The scent of Rose a Parfum de l'Hay is extraordinary in both strength and quality - much more like pure damask than those hybrid teas described as damask scented (in which the damask is invariably overlaid with other - fruity, tea - notes). I grow this rose in England, basically in shade. It gets perhaps 3 hours of late afternoon sun in the summer. It blooms quite profusely nonetheless. The foliage is beautiful, reportedly disease prone, but has been doing fine here (some mildew occasionally). The flowers overdo the nodding thing and they aren't very shapely, but because of the scent I couldn't be without this rose. Don't prune it hard - or at all!
Given good soil. organic fertilizer, and plenty of water, this cultivar can stand up to the heat of Texas. It does blackspot though, here. I have not tried every blackspot treatment, but it handles Cleary 3336, quite well.
I have grown it here in DFW Texas for over 20 years, currently in a 2 foot by 2 foot pot. In the ground (which is heavy alkaline clay), it struggles, but it also suckers - like typical Rugosas. I have given away several copies, that way.
