Anyone in here who grows Madam Plantier or Madame Legras de st. Germain, please give me your opinions. I'm going back and forth with these two. I don't have tons of yard space and St. Germain is a bit smaller with larger flowers, while M.P. has more scent and flowers with lovelier form, though, smaller.
I love Alba roses and have Queen of Denmark slated for March, but, I want a white one, also. Even if you don't grow either of these, but, have knowledge about them, your comments are very welcome, too.

Madame Legras de St, Germain is listed as thornless. That would clinch it for me. But I read someone else that was raving about Madam Plantier and considered it a must-have, I think because of fragrance.

reh0622 said: Madame Legras de St, Germain is listed as thornless. That would clinch it for me. But I read someone else that was raving about Madam Plantier and considered it a must-have, I think because of fragrance.

M.P. is, also, almost thornless and I hold fragrance very high in choosing a rose. M.L.'s flowers do not have the wonderful form that M.P. has....very similar to Madam Hardy with the tiny green eye inside. I keep going back and forth because of size and cannot make up my mind.

I wish I had room for both, but, I don't. I read, too, that M.P. is rated higher on the ARS, but, that's not a deal breaker. Actually, Madam Hardy would be a better choice than either of them because her bush size is smaller, but, I don't want a Damask because they are fussy about pruning and loaded with thorns.
Thanks, Rosemary, for your post. I take it you don't grow either M.P. or M.L. Either one needs Room. One more thing.....M.P. is considered much more disease resistant than the others.

If you see this, Rosemary, I ordered M. Plantier yesterday. Fragrance won, tho, she is almost thornless, too.

You will have to post it's progress after it's planted! Wishing you lots of success with it!

reh0622 said: You will have to post it's progress after it's planted! Wishing you lots of success with it!

Thanks...I sure will. It's being shipped August 22nd. I'm hoping I get some blooms next spring since it will be going through the winter.....maybe.

Hello Annie, I'm delighted you got Madame Plantier. Albas are such a wonderful class! From what I observed here, they really need the cold winter rest period. MP is a fairly upright growing bush. Somewhere I read it could be grown even around a pillar, like a short climber. I miss mine and perhaps if luck favours, I might get a replacement. I lost it a couple of years ago out of not understanding its needs...nothing about the plant! It is quite hardy but needs regular watering ( which I didn't provide sufficiently ).

Arturo

hampartsum said: Hello Annie, I'm delighted you got Madame Plantier. Albas are such a wonderful class! From what I observed here, they really need the cold winter