I've had my Duchesse de Montebello since like 2006 and it has not creeped very far from where I originally planted it. Nor gotten terribly tall. It's form for me is very pretty and distinct, has a much more vertical structure than my other once bloomers, which looks great.
The leaves are also really pretty, people don't mention this but they tend to have a sorta grey-blue cast to them compared to other gallicas, not as grey as the damask Leda but it's certainly different and for me appreciated when it's just the rose foliage in the bed where I have it before perennials take over.
Unfussy, never demands much attention. Naturally shapely especially when in bud, the buds are held straight 90% up like candelabra
Mine is currently about before a light almost 1/3 pruning maybe 45 inches tall each winter, it's not tall but it's not short either, maybe thigh or hip level for most people, pruning keeps it very upright. It has formed some suckers that are pretty much another bush entirely and actually have potted some of those up. However mine is not even 36 inches wide, it's MUCH more manerly than say a pure gallica like 'Tuscany Superb' who has suckered an entire 4 ft+ area.
It's a really top notch rose, the scent is amazing for a gallicas, who I think tend to be more earthy and peppery and aren't known for really sweet rose scents, but that's just what I've seen and smelled, DdM is super sweet, pure, and light. It's cupped form is also very charming with it's button eye.
The color is amazing, it really is the lightest of pink, fleshtone shell pink when opening aging to pure white, so it often registers in many lighting as white, also in pictures. I think it looks amazing when Tuscany Superb purple is nearby, you get a great great contrast of white and purple.
Also readily accepts pollen and sets hips so if you ever try breeding it's worth toying with.
For me in Maryland the leaves do get a type of blackspot but it's very very specific, and causes a mottling rather than ugly spots. The leaves do not drop. It's not that big of a deal. She plays very well with perennials so if you plant them nearby they can sort of hide her a bit during the summer, but she still provides some great structural elements to a border even out of bloom.
Really a wonderful little rose, very manerly and lady-like due to the china blood.
You almost have to think of the gallica clan like very wild brambly country girls from the 1800s and Ddm is like if one went to finishing school and became a lady.
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Beautiful irises with companion plants
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