Mme Charles grows and looks a lot like G. Nabonnand with prickles and more petals. The blooms open soft apricot and quickly fade to pink. The plant is a nice vigorous growers with lovely red canes. Rebloom is fast. We have no blackspot to speak of, powdery mildew being our Tea demon. The PM seems very manageable and in fact I can't say I've noticed it much on Mme Charles. Here is a link that might be useful: Mme Charles

I can't understand these reviews. Perhaps mine is not a true Parfum de L'Hay? All I know is that it is my favorite rose -- outstanding in every way: fabulous fragrance, vigorous growth, first to bloom and last to stop blooming. Finally, don't tell anyone, but the petals are super amazing to eat! I make rose pastries to die for. And I cultivate all the most fragrant roses: Gertrude Jekyl, Papa Meilland, Mme Isaac Pereire, and many more, yet this is the star of the show. "Old Rose" fragrance too, not just funny fragrance. Since you say it does not repeat, mine must be something else, so I should re-name it. Very dark red, and loaded with thorns.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.roseraie-fabien-ducher.com/vignettes/Madame-Driout.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.roseraie-fabien-ducher.com/en/climbing_roses.htm&usg=__HQ7EHqkd5Khk3Snv7ceodWLAPm0=&h=100&w=100&sz=6&hl=en&start=2&tbnid=cUWwmnELfyjO_M:&tbnh=82&tbnw=82&prev=/images%3Fq%3DMadame%2BDriout%2Brose%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG%26ie%3DUTF-8 this link will be alot of help for you in ID's I think something is being overlooked in the soil Roses also have DNA bring some of your work home use it for them there old they may be breaking down from age FYI we are on opposite sides of the world it is soon going to snow here soon and its only middle fall. Your not going to bore me by posting pics so keep em coming tell us a lil more as you can keep in touch with your Italy friend

I grew it in full sun on my hillside. I'd have been afraid that partial shade, or any reduction of air flow could increase the tendency to virus. It did not respond well to a lot of pruning, here. But that was in a day when our climate was cooler and danker, and downy mildew was a threat. You MIGHT get more concentrated bloom, though. Mind -- it bloomed fairly heavily in spring. Didn't get around to much blooming again until Fall ... and then, less than in spring. But again -- that was in MY conditions.