It's a bit pricey and it might arrive without many leaves, if you really want it, Heirloom Roses has Polar Express in stock.

I would call ARE and Chamblees for Polar Express. They both show it out of stock but if you call they might have one they can send you. Sometimes they don't update the online catalog. I got two roses ARE that showed out of stock but when I called they said they had some they could send me.

I have PJP II and love it. Such a beautiful white HT rose and a delicious fragrance. I live in a 6-something with brutal winter winds and had no winter die back. I cannot comment on disease or pest issues and those aren't a problem where I live.

I also have Claire Austin and while it's lovely it is creamy to start and for me the blooms are on smaller side.

I'd go with PJPII if you have an excellent location with all day sun and good air flow. This should help with fungal diseases. Bury the bud union when you plant it. I wrap my HTs with burlap because of the freeze/thaw climate I live in--it helps keep them dormant during those mid winter warmups. It has been years since I've lost an HT. By variety, 44% of my 200+ roses are now HTs. It usually gets down to minus 5 or so where I live. Old wood hydrangeas are a tease in my yard--all I get are busy green shrubs.

You might consider calling or checking the website of Witherspoon Roses. They do graft onto Dr. Huey and I think I have heard that their plants are not wimps.

I love PJPII rose. Out of just over 1000 roses I have 8 PJPII rose trees and 1 own root, they were all from JP's last year's the end of summer sale ( lost 1 to the winter). They repeat fast, beautiful blooms. Mine are all in pots.

If you like Polar Express, I would call as others have suggested.

I have Pope JP here grafted and own root. Yes it does die back, but it's already 3 ft or so and blooming. It's healthy here but we probably have different disease issues! I just love this rose - the shape is pretty and the fragrance is one of my favorites. Does well for cutting too. Get her both of them :)

Frances,

Just to reiterate, and add a few new ideas.

Pope JP II black spots and has serious winter die back without protection here, just like all hybrid teas I know of do here, other than the Kordes ADR hybrid teas.

When I did my extensive research on PJP II, I determined that it is a warm climate rose, and does better grafted in my zone rather than on its own roots. Every one around here is disappointed with its performance grown own root.

Iceberg is fragrant here. To my nose, being in the autumn of its life, it scores a 6.5 out of 10, better than the frequently heard term 'moderately fragrant,' by a few notches.

Iceberg has the same disease resistance and winter hardiness here as the common, garden variety of hybrid tea, very little.

It also has gangly, one this way, one that day growth; the flowers nod. It looks best in a bed with several other Icebergs, at least two bushes deep and as long as you want.

Here are some more whites to consider:

Milwaukee's Calatrava. It's a Bill Radler rose, but not in the Knockout family, so its winter hardiness and disease resistance may be questionable. Its too new in my garden to tell yet.

Bolero. Its a Meilland rose. Again, I have not had it long enough to know its characteristics yet.

These two are powerfully fragrant and as white as you can get. I suspect spraying and winter protection are needed here (I spray religiously), for optimal enjoyment here.

There's hardly a fragrant rose that is winter hardy and disease resistant, especially a white rose.

Moses

I saw some nice plants of Bolero on sale at a Lowe's here in the Pacific Northwest. I know this isn't on your short list, but if you pass by a Lowe's you could check. If they have them, sometimes a rose makes a better impression in person than it does on the internet.

I've had Milwaukee's Calatrava for several years and I do really like it. Some die back, bounces back quickly, very nice fragrance but not as much as the Pope. Will get a blush of pink in cooler weather. Planted Bolero last year, love it! It's a smaller rose, tops out around 3 feet or so, very nice fragrance. I don't spray at all, and these have been okay here, but you're in a different area:).

I see PJPII at our local nurseries all the time, check out your local nurseries. I like Bolero too, that's a very good idea too.

Just thought I'd mention that Sugar Moon experienced ZERO die-back in zone 6, Cincinnati. It's tallish and smells divine, although Bolero has a very similar fragrance and lovely flowers, just smallish, whereas SM's are huge.

Thank you so much, everybody! So many possibilities! Next week, my best friend who is a terrific gardener is coming to visit, and I'm going to run all this by her and get her thoughts. Hopefully after that, I'll come up with a plan of action! I just wish more of these roses were available locally, but mail order may work too. Once again, I really appreciate all of your help!