Gorgeous photos Jeri! I especially love the dewey on at the bottom. :)

I too have a mystery rose that I suspect is Eugene de Beaharnaise. I got it mislabelled from RVR quite a few years ago. The size of the plant, the colour and shape of the bloom all lead me to suspect that is it's true identity. RVR lists it and I had an identical plant that I ordered of EdB in a previous garden. Very small plant here, less than 2 feet, in a northern zone 7, but it blooms a lot, very fragrant, healthy and winter hardy. Perfect for growing in a pot.

Cheers, Rick

I think you nailed it, Rick.

Yup. That's it.

The own-root plant I had barely made 2-ft.

Two bushes I have in full sun, and not tangled up with other things are each about 2 1/2 ft. tall. One of the others, which is the original one from my DH's ancestors, is growing under a crab apple tree, several other roses, a Japanese quince, etc. etc. It has clambered up to about 4 ft. tall, to get some light, and spreads out a bit and blooms on the top 1/3rd of itself. The fourth one, which is the one which came up again several years after we thought we had dug it up, is under many other roses. It has decided to sucker itself, and the little long but small in diameter canes are traveling horizontally along the ground, not doubt looking for a better place with more light to colonize. One tough rose!

Jackie

The first photo is the stunner for me, a rich Tyrrhenian purple with the lovely muddled look of carnations.

MY initial problem with it was, as much as I loved the blooms -- and as much as I could handle the small stature -- in MY conditions, once we stopped spraying, it rusted worse than any rose I've ever seen. New leaves rusted solid, as they unfolded.

Kim Rupert suggested that it might be more resistant, budded. And so it has proven to be!

This plant is probably easily going to make 3-ft. It blooms profusely, and the foliage is immaculate.

In another climate, it would probably not have that problem.

Yup, grew it back in Eastern Ontario, just north of upstate New York and it was absolutely disease free. I did get rust on a few of my roses there once or twice, and lots of blackspot, but not on Eugene.

Same here in the South Okanagan, just north of Oroville Washington. But then, there does not seem to be any rose that gets diseased here. Must be the dry hot summers: no rain, no humidity, no disease.

Rick

I so have to have this rose . . . . In my case, his small stature is a plus. He may well have disease problems where I am, also, but I am dying to try it. Last time I checked, Burling didn't have him available, but I should ask again. Otherwise, if there's anyone in/around SF or Bay Area who might be able to give me a cutting at any point, I would be very grateful, and might have something to share as well.

(Jeri, you are the worst -- or best -- rose enabler! EDB and Elisabeth's RC and Jesse Hildreth are all on my "must have someday" list. I have GMH, Portland from Glendora, Benny Lopez, and FBPT, all largely because of you!)

Eugene is a gorgeous thing....except for the rust, particularly own root. I had it for years and budded Jeri's on Fortuniana to demonstrate that could improve the performance. It was NOT happy here this close to the ocean and with the ocean humidity and breezes, plus lack of inland heat. It was MUCH happier in Encino, as long as the flowers were shielded from the brunt of the worst of the afternoon sun. Jesse is a beautiful thing, and mildew is one of his vices, even budded. He makes a LOT of pollen and I'm studding him all over the garden.

Kim is absolutely correct.

When we grew Eugene on his own roots, he was fine -- until we quit spraying. Then -- I've never seen ANY rose whose foliage rusted so thoroughly or rapidly. New leaves rusted solid, as they opened. The plant Kim budded to Fortuniana is a whole other world. But I would discourage anyone from trying this rose own-root.

(And Jesse doesn't mildew here ... Nor does he mildew where he came from.)

I wouldn't expect Jesse to mildew where it's arid and hot, unless it's water stressed enough. Budded and well watered, here where it isn't hot or dry, it mildews like Bassoues Tea does. I don't have that issue with the other Teas here.

To be accurate -- He mildews SOME. But not much.

Here, this is Eugene own root. I did see a little BS on lower leaves. No mildew on own root Jesse here yet or BS

Sheila -- Your conditions are probably better for it.

Like you have always said, Jeri, location is important. Here, Evelyn is wimpy and SdlM is too. Even a grafted Evelyn is way wimpier than an own root Abe Darby. Prospero is also good own root here. You are right to grow what loves your area. I'm on my way to finding out.

Early on, we met the late Bob Edberg, of Limberlost roses.

Bob (who knew Camarillo well) would say to me. "NO. You can't grow that." After a while, I even learned to listen to him.