Yes, thats likely 'Maxima'. Its certainly not 'Semi-plena'.

Thank you very much for the ID, Trospero!

I was hoping you would address the lack of scent. I know some roses need to became well established before they display fully all their attributes, including fragrance. I read on your website that you have a very old plant of Maxima, but perhaps you have younger specimens, too?

I would like to think that, in time, my plant will develop the famous Alba fragrance! The ground has blue clay in that spot but we did amend the whole bed heavily with manure and raised it a bit before planting this rose. And it has rained an awful lot this year ... that's all I can think of.

Thanks anyway!

MayBee

Certainly looks like Alba Maxima, but how odd that you aren't picking up fragrance. I have a reasonably young Maxima, and it has always been highly fragrant here.

But I also have experienced other "highly fragrant" roses I grow, which under the right (or should I say "wrong"?) conditions have had periods where they were virtually scentless. So conditions certainly seem to be capable of "robbing" a rose's scent production.

May next year favor you!

Bon chance,

Bill

MayBee, I grow Madame Plantier, Reine des Violettes and Tuscany Superb. The first two are always highly fragrant in bloom while Tuscany Superb is moderately fragrant. They are all currently in bloom and all are totally scentless this year and I have no idea why. I've grown them for five years and this is the first time this has happened. I haven't done anything different growing them this year then I have in the past. I'm so disappointed because I was really looking forward to them filling the garden with fragrance.

I just wanted to let you know this so that if your rose is Alba Maxima then perhaps her scent will return next spring.

As Bob said, May the next year favor you (and me too).

Cherrie

Bill, your comments triggered a vague memory ... there WAS a week last year when Alba's flowers started to release a sweet but delicate perfume. I noticed it more than my hubby. If I remember correctly, the weather was hot then, whereas this year conditions have been unbelievably wet and cool. Something else: Kazanlik (flowering here for the first time this year) seemed to be more fragrant at the start of the flush, which coincidentally took place in hot, dry weather! Well, you've given me hope, thank you!! And thanks also for confirming the Maxima ID. All the best,

MayBee

Cherrie,

That is really interesting (although I'm sorry for you!). Have you noticed any relationship to the weather? I wonder if your Reine des Violettes will regain her perfume later in the season? Anyway, thanks a lot for that insight, I'm sure with both your good wishes my Alba Maxima will smell great next year!

MayBee

MayBee,
We have had one of the coolest springs on record for my area so perhaps that is a factor in the loss of fragrance. It is interesting that your spring was usually cool also. Even though our spring was unusually cool, my roses started blooming almost two weeks earlier than usual. I never would have expected that to happen. It makes no sense to me as I thought that roses needed lots of heat for their booms to open.

I will have to keep my eyes on Reine des Violettes to see if I can detect her fragrance as summer progresses. I'll be sure to post again to this message if or when her fragrance returns.

Have a wonderful rose growing season!
Cherrie

And you, too, Cherrie!

Our roses were 2 weeks early as well! Gertrude Jekyll was first on April 8, we did have some sunny, warm weather in April, but very variable and lots of rain, too.

I've just done a sniff test. We grow 50 varieties and they are all said to be fragrant, some more than others. The strongest scents right now (to my nose) are the fruit-based and "old rose" or damask types. With these exceptions: Ispahan and Ena Harkness: no scent at all; and WS 2000: has been stronger.

On the plus side, I've been blown away by Albertine (now finished) and Partridge (just starting). Also new this year and exquisitely fragrant: A Shropshire Lad and Evelyn.

Thanks again for your response, Cherrie, I am interested to know how your Reine does later on.

All the best,

MayBee