David Austin’s Fair Bianca
Comments (8)
dianela7analabama
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoI do not grow Fair Bianca and I hope someone who does comments here soon. I do however grow a good variety of David Austin roses and very very few are blackspot resistant enough in the south to be grown no spray. I specially love white roses and I am always looking for healthy ones. I am pretty certain I do not have her because the reviews have not been stellar. The best “near whites” Austins I grow no spray are Desdemona and Lichfield Angel and Claire Austin. I also grow tranquility which gets more blackspot that the other two but it is very vigorous and makes good blooms for cutting. I do not have a good picture of Claire because it was new this year, but it stayed very very clean.
Desdemona
Tranquility
Lichfield Angel is excellent
Fair Bianca does look gorgeous and I hope someone else can give you some good news. If you end up trying it please let me know how she does for you.
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Out of control Heritage and Fair Bianca
Comments (13)Buford, yes, I cut all my roses back in the Spring. I've dealt over the 21 years we've had all our bushes with blackspot--mainly in the Fall, around October/November. Heritage & Fair Bianca have not been afflicted with any disease. Truly, they are the healthiest bushes I have ever had. Beautiful, not my favorite, but the healthiest. I did spray for BS last season in Fall on the bushes affected. My Heritage & Fair Bianca were not afflicted. The Fair Bianca I normally don't have issues with it getting floppy and needing to be held up at all. It's not as bad as Heritage. I think they are just taking off with all the rain we have been getting. Tons and tons of buds waiting to burst open though. I have a Pat Austin in another area in our yard. That one really gets floppy with the blooms. Again, pretty, no diseases on this bush either, but the thinner branches don't hold up the blooms well....See MoreDo you own a Fair Bianca rose?
Comments (19)She is a pretty thing but not for those who will neglect her. This rose needs to be grafted onto to a vigorous rootstock and given TLC like Kitty describes. That means spraying, watering and fertilizing, while keeping the pruners away from her canes. You do that and she'll reward your care with some of the most stunning - and I do mean STUNNING - white roses that you'll ever see. The Old Garden Rose flower form is absolutely perfect; crimson streaked buds opening to glistening white pincushions quartering around a chartreuse button eye. Makes an excellent cut flower too. I have a little antique silver vase that I only use for her flowers. THAT is how beautiful she is, which makes it worth putting up with her runty bush. In my garden Fair Bianca has never topped three feet so she should do just fine as a container rose. BUY HER! Image of Fair Bianca by xeney at Hortiplex...See MoreMy Fair Bianca Rose
Comments (5)This rose produces perfect blooms every time. Speaking of time I've discovered over the years that this petite beauty is actually a really good garden rose. The shrub is just never going to be big. And yes Jeri, the short upright growth habit is perfect for a container. You really should try to find one grafted before it disappears completely from commerce. I don't think David Austin is offering her anymore. Pity....See MoreFair Bianca
Comments (22)Andrea, I haven't crossed Fair Bianca off my list yet, but I think I am going to wait until a prime spot opens up. Sounds like if I am going to be successful with that one, I better make sure I site it really well. Robert, I never feel that any of my roses could be used as an example of what something should look like! But I'll see if I can get some decent photos together to post soon. Thanks again for chiming in with the Cymbeline recommendation. I think that one is going to turn out very well....See Moredianela7analabama
3 years agolast modified: 3 years ago
ratdogheads z5b NH
3 years agoI have grown her for several years, mine is grafted on multiflora. Obviously my New Hampshire winters are colder than yours and my summer is shorter; our climate is wet with hot humid summers. Blackspot is a major problem here. My soil is acidic loam.
I started with 3 but eliminated 2 because she's just not a stellar performer. Hardiness is actually ok, but even grafted, this is not a vigorous plant. The blooms are exquisite and it's a rose worth having, so I coddle her. Amount of bloom and repeat are average. She is quite susceptible to BS, and she is one of my roses that I am willing to spray. I will say that the stronger a rose is the more likely it is to shrug of BS and regrow its foliage, so your longer summers may be an advantage.
Here she is in June, looking lovely before BS sets in.
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