Have you considered Hybrid Perpetuals?
They really are the originals that the Austins copy. I know that Antique Rose Emporium sells quite a few of them.

Jeri
in Coastal Southern California

I got a Claire Austin this year. It is growing in a pot until I can get it in the ground. So far it has been doing reasonably well. It has been blooming on and off during the season and appears to want to get rather tall. I am thinking it may be okay for a pillar. The flowers have been on the small side, but there have been plenty of them usually in sprays. They start out with a yellow cast and turn white. They do not seem to last a long time. They do have a nice scent, but it isn't strong. So far it looks like it will be okay. The only white Austin that I have not been overly impressed with here is Fair Bianca. It is a cool weather variety. Summer isn't always all that cool here. So far Claire Austin appears healthy with my regular spray regimen. I would give it a provisional thumbs up.

Thanks for the responses. I will order Claire Austin and check out the Hybrid Perpetuals. I have two Winchester Cathedrals (spelling?) in pots right now. The flowers are abundant and fragrant but not very large.

If I could get constant blooms versus waiting until the next flush, I'd be a happy camper.

Look at 'Bolero'. A lovely white. Short grower. Strong fragrance. A bit pink in this photo due to some cool overcast weather, but a fine white rose, more satisfying than the Austins. 'Ducher' would be another (OGR) suggestion.

{{gwi:302324}}

Thanks, hoovb! That is a pretty white. I don't mind a slight pink tone in the white at all. Just don't want the white to "burn" in the intense sun.

I will see who sells Bolero and then order :-) I have too many pinks right now and would need to balance the color scheme. I do love pink roses but a pink garden was not my original idea. Thanks for the picture. I need to learn how to do this to show you guys my pre-dig and end result. Will post another question.

Gwenivere is a lovely white rose that has the English rose look and is a wonderful rose. I am not sure about the spelling, but give it a look. Leaves stay so nice and shiny and it blooms it`s head off. One of my favorites. I also have Bolero and think it is quite nice,too. Good luck with your choice. Lesley

The best white English Rose bar none is ROSE-MARIE, the white sport of HERITAGE. Like its pink parent it is a reliable and graceful rose with a positively lovely fragrance. I'm holding off on Claire Austin until I can see, and most importantly, smell it beforehand. It is supposed to have that dreadful myrrh scent. Enough said.

Here is a link that might be useful: Rose-Marie at HelpMeFind Roses

In Texas you ought to look at Souvenir de la Malmaison or its grandchild (by mutation) Mystic Beauty. These are blush roses that are functionally white in the garden. Flowers are large, perfectly formed, and deliciously fragrant. Bloom is nearly continuous. Plant is compact and considered disease resistant in central Texas. SdlM is one of the great roses of all time, and it was grown in Textas before the Civil War. Mystic Beauty may be a slight improvement on it. They like hot weather. I doubt that any Austin rose can match them in the hot parts of zone 8.

To michaelg's suggestion may be two more SdlM sports I grow, Mme. Cornelissen and Kronprinzessin Viktoria von Preussen, both of which are doing so well in my hot, dry climate. Of the two I favor the pale pink Mme. Cornelissen, which is exquisite.

Ingrid

Sorry, I meant to say "may I suggest two more SdlM sports". I really should have woken up by now.

Ingrid

Yes, I don't know why I didn't think to mention Kronprinzessin Viktoria, which is white with a slightly yellow center.

If I may throw in my 2 cents worth here, I have the following white Austins: Winchester Cathedral, Swan, Fair Bianca, Perdita, Glamis Castle, Lichfield Angel, Windermere, and Clair Austin. Of these, the only one to my nose that has a pronounced licorice (myrrh?) odor is Fair Bianca. Clair Austin does not have that odor. As an aside, I find that Lichfield Angel is holding up reasonably well as a cut flower.