My Belle flowers only once and is blooming right now. She is huge with stiff, large canes that are hard to control. I have seen this rose covering a 15' tall fence and growing well beyond it and easily twice that wide in each direction to the sides. This rose can grow an amazing amount of wood and leaves from what I have seen. Trained hard to a support, it has a modest amount of flowers. I think you have to let it get big to have a nice display. Mine never looks happy on its support, it always reaches out in every direction as if trying to snare someone for dinner. Also, I have heard this rose does not grow where it gets very cold.

It can "eat" a big tree. 20 ft., 30 ft.
On two occasions, I've seen huge, very old ones draped from the top to the bottom of a huge old tree, with swags of blooms draping all over. It's a heart-stopping, breathtaking sight. I've seen two like that -- but once seen, never forgotten.
It's not a terribly COMMON sight, because who has room for such a thing?
The blooms are big, and loose -- the bloom size AND plant size come from R. gigantea.

I've actually seen limited repeat from a very old plant in Southern California -- but that's rare, I think.

I wish every one of you an opportunity to see a really old one in full flush one day.

Jeri

Does it rebloom? If so, think of Susan Louise.

I have planted Susan Louise, its repeat-blooming version. I bought it at the Sacramento Cemetary old rose event two years ago, and I think of our friend Eduarda when I look at it, our own 'Belle Portugaise'. So far it is slow to start. That is all right with me. Actually I'm hoping that as with many repeat-blooming roses, it is a little less vigorous that its once-blooming parent. I have it growing on a trellis by my chimney, and will happy if it stays in the 15 foot range. Much bigger and I'll be wrestling to keep it under control.

Rosefolly

Two distintive characteristics of Belle Portugasie everyone will notice immediately: the buds, which are long, tall and extremely elegant; and the powdery mildew, which is universal. New growth is nodding with a russet cast. The bloom period is variable with the winter cold or the rainy season. Here in Zone 9a it will bloom as early as December or as late as March. The scent is not very distinct, tho when the whole plant is in bloom, you will notice a slight flowery scent. The color is a warmer pink than any of the photos on HelpMeFind.

Here is a link that might be useful: Belle Port

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Hmmm, if Susan Louise gets bad powdery mildew, it will be replaced. There are too many wonderful climbers to endure martyrs. I'll wait and see.

Susan Louise is much cleaner than Belle Port, Rosefolly, not to worry. It doesn't even get PM in Mildew Valley. I seriously doubt the reported parentage that SL is a sport of Belle Port. Yes, they are similar but far from identical. Belle Port is enormous, while Susan Louise is only 12 feet tall. The bloom is not identical, with SL having fewer petals. Belle Port is a true climber, blooming on laterals. SL is a huge, Paul Bunyan Tea, with typical Tea growth tho rather bare at the base, tree-like. It really resents pruning and will skip the spring flush if you prune it. Don't bother and keep all the ratty twiggy stuff around the base or it will go bare by year 4.

Thanks all for your information. It is official.. It is Belle Portugaise. The canes are 20-25 long. It is amazing! This is the second year it has been in the ground.

My Aunt saved it from being sent to the dump from someones back yard in Walnut Creek. It is a keeper for her hilly, dry, sunny, poor soil yard.

Daun

Thanks for the information, Cass. I'm going to wait and see that happens. I've had the sleep year and the creep year, so now I'm expecting this to be the leap year, no matter what the calendar actually tells me.

Daun, I wish your aunt much pleasure from her Belle Portugaise.

Rosefolly

Rosefolly,

Across the valley from you I have two 11 yo SLs next to each other along a 6' fence facing east that are about 9' tall and in full bloom right now. They will continue to bloom into December. Each year they grow about 2' and each winter I take that 2' off. They do stay bare for the first 3', but are disease free for me.

Agree, it is not a climber, but a big bush.

Actually, right now, my blooms have more petals than BP and the blooms are a little smaller and more organized. The petal count will be somewhat less and the blooms more blowzy later in the year.

One of my favorites.

Da Kernel

Kernel, actually bare legs on climberish or tallish roses don't bother me much. I can always plant something in front of them. I'm looking forward to seeing what SL does here this year. Your words are encouraging.

Rosefolly

I wonder if 'Susan Louise' is the result of cross-pollination, or self-pollination... HMF is misleading when it says SL was a sport of BP, though; read the references and it becomes apparent that this was a seedling, and perhaps even the result of an intentional cross.

....and now I just need to find it. I've been looking for a rose for a certain particular spot and it sounds like 'Susan Louise' is the one.

Melissa

Hi Melissa,
I'm going to plant 'Belle Portugaise' in my garden, but I also like to have 'Susan Louise' (I cannot imagine WHERE... but it doesn't means!). You can find this beautiful Gigantea Hybrid in Italy at "Le Rose di Piedimonte" ;o)

Ciao! :o)