I used to have The Alnwick Rose. I've attempted growing this rose twice and in conclusion, there are three things that I don't like about it: 1) Most of the time, the scent is not always present. A huge let down. 2) the flower form is small and the petals scatter quickly. 3) I don't like the colour - it fades quickly to a glistering white/ pale pink colour. The only good thing about this rose is that it repeats quite fast.

I grew this rose quite a few years ago. I found it to be extremely bad to blackspot. I loved the bloom....and thought I could plant it in a spot where I would be most likely to spray it and thereby enjoying beautiful blooms and a healthy bush, but other things took priority and I wasn't able to spray on a regular schedule. I replaced it, don't have plans to plant it again anytime soon, but I think if someone really loved it, didn't have a bunch of other roses, 40 horses, a bunch of chickens, 30 acres, a big house, ad nauseum, to keep up with.........it could be a beautiful rose. I seem to recall pegging it - it grew long canes and it bloomed better that way. I say if you love it - plant where you can peg it, plan to spray regularly and am sure you will have a lovely rose. I tried that with Angel Face too........it needs to be sprayed all the time. Finally got tired of that, and now have Plum Perfect which is nearly the same color - not quite the ethereal beauty Angel Face is, but has healthy foliage! As you know..........east Texas and blackspot can be synonymous.... Why not try it once? The Antique Rose Emporium grows it and doesn't worry about the blackspot........It really is a lovely rose........By the way, if you don't have Plum Perfect, add that to your list when you go to Chamblees. Judith

That's a fun comparison: Earth Angel vs. Alnwick Castle. I have both of them also, growing across the path from each other. The similarities: They both can have cupped flowers, they both have good fragrance, and they are both upright growers that don't get much disease. The differences, whether good or bad are up to you: Flowers first. Earth Angel has mostly white flowers with a pale pink center. They are extremely susceptible to thrips damage. They remain cupped in the heat. In my garden they grow in tight clusters. They require deadheading. Alnwick Castle has pastel pink flowers solid color all the way through that are non-fading. They don't show thrips damage. They open up in the heat, showing a frilly center. They grow in looser clusters. They drop their petals when the flowers fade. AC's flowers tend to nod slightly with first flush. EA's flowers are upright. Flower size is about the same in each, about 2-1/2" in my garden. EA's flowers last 4-5 days on the bush, AC's flowers last 2-3 days. They both grow and bloom in the heat. Taken today after a month or more of temps in the 90's and humidity ranging from the single digits to 30's. Earth Angel today: Thrips! I think my Earth Angel looks best like this (first flush): Alnwick Castle today: It can open up in the heat and become more coral: I think it looks best like this (first flush): Fragrance: Earth Angel's first blooms for me smelled like a wet dog, but now has very sweetly scented flowers. It's a clean fragrance now. Alnwick Castle smells like rasberry sorbet, and at times there is a woody element to it, like cedar. There are more mid-tones and low tones in comparison to Earth Angel's mostly high notes. Both are fragrant most of the day. AC's fragrance seems stronger to me and wafts. EA's fragrance doesn't waft for me. Plant habit: both are upright growers. Thorns on both are moderate. Thorns on EA are smaller. Vigor: EA required quite a bit of pampering in my garden to get it to grow, but most people say EA is extremely vigorous. AC is quite vigorous in my garden without pampering. Productivity: EA is too young for me to say, others have described it as prolific. AC is not what you would call a prolific bloomer, but also not particularly stingy. Personally, I would replace AC if I lost it. I'm not so sure about EA.

I grow both. Abe generally is peachier than the Alnwick. Abe blooms way more. Abe is bigger whereas Alnwick stays a smaller bush. The Alnwick blooms only last a day then blow in hot weather which is most the year here. As others noted, the Alnwick blooms are cupped shaped so a totally different look than Abe. Abe has way bigger blooms. Abe..in a peach mood Abe... in a pink mood Alnwick..