I grow Pompon Blanc Parfait and Mme Plantier but no flowers yet, maybe in 2-3 weeks,

Carol, you have a great selection of Albas. I absolutely love their fragrance. I hear they don’t like the heat and humidity in the south so I haven’t gotten any for my new garden but your pictures look so tempting!

Albas are on my wish-list. Thank you for those great pics.

I thought High Country Roses carries JdA, @catspa_zone9sunset14 ?

I see now, by Googling it, that they do, Mischievous Magpie (CO 5b), though High Country is for some reason not listed in the list of vendors for the variety on HMF. There is a "members comments" there, though, from April 2020, noting that High Country sells it and another comment from 2017 that "Rose Fire" in Ohio also has it, so I stand corrected. This is good!

Smithdale, Pompon Blanc and MP are two of the most romantic white confections! Please DO post photos when yours bloom. I had to move my MP, and she may not bloom this year. Carol

MasLoves, there might be an Alba that would work for you. ARE sells Madame Plantier which contains some China in her heritage. Carol

Strawberry, I think you will like Albas! Once they mature, they are very floriferous, very disease resistant and very hardy. And the fragrance is indescribable! I recommend Maiden’s Blush and Semi Plena for exceptional fragrance and super easy care. Fuss free beauty. The blue-green foliage is absolutely lush and, after bloom, Alba foliage makes a wonderful background for remontants and perennials. Carol

Catspa, thank you! Your Albas are GORGEOUS!! What an amazing class that performs so well in your region, my region and also very cold zones like MN. I am relieved to know that all 3 of yours listed are still available in the US. I used to grow R alba ‘Maxima’ and it looked very similar to your ‘Jeanne d’Arc’. Carol

Old photo of blooms my original R Alba ‘Semi Plena’. (Photo one) I rooted a start of my original plant because I had to suddenly, and at absolutely the wrong time, move my old plant. I knew it probably wouldn’t survive, and it didn’t, so I begin again. (Second photo) Carol

Konigen von Danemark and Botzaris (Damask)

More KvD after torrential downpours.

KvD opening bloom and fuller blooms.

Beautiful! I do like the alba foliage -- it is "softer" looking than either Damasks or Gallicas. One odd thing though: when RRV rampaged through here a few years ago, the albas were wiped out. The Gallicas and Damasks seem to have been untouched (as were the native species). I had a 20' long bed of R. alba semi-plena that totally died out within 2 years.

I have Maiden's Blush (4), Felicite Parmentier (2), Konigen von Danemark (1) , Madame Plantier (2), and a small Alba Maxima which I rooted. Also rooted the duplicates of the others except the MBs, three of which were Pickering's mistakes. I have not been successful trying to root KvonD, despite repeated efforts. I did have a grafted Semi-Plena but it died--not sure what went wrong there, but I moved it after it began to decline and that was probably a contributing factor. I know better how and when to move a rose now--always in cold weather, never in early spring. Only MB is still blooming now.

Lindsey

Rosesmi, I am SO sorry to that you lost your Alba bed to that horrid monster RRD! There are no words. Perhaps the height of the Albas snared the passing mites. I hope your Gallicas and Damasks continue to thrive! Like you, I find Alba foliage to be very refined, but Gallicas are my most passionate and abiding love. Please do pop over to my Gallica or Damask threads and post photos of your blooms if you have chance. Carol

Lindsey, that is a wonderful collection!

Carol

Felicite Parmentier

The lovely Madame Plantier. I have gifted her to a new gardening acquaintance who is beginning her first rose garden from scratch and wishes to grow antique roses and Austins. Madame P should be an easy, spectacular, fragrant start to her garden. (I recommended a companion of Clematis Etoile Violette.) MP is a great rose for beginners and experienced gardeners alike and a real gateway to OGRs. Her spot in my garden will be filled by the amazing Annie Laurie McDowell. Old joys shared and new joys to come.

Carol

Hi, I keep eyeing the albas when I look at what to buy next... can someone talk to me about "Konigen von Danemark" and/or "High Country Banshee" and/or "Chloris" and/or "Petite Lisette" ? I'm in CO, it's quite cold in the winter, hot and dry in the summer, growing season is short (no roses around here bloom until about mid June and are done by mid Sept. frosts).

Oh, and I'm new to rose growing and would love it if anyone was willing to teach me a bit about the alba class.

Magpie, yay! DO try an Alba. I recommend starting with Konigen. She is one of the hands down loveliest in the class and one of the best OGRs I’ve ever grown. She has it all. Exquisite beauty, intoxicating fragrance, healthy foliage and a nicely shaped and sized habit. She plays well with others and has a pretty long bloom period. She is thorny, though, and more Damasky than the other Albas. She is cold hardy. Carol

Thank you @portlandmysteryrose, what is the white rose beside it? 😊

Magpie, the white rose is the Damask, Botzaris. May I offer you an enabling photo or two? 😊

Carol

Also, Magpie, anything you want to know about Albas, this forum is the place to ask! Honestly, they are a fairly low maintenance roses. Once blooming after the Damasks start and before Gallicas begin, overlapping the bloom period of both. Albas handle some shade just fine and grow beautifully in the sun. Cut out the deadwood in spring, and prune to shape as needed right after bloom. They are quite hardy. This has been a disease free class for me. Albas are what I’d call “easy keepers.” Carol

Carol, I will try to figure out how to add photos -- I have several photos of my patch of the gallica Desiree Parmentier. And, I have a mystery rose that I'd love to get your opinion on what rose it is. Sunny

Sunny, I’d LOVE to see your DP patch! I don’t grow her, but she is a gorgeous Gallica! And I extra love a good mystery!! Carol