I'm not familiar with 'White Pet' in-person, but I can tell you one nice thing about 'Clotilde Soupert' that might make it a better choice for a spot near foot traffic -- it's thornless. I used that point when I decided where to put mine.

:-)

~Christopher

I have grown both. Unfortunately, CS balled relentlessly in our climate, and I never saw even one bloom unless I personally pried open the petals - one of only two roses I have ever shovel pruned.

Little White Pet is one of my most favorite roses in our garden - I have 3 of them now, and what a work horse! One of ours is planted in a corner of a bed about 12 inches from the gutter along our busy street and also 12 inches from the driveway on the other side. Another one is planted in a corner of a different bed between the sidewalk and a cement path leading up to our front garden gate, and the third is planted within 12 inches of our driveway further down.

So, although I am guessing that our climate is wetter than yours (we have totally dry summers for at least 6 moths, but there is some marine influence, and we get way more rain in the Winter), I would definitely recommend this rose for the place you mentioned. Mine are always completely clean without any spraying, bloom almost continuously for most of the year, and the blooms are so perfect - they are amazing. All of mine are under 24 inches tall. I have a vague recollection that my CS got way taller than that.

Jackie

Same here, never had a bloom on CS that would actually open. Well, maybe one, out of a few hundred. Definitely less than two.

No such problem with LWP. I ultimately removed LWP--great performer but I found it a little coarse. Replaced it with the shrub version of 'Aimee Vibert', which I like better.

They are both good here for me. If you don't like pink then pick the Pet. CS is pink here many times.

Jacqueline,

I have never experienced rose balling, which could be due to the lack of humidity. The mature size of C.S. is disconcerting as I could push the size to 30" but 3 ft. would be too tall. Little White Pet seems to have the proper mature height and I like the disease resistance you report. With the exception of home-made insecticidal soap my garden is no-spray.

This post was edited by desertgarden561 on Mon, Oct 14, 13 at 18:42

Hoovb,

Are you in a section of CA that is more arid or do you get moisture in the air? I had favored Clotilde because of the pink, but if it balls in a dry climate, in addition to becoming tall then it is a no-go for sure.

Lynn

I like them both. To me, Clotilde has more beautiful flowers. They certainly will ball (used to have it in a coastal climate) but that hasn't been a problem in the desert climate I'm in now. The blooms are overstuffed little balls with a smudge of pink in the very center--very distinctive. Like old fashioned confectioner's sugar rose buds. Mine, from Burling, has thorns but not many.

Little White Pet is new to me & a heck of a performer--always blooming. Flowers are little white frilly things with lots of petals.Very similar to the polys Anne Marie de Montraval & Flocon de Neige. Whole plant has a daintiness to it that belies how tough & carefree it is even in my deserty climate.

Get both. How's that for being unhelpful?

I guess for me the choice just depends on what type of rose you want there. To me, CS is more formal (the fragrance is heavenly) and it's been a bloom machine...never balling, only showing pink center in cool weather (I posted a pic on the gallery recently).
Like Bluegirl, I agree that LWP is frilly with lots of petals...a bit less formal. Either are great.
I'd say my CS has 25 buds on it right now about to go!
Susan

Oh gee blue girl and poorbutroserich,

Adjacent to, but separated from the rose will be 3 Marie Pavie rose bushes. I also have SDLM, a Bishop's Castle and Reine des Violettes in the area. The area is not formal, but it is not free flowing like many of the cottage gardens and some of the informal gardens I have seen. I am a stickler for measured spacing and symmetry, but like roses that nod or exude charm and fragrance. The rose will be at the end of a row of roses running from the front to back of the front yard.

I was looking for something that was wider than it is tall. Which of the two would grow wider vs. tall?

It is amazing that I believe I have my choice narrowed down to two roses, and am having such a difficult time....

Wellll, I'd say, for me (with limited experience & a young plant) that LWP looks like it wants to be wider, more shrubby than Clotilde. The Clotilde I had in a coastal climate was a modest bushy shrub, not big, the new one I have now is maybe 18" at 1 yr. from a Burling band.

LWP seems to have more spreading bushier growth so far. Its flowers are like big baby's breath flowers--scores of tiny petals, clouds of flowers in sprays over healthy leaves.

Clotilde's flowers remind me of Victorian pictures of roses--fat balls of thin white petals with a touch of pink in the center.

