Have you considered Cl Iceberg? Even in my warm climate, it is MUCH easier to control than MAC. Don't get me wrong - I love MAC. We have three. One was planted to climb up a plum tree, did that, and also jumped over to the tops of 3 other trees. Got to the top of its original tree, and sent long canes from the top down to the base again, covering another huge (20 ft by 20 ft) shrub in the process. Another was planted to grow up the side of our garage. Did that, and also went another 20 feet up a pine tree next to the garage, from whence it is contemplating eating the neighbor's deck. The third one was planted (in a large pot this time!) at the base of another plum tree next to the other side of the garage. It went up the tree 20 feet, and is also now trying to cover the entire roof of the garage. I love them because they bloom for 10 months here, and get no care from me at all, except food once a year and some water during our normal 6 month summer drought. I would not ever try to "control" this rose - Jackie

Ten years ago I was given a start of a climbing rose from an elderly friend. I tentatively identified it as New Dawn, but now I am wondering. This sure looks like my rose, which smells...sublime. Does Mme. Alfred Carriere rebloom sporadically all summer and into fall? Because my rose does. Can someone who knows how to link photos find some New Dawn photos for comparison. Whatever I have it is incredible. Large, vigorous, almost disease free. (It was disease free until I got rose hungry, bought some David Austin roses proclaimed to be black-spot resistant which promplty got lots of BS and spread it to the climber. Another rose I love as it is also, large, vigorous, and disease resistant is one another elderly friend gave me that she called Betty Prior. Not fragrant, but a real show of cluster flowered hot pink roses in May, followed by sporadic blooms through fall. I have come to the conclusion that the only way to grow roses in Ok is to get a start from an elderly friend who's had it for years, because YOU CAN'T TRUST THE CATALOGS to tell you the truth abouat disease resistance--not here in humid Oklahoma, anyway.

You've convinced me to cut some Mme. Alfred Carriere for inside. I'm not sure why I never thought to before. I went out just before dark to see if she had enough blooms, and I think she does. I took a quick picture, since there was no glaring sun to interfere. I also noticed that my Mel's Heritage is blooming for the first time! Does anyone know how this one does as a cut flower? Don't you grow it Jeri? It was too dark for a picture of Mel's Heritage, but here's my baby MAC, just for kicks. And yes I know, not the best spot for such a house eater. Lisa

I feel your pain, Rehka! Houston is a challenging rose climate. Hot and humid punctuated by surprise attacks of hail, Blue Northerns, hurricanes, floods and tornadoes! I grew up in Dallas but visited Houston off and on...(dramatic music)...in the summer. I also feel your husband's pain: Asian jasmine and trumpet vine in TX. A patch of neglected Asian jasmine once ripped off the bathroom window screen at my sister's house in Dallas! I think the hardy jasmine you mentioned might be Trachelospermum jasminoides, star jasmine? If so, I applaud you 100%! That's a great go-to fragrant vine for much of TX. I sent my mom a rooted cutting of Zeph for her Dallas garden, and it grew well there. I think Mom's rose lost about 50%-60% of its leaves during the hottest part of the year, but Zeph was pretty darn healthy (no spray except Safer fungicide) and grew fresh leaves when the temps cooled. Mom planted her Zeph in half day sun and grew a vine through the canes. Zeph rests for a longer summer stretch without blooming in TX, and your climate is getting hotter, so I agree that selecting a cultivar with more continuous bloom and foliage cover might be a wise choice for your preferences.. With training, Blush Noisette makes a charming, continuously blooming climber up to about 8' or so. It works well on an arch when 2 are planted, one on each side. The fragrance positively WAFTS in the evening. Humidity contributes to wafting so maybe BN is worth considering for Houston? For a large pergola, I'd plant a BN on one side and a yellow or white Lady Banks on the other. I'd train the Lady Banks up one side and across the top for a magnificent spring show with BN to carry on later in the season. Antique Rose Emporium sells both, but sometimes you have to jump in at the starting gate of restocking. They're popular! I'd call ARE and ask about blackspot tendencies in your area, and check on BN's resistance as well as inquiring about other Noisette possibilities. I'm a big fan of the fragrant, glorious Noisettes but only grow BN and MAC here in Portland. I've never grown Renae but have heard great things about it. I have a couple of baby Annie Laurie McDowells in my driveway pot nursery and am super excited about their inclusion in my garden! If you can get a ALM, and Kim Rupert gives it a thumbs up for your area and pergola, I'd absolutely hold out for her. The photos I've seen are breathtaking! Pure romance. Carol