the petals are light pink in the front and silver in the back. the flower petals are long and would not blow-up easily, forming a shape quite similar to a lotus. the bloom is 10-13cm, very large. petal count is around 30. the fragrance is strong old rose plus lemon. no thorns, thin glossy canes with long leaves.
The rose has an unforgettable fragrance of pure rose. For me this rose produces a lot of twiggy growth that is not really productive. Stands really well to the heat here in Thailand.
ET is at it's best along the Southern CA coast where temps are cool and humidity is higher than inland. Specimens seen in Laguna Beach were incredible.
It grows and blooms (and unfortunately blows open and flops) like weed in LA. It stikes from cuttings almost as easily as a geranium. Killer scent, buds and remonance. Love it.
I've never seen a good specimen of ET grown own-root. They tend to be as Tim describes.
From what I've observed, this is one that seems to benefit from being budded. I'd love to have a VID version. Mine is virused, purchased from Armstrong Garden Centers in 1983. That year I bought them as gifts for several relatives.
So your telling me that your Eifel Tower blooms open up as full as roses like Memorial Day or Peter Mayle and that they aren't blowsy ? Mine look like Charlott Armstrong after they open. My bush is a big booming fool, it's just that the flowers aren't that full.