Maybe get both, grow them out in pots for a year & plant the one in the ground that best suits your taste for the area :-p

Blue girl,

I am contemplating what you suggested. My dilemma stems from being at the very tail end of my plantings with not much space left. Also, I am a slave to symmetry in certain areas so it will be off-set it with plantings of the same thing on the opposite side of the yard; it has to match. Which ever plant isn't chosen I will likely have to gift it to one of my sister-in-laws or my mother-in-law, but it is important that it receive a good home.

I couldn't decide how petite LWP would be so I'm growing it in a big pot, like maybe 18" wide x ~ 2' high in full sun with commercial potting soil. It seems very happy.

Clotilde is in a bed.

ah, decisions, decisions...

Oh man.....now I want a Little White Pet (other than the dog)

geesh!!!:)

You know, I figured out what the "real" underlying problem is, I prefer Clotilde, but question how it will fare during the summer. LWP, is pretty, and I do not have as much worry regarding it surviving through my summers. I am leaning toward taking a chance on one Clotilde, and if it survives my summer, creating the balance bed for it next fall.

When in doubt, go with the gut. Clotilde is gorgeous!
Susan

I have just planted Little White Pet so don't know how it will do in my climate yet.

I had Clothide Soupert several years ago and she was big and beautiful. If I remember correctly, she grew to about 5 or 6 feet, but not too wide. I loved her but regrettably had to remove her because she was not in a good location. I planted another plant a few years later in another, not ideal location and she is doing ok (not great though but I think it's the location). I think she took 2-3 years to get established but once she did, she was wonderful. She was one of my favorite roses.

it would ball in moist weather, and it would ball just as well in hot ultra-low humidity weather.

I've never had CS, but LWP, which I planted straight in the ground from a band, has been incredibly healthy and vigorous, with beautiful dark green foliage and blooms that began as soon as I put it in the ground. No disease, yellowing leaves or the slightest problem, and it is a lovely little bush. At this point the flowers are average in terms of beauty, but I think with so many at one time it would put on quite a show. The quality of the flowers may also improve, since this rose isn't even a year old (bought in March of this year). I've heard so many horror stories about CS in terms of balling and disease, that I doubt I'll ever be brave enough to try it.

Ingrid

I don't remember Clothide Soupert balling in low humidity. In fact, I've not heard of roses balling in low humidity at all. I know many blooms will rapidly wither in full sun when it's hot.

Let me add to the confusion by suggesting 'Katharina Zeimet', which is definitely wider than tall, under 30", pure white with yellow stamens, disease resistant, and fragrant. It is a fast-repeating flush bloomer. Needs deadheading for best repeat.

Be sure to amend the pH with sulfur before planting any polyantha.

Here is a link that might be useful: KZ at HMF

jaspermplants, C.S. became 5-6'. Oh my, that would be too large. I believe someone else wrote that it was on its way to becoming larger than the size the space can accommodate.

Michaelg, yes you did:)

Because this rose will receive full southern exposure, and filtered western exposure sunlight for a couple of hours, I must go with LWP as it is described as being "heat tolerant", and will remain on the smaller side.

Thank you all for assisting me with this decision.

Lynn

I agree that sometimes heat makes the fine thin petals of CS tighten and not allow the flowers to open and they are browned buds only. White Pet has no faults that I can see.

Lyn, you probably made the right decision. But I do have to say CS is a true beauty when she's hitting on all cylinders. Nearly thornless, highly fragrant, smallish shapely plant form, old world bloom form. I REALLY wanted to love mine. But she balled like crazy for me and it's not that humid here. And in the spring was covered in powdery mildew, something I've never seen on any other rose I've grown here. She had so much promise that I've been tempted to try her again many times, but sensibility overtakes emotion just before I click on the "buy" button.

Randy

Has anyone tried 'Pink Soupert'? I bought one once as a gift for someone else, but I haven't seen it since then. I was thinking of getting it this year but it wasn't available when I was placing orders.

:-)

~Christopher

Here is a link that might be useful: 'Pink Soupert' at HelpMeFind

Christopher,

Pink Soupert is gorgeous, but I am staying away from the Souperts. If there was a good chance that Clotilde liked my conditions, I would definitely have my eye on that one too.

Lynn

I have Pink Soupert, from Vintage, but it's a young plant and I've been disbudding it. I'll take pictures of it next spring. It's always so exciting to see the new roses have their first real spring flush.

Ingrid