Terrible blackspot here. I don't remember if I shipped it to Colorado, of if it died a natural death. It and Baronne Prevost tend to be grown by people who spray.

OT, perhaps, but do you get the true Comte de Chambord in the US? Over here it is now sold as Mme Boll only (but many people call it CdC in secret).

I remember standing in Mike Lowe's garden during one of his open garden days, and listening to him talk about this. But I don't remember what he said. I think he said that Comte de Chambord was almost certainly extinct.

I don't remember where all I've read this (many times, many places), but several experts seem to assume that all CdC in the US are actually Madame Boll. It's such a consensus that I've re-labeled my plant. However, you won't find it sold here as Madame, only as the Comte, lol. All I know is whichever one my plant actually is, the flower smells wonderfully of true damask, and those sticky sepals that smell of pine resin are a bonus.

Back to the OP poster's question: mine was grafted, has gone own-root. It established quite easily, but I DO have to spray it, one of the few I go to the trouble for. One thing I've found is that the Comte/Madame (funny how the confusion managed to be between a masculine and a feminine name!) does much better with fairly aggressive pruning, taking off AT LEAST 1/3 of the height each year, but fertilizing well. The flowers are glorious and worth it. One other caveat: the flowers WILL ball in wet weather, but again, to me it's worth it. I wish you could see mine, or better yet, SMELL it. The Madame has seduced me.

(enamored) John

Fig, I definitely agree with you about the pruning, my 3 were lanky & not very vigorous after 3 years. This last winter I pruned them back by 1/3 & they are now very bushy & more vigorous. I love the blooms & they seldom BS which I get a lot here but getting better since I'm only buying the more resistant roses now. In my experience this rose requires patience before you see what he/she is capable of. I suppose most roses are like this.

Jane

I grew Pickering's version for a few years. It was hardy enough but it balled and suffered terrible blackspot. Perhaps he (she?) prefers a drier home than mine.

I haven't seen it in stock anywhere this season. Have any of you?

I know green mantle has it and maybe roses unlimited and long ago roses

I got mine from Heirloom last year. It's been very healthy so far for me, and growth has been pretty average. Does anyone think that there are multiple roses going around under this name?

-Chris

Chris, it has occurred to me that reports of healthy Comte de Chambords are about a different rose. Mine didn't bloom enough for me to have any real recollection about the flowers. It is, though, a relatively established fact that the 'nice, pink' roses have been mixed up a lot over the years.

Wow, Ken - that's a great rose! I think I need to place an order!

Ken, how healthy do you find it to be?

I spray my roses for fungus disease's. Mine is as healthy as anything in my garden. And my garden is darn near spotless.

I agree there are a lot of pink old roses, many of them very beautiful. What distinguishes CdC/'Mme. Boll', in my experience, is the Portland habit: upright and not over-tall: mine after a decade stays at around 4'. I have a lot of old roses, and I really can't call to mind another with a similar habit, flower color, form, and fragrance (and rebloom), and foliage. By the way, back in 2007 or 2008 I bought from Schultheis CdC, 'Mme. Boll', and 'Mme. Knorr' in one order. They turned out to be the same rose as far as I could tell. I don't know whether there's a distinct 'Mme. Knorr' in commerce. I don't know what's being sold in the U.S. under these names. But I would strongly suspect a plant with long lax or arching canes of being a different variety. My rose is beautiful as can be. I can't speak for its disease resistance, as it tends not to be a problem here. But for the rest CdC/'Mme. Boll' is perfect.