'Belle Blanca' in "Large Flowered Climbing Roses", by Anne Belovich

2 years ago

I just got this book for my birthday - WOW! It lists LF climbing roses in alphabetical order, new, old, antique. There is a pic of most of the roses, and a paragraph describing them. Hybrid giganticas are included, which made me happy because they grow in my climate, and I adore Belle Portugaise. I was looking through it last night, and discovered that there is a white sport of Belle Portugaise called Belle Blanca, or something similar. HMF says that Burling carries it. Question - does anyone grow it (warm climate rose)? There are a very few pics of it on HMF, but none of the bush. I would like to know if it is really identical to BP except for color. I am fighting off a strong urge to collect it!

Jackie

P.S. Here is a pic of my Belle Portugaise, which we unfortunately lost to some horrid root gall after 20+ years:

Featured Answer

Formerly RBEHS Z10A/S17

2 years ago

I just ordered Belle Blanca from Burling to fill out an order and without really thinking through where I'm going to put it. It arrives on Thursday, so wish me luck! I really don't have space for a forty-foot climber. I was also disappointed that there were no photos of the full plant on HMF, so I will post some if I can figure out what to do with it. I wanted to try something descended from R. gigantea since my Emmanuella de Mouchy is probably not correct.

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Comments (7)

smithdale1z8pnw
2 years ago
What a beauty your BP was! I just started growing LF climbers a couple of years ago, my first was Reve D"or, what a beauty. I'm off to order AB's book, thanks for the recommendation.
jacqueline9CA
Original Author
2 years ago
Does anyone grow Belle Blanca anywhere?

Jackie
damask_rose_zone9b
2 years ago
Happy belated birthday!

Oh wow! Your Belle Portugaise was stunning! Root gall is so terrible. It's been weakening our Paul's Scarlet Climber for a few years now, and this year the plant has lost quite a few branches. I hope it bounces back this spring. I have a bush of Belle Portugaise that was planted by the original owners of our house, and we had been trimming it back for years without knowing it was a climber! It is very pretty, but the bloom only lasts a short while. The flowers are worth the year's wait though, they are the most delicate pink, like the inside of a seashell. I have never heard of Belle Blanca before, but it is a beauty! Solely based off the pictures on HelpMeFind, I would say Belle Blanca does look identical to Belle Portugaise except for the color. The buds are long and slender and have the same loose form, and the blossoms seem to glow from the center just like Belle Portugaise.

Belle Portugaise (It's a little past its peak in these pictures.)

Have a nice evening!

damask_rose : )
damask_rose_zone9b
2 years ago
That is so exciting! Belle Blanca looks like such a beautiful rose. If you don't have room for a large climber, you can keep it trimmed down to a bush. The original owners of our home planted our Belle of Portugal in an inconvenient spot, so we trim off the long shoots it sends up after it blooms so it does not smother our other roses.

Enjoy your new roses!

damask_rose : )
jacqueline9CA
Original Author
2 years ago
Thanks, everyone - I did not know that BP could be grown as a bush - that is great. Perhaps I will order Belle Blanca and see what happens...

Jackie
Formerly RBEHS Z10A/S17
2 years ago
Yes, thank you, that is good to know and gives me more options.