probably is similar to the average chilling needs of apples.

--Ron

Oh, what a good report, Ron. I so want my albas to do well. I figured they might work here, as all the other Old European varieties I have tried are working thus far. We have such mad temperature swings that just wreck modern varieties.
Randy, you would love gallicas. All those really old types just have something different I have yet to see any modern. My Apothecary is still just a little thing, may have a bloom in a few weeks.

Randy,
Come and see my roses I have a number of Gallicas, and they are lovely...

Greybird,

Last winter I planted 'Queen of Denmark' (Konigin von Danemark) from David Austin Roses, and I am not kidding you-- It has been THE TOUGHEST rose I have ever grown. I can't recall one spot or mildew patch. The only damage was a few holes from japanese beetles and mild aphid outbreaks. Too bad it only blooms once. The summer temps here are regularly above 90 degrees, and it holds it's tough dark grey-green foliage until dormancy. I'll report back to tell you how it blooms, if you would like. If it continues with it's vigor and disease resistance, this will be a sure keeper. I completely recommend it!

Floweryearth,

Totally cool!!!

Foliage report sounds great!! I was worried more about the leaves than the bloom, gotta look at those most of the year. I can't wait to hear your bloom report!!

Thank you!!!!

Greybird,

I'm not so sure that I'll get a good bloom this year b/c most of the growth came on later in the year, so I don't know if the wood had enough time to mature (so that the buds can flower). I do know that if it doesn't bloom this year, next year will be amazing.

Anyway, I can almost 100% assure you that the foliage will look good through the growing season. Not that it matters, but I remember that last year this was my first rose to go to sleep. Reine des Violettes never did.

You might check the rose inventory list of San Jose Heritage Rose Garden, in summer their temperatures are often in the 90's, and sometimes through the low 100'sF. They grow a few Alba, Centifolia, and Gallica's.
Though San Jose is only a few dozen miles from San Francisco, San JOse is quite a bit warmer and dryer, and summer temperatures are often in the 90'sF when S.F is in the 70's to 80'sF.

I've grown white 'Rose of York', and the lovely Damask 'Celsiana' (which I prefer to the Alba Celestial') with success.
I've seen Mme. Plantier' blooming normally beneath a canopy of a 40 foot evergreen tree, in Northern California.
LUx

Very interesting to read how these roses do in other parts of the world. I am surpriced to see that you bother about them, knowing that you can easily choose teas and noisettes. When I was a boy in the 1980's I remember my grandfather had to special order Maiden's Blush in the fall from a nursery that delivered to all the garden centers in our area. Everybody knew this rose, but it was hopeless to find for sale anywhere. This was when Austin roses were hard to get hold of, and few new them very well. Things have changed and they are much easier to buy now, several garden centers have them. There was a time when most propagated these roses from cuttings and suckers as any amateur gardener.

I think Maiden's Blush, Felicite Parmentier and Konigin von Danemark have a reputation of heat tolerance. 6 weeks is a minimum of flowering here, but summers are cool. Many have found that as a plant Felicite Parmentier can handle all most any challenge, but if spring is too dry she might not form buds at all. I live in Norway, but have family in south of France, and summers can be hot there too. These roses do well there.

Pom Pom Blanc Parfait led a miserable existance in the morning-only sun spot I gave it. Within 3 years it went from a healthy specimen to two dead sticks. I did see it exhibited by a local rosarian, though.

A couple years ago I picked up Belle Amour started as a cutting from a local garden. Belle Amour is another rose that seems to be listed either as an Alba or a Damask. So far, the bush proves to be slow-growing and hasn't bloomed but I'm patient with my OGRs.

Greybird,

Celestial
Armide
York and Lancaster, etc.

There are several more that I have had success. Yes, that's right success. Greybird, they are worth growing.

I understand wanting them...the history, etc. that is why I have many gallicas and other of the Old Europeans..it is borderline for them here, but you are zone 9? Surely there are some that will do well, you just have to try them and see.
Some of the Hybrid Chinas might do allright...

Sorry I was thinking of the person in South Florida...you are in the same zone as me and that Lisa...you should be able to grow some of the Old European Roses...Some of mine do well and I have three gallicas that I got from ARE...they are found roses and they do great! 'Canary Island' was found in San Antonio....

I liken my old European collection to an art collection. These roses were the focal points of many famous artists and sculptures. Forget the copy, I own the original in my garden! So, whenever I want to paint or photograph them... they are there.

Hi again greybird :-)

If it was me, I would take the chance and plant them. There is good chance they will surprice you nicely. I too love the fragrance and flower-shape. Even if all romance of history is taken away, these are roses well worth growing. I once again recomend Maiden's Blush, Felicite Parmentier and Koenigin von Danemark.

Good luck !

Here it is August and we have had our usual intolerable highs of 100+ on and off all summer. Just horrible, plus the unusually high humidity.

The report is yes, Albas CAN take the heat. Wow, can they!

I am impressed with this fine class of rose. The little twigs I planted last fall are now 3-4 feet tall, full and bushy, easily the healthiest roses in my garden, not a spot or sunburn anywhere. They get the blasting Texas sun from sun-up to about 7 pm. And the several still in 2 gallon containers are beautiful and growing like crazy as well. I would heartily recommend Albas to anyone who has winter chill, even if their summers are very hot.

Greybird,
I'm happy your Albas are doing well, and thanks for checking back to let us know! I too grow Albas in a mild climate, with winter chill and summer heat. 'Maiden's Blush', 'Alba Maxima', 'Queen of Denmark', and 'Blanche de Belgique' are proven performers here. I have several others and have no complaints about them at all, but they're too new for me to be able to form a judgement about them. 'Celestial' may be fussier than some others. I'm also experimenting with Damasks for sun and heat. 'Quatre Saisons' is great! Others are newer in my garden.
Enjoy your old roses!
Melissa

Mine (semiplena) is in its second year has done great so far. I expect that the bloom period to be somewhat short normally. It wasn't so hot this past spring as it can be, and the blossoms were great. They weren't very numerous since it is still small. It will take another couple of years to really know. I'd get another one, if I can find the space.

Melissa, I agree about Celestial, but isn't the light blue-green foliage gorgeous! I have the others you mentioned except BdB, all exceptional. And Damasks love the sun and heat.
Mkrkmr, the bloom period for mine it in their first year was nonexistant, with the very late hard freeze following unseasonal warm weeks late feb-march. I'm glad to hear the blooms were great, even though small. I hope for a decent spring 2010...

Only Madame Plantier lasted here (coastal so. CA). I've planted Konigen, CLestial, Maiden's Blush, and they did well the first 2 years, then faded in health. Madame Plantier is often found in very old gardens in so. Caifornia. It's a beauty and easy. The Huntington Gardens have a beautiful white Alba that is quite large, but inland areas get more winter chill than the coast.

I think the point is that Albas can take summer heat and drought as long as they get winter chill. They're supposed to be related to dog roses, which are common and thriving where I live. It's not surprising that Albas do well also.
'Mme. Plantier' is rumored to be an Alba-Noisette cross, and perhaps can do without winter chill because of its Noisette ancestry. I read in an old book on Florida gardening that it has been used as a rootstock there, which suggests it doesn't mind a semi-tropical climate.
Melissa

Thought I'd jump in and add that I'm gardening in coastal northern CA with little winter chill and Maiden's Blush, Madame Plantier and Belle Amour (I have 2 as I love the myrrh fragrance) do well for me even growing in part shade. I also have a new Blush Hip and hope it will also do well.

Diane