Noisettes and Teas and their ilk sometimes get into a mood of doing absolutely nothing for several years . . . and then spring into vigorous growth. For just two examples: My 'Desprez à Fleur Jaune' simply sat for about five years . . . and now blooms all the time with branches which reach about twenty-five feet, all told. My 'Général Galliéni' plant as received could have been covered by a slightly large teacup, and remained that size for about three years; now it is a massive bush seven to eight feet tall and twelve feet wide. 'Gloire de Dijon' may be said to be the rose which first piqued my interest in Old Roses (from a picture in a Sunset Magazine rose book), and so I have special affection for it. My first plant of it came from Roses of Yesterday and Today, on whatever stock they used. For about two years it thrived and bloomed ceaselessly. In the third year, it began to decline as a plant, but still blooming and blooming, and it was rather melancholy to see it wanting to bloom so much as the plant died. In retrospect, I have realized that it was one of the first victims of the Verticillium Wilt which over the course of about ten years spread and destroyed about a third of my roses. A few years later, I tried a second specimen, own-root, from another source; it was a feeble plant, and died within a few months. A few years later, I was kindly gifted a hearty specimen from another source . . . and after a year of growth, it died, again of Verticillium Wilt, which makes me think that a certain proportion of plants in commerce of 'Gloire de Dijon' are infected, and passed around because it doesn't show up for two to three years. Very newly, I now have a nice and promising plant from Rogue Valley, and am giving it every attention and care. My point is first to be very patient with Noisettes, Teas, and Tea-Noisettes--very patient as in years-long patience--and my second point is that 'Gloire de Dijon' is an enthusiastic bloomer who desperately wants to perform for us, and so merits being given every chance--and being watched very carefully . . .

It honestly shouldn't surprise anyone that a vigorous understock can increase the disease resistance of a rose (or any other plant). It's well known that animals' (Humans, included) immune systems are located in their guts. Their digestive tracts. The root system of a plant IS its digestive tract. That is what absorbs the majority of its nutrients. Some are absorbed through the foliage and canes but the roots (remember FEEDER roots?) search and retrieve the resources which enable the plant to survive. If those roots are not vigorous, or strong, or are unsuited to the climate/soil/water in which the plant grows, it won't be good and likely not very successful. Put good roots under it and watch it grow. Remember all the older roses which were considered "good" until only available own root? Should any of this honestly surprise any of us?

Bart, I'll say that 'Pierre Notting' has a growth habit similar to 'Mme Isaac Pereire' and 'Souvenir du Dr. Jamain', but takes a bit longer to get there in size. It's above-average for me as far as blackspot resistance, but does get a bit of mildew when Spring comes in cool and slowly, as it is now. It has two big flushes before the heat sets in, then the odd flower or two, then a medium flush or two when it cools down again. Blooms can fry in midday sun when temperatures are high -- when I anticipate this, I cut them for the vase while they're closed but with open sepals. 'Mme de Sevigne' is like a stretched-out 'Mme Isaac Pereire' -- longer and more climbing, but can be grown free-standing with some staking, as I have mine. It's also above-average for disease resistance for me. Bloom cycles are as for 'Pierre Notting'. But please note that that's how they are for me here in central NJ. Your conditions would be different. :-) ~Christopher

I love that rose. It turned out that when we moved in 28 years ago it was growing in 2 different places in our garden. One I dug up, and 5 years later low and behold, it came back in the same place (in addition to the place I moved it to). The other original one sprouted rooted suckers, so we dug those and moved them, and now I have 4 EdBs. All of them are on their own roots. No rust whatever, although we do have rust here on some mid 20th century HTs. The blooms and the fragrance are wonderful, and the bushes stay about 2 1/2 feet tall here, which is a rarity in my garden - every other old rose seems to want to prove it can get 3-4 times larger than it is "supposed" to. Jackie