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Looking for David Austin rose Fair Bianca

judijunebugarizonazn8

last month

I know this rose has a rather poor reputation as a weak grower, but I’m so enthralled by the blooms. They look similar enough to Madame Hardy that I’d like to give this rose a try, but I can’t seem to find it anywhere. Anyone know where I might be able to find it? Or maybe even cuttings?

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erasmus_gw

last month

I'm all for giving things a try even if others give it a thumbs down. But I will add my thumbs down...Fair Bianca was very much a wimp for me and I got rid of it. I got Winchester Cathedral instead. Mine's own root and not a very strong plant but stronger than Fair Bianca and pretty I think.

Fair Bianca...yeah , it can be pretty.

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Comments (12)

judijunebugarizonazn8
Original Author
last month
I wonder if it might do better in my dry climate? I’m foolish enough to want to give it a try, and especially so if I could find it grafted on Fortuniana. Your WC is gorgeous!
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mustbnuts - I think those are beautiful! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as they say. You reminded me that when I have friends smell this rose, some say that it doesn't have a lot of fragrance, which I find surprising because I can smell it from where I am standing while they are sniffing it with their nose buried in the bloom. So different people might experience it differently. Some of my first blooms 4 years ago: In the heat today (close to 100). May 29 this year: May 9th this year they were little pink cabbages that didn't open up more than this. This is typical for the first flush for me. So as dianela says, the form varies a lot. Even the color varies quite a bit.
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Get a rose you're in love with.... if you're having a whole hedge of it, then you've got to love it.. ...my choice here would be without question..... 'Scarborough Fair'.. in that colour range.... I'm near the sea and it withstands the elements.... it blooms constantly, in poor soil, drought conditions and heat - such as we get it here on occasions... 3.5 tall by 4 foot wide... no issues... it should be better known really.... not double, but semi double... musk scented with hips in winter.. I think it's good for zone 5... I took this photo in blazing 100 deg .. which I don't get too much.. ...this is a late evening pic... just before dark... ...you will get that I totally love this rose... of course no one else has to like it.. but... ...hope you find something you like just as much....
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erasmus_gw
last month
Oh, grafted it might be much better. I imagine your climate would be a help. Thank you! Hope you can find one and that it'll do well for you.
rosecanadian
last month
last modified: last month
Erasmus - those are gorgeous WC blooms! They have a slight lavender cast to the them or some such color. Beautiful!

Judi - I hope you can find one. :)
erasmus_gw
last month
Thank you, rosecanadian. It is said to have a strong clove fragrance but when sniffing it that didn't occur to me. It is a sport of the pink Mary Rose. Here is a link describing how it can revert to pink or just have a touch of pink in it. I've seen that in my plant..here is a cute little pink spot:

https://garden.org/plants/view/123/Rose-Rosa-Winchester-Cathedral/

Mary Rose
Soozie Q, zone 10b
last month
Looks similar to Bolero. It's very pretty and fragrant but it doesn't get very tall I'm told. Mine is only in it's 3rd year, I'm glad it won't get much taller tho, as I have it at the front of the flower bed
judijunebugarizonazn8
Original Author
last month
I have Bolero and like it a lot, but I would love to try Fair Bianca as well. Seems like it’s not really sold by anyone in the USA anymore though it still is for sale on several Australian or New Zealand sites. Which tells me it might do better in hot , dry climates?
susan9santabarbara
last month
Judi, my Fair Bianca was grafted on Dr. Huey and it wasn't wimpy. I gave it away in my great rose cull ~2006, when my collection got out of control, and I had to make hard choices. It's one of the strongest "myrrh"-scented roses I've grown, which is probably why it made my cull list :-D
Dave5bWY
last month
I wanted Fair Bianca several years ago, too, and had an opportunity to purchase it grafted onto multiflora. Even after a few years of growing it in my previous garden, it remained a weak grower and Bolero growing nearby surpassed it in every way. It is one if those I was sure I would like but just ended up being a disappointment.
judijunebugarizonazn8
Original Author
last month
Oh Susan, I love the myrrh/anise scents a lot so that would be a plus for me! Nice to know it was a good grower for you. Kinda confirms my idea that it likes hotter dryer climates.
susan9santabarbara
last month
Judi, I remembered that you like that fragrance, which is why I mentioned it :-D
rosecanadian
last month
Erasmus - that is a sweet pink spot amidst all of that white. Love it!

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