This rose is a good example of how good a rose can be if grown in the right conditions and, at the same time, how disappointing it could be otherwise. I think I succeeded in giving it the right conditions and it rewards me all season long.

This variety has an exuberant growth and it does flop if you let it grow that way; anyhow, its stem are thin, smooth and flexible and you can therefore easily tie them to a trellis or, even better, an obelisk. As an own-root in Europe, USDA 7b/8a, grown in a big pot as a pillar, it reached about 150 cm in height. Since its flowers are a bit floppy as well, I really think everybody should try and grow it as a climber, in order to be able to see and smell them properly.

Its foliage is glossy, in a lovely shade of dark green, abundant and extremely disease resistant (no spray). When young, it has a light hint of burgundy that adds a pleasant colourful note without being too bold.

Its flowers are held in small sprays, each with a relatively long thin stem. During spring and autumn flushes, the flowers are packed with petals (up to 100) and keep a deep cup shape, each with a button-eye in the center. When the flowers first open, they are more strongly coloured in the center, with the outside nearly white. Then, they get uniformly shell-pink. During summer flushes fowers tend to have less petals (abut 70-80) and tend to open more, to a rosette shape. Each flower is about 8cm wide, even though the occasional blooms (usually single blooms from strong canes) can be bigger. Despite their gentle appearance, flowers last quite well on the bush (5 days in summer, about 7 in cooler weather). It often reveals a cluster of red pistils in the center of the bloom. Even if the scent is not excessively powerful, it is in my opinion special and definitely "worth smelling"; it's musky, spicy, sometimes reminding cloves, some late-autumn flowers have a bittersweet smell, like roasted chestnuts. If not deadheaded, flowers will be followed by huge elongated hips, polished orange in color, containing a good amount of big seeds. However, to rebloom consistently the plant needs deadheading. Petals usually drop off cleanly.

post deleted by user

I must speak up for this rose, I am so glad I bought it on a whim despite the questionable reviews. I am zone 7b, hot and dry summers. This rose never fails to amaze me, it just keeps on going..........I have it against a very hot west wall, which has roasted many others in the past and I was skeptical knowing Austin’s generally don’t like extreme heat but it seems unaffected. Also love the glossy foliage, the flower itself is exquisite with many pointed petals, accurately described as ‘gossamer’, the fragrance is medium strong and unique in my experience and would describe it as rosewater. This is probably the best rebloomer in my garden. I will trim off spent blooms and before I know it, it’s all budded up again. It also actually wants to climb unlike many others. The flowers may droop slightly but I find it adds to the charm.

I will say that we have had an unusually wet spring this year and it it did cause the blooms to ball, but in the long run here, that shouldn’t be an issue.

As I wrote earlier: This rose has nodding heads. See recent photo of Quail Haven Farm: http://www.helpmefind.com/rose/l.php?l=21.247347
It possibly has to be grown and trained as a climber, to really enjoy it's flowers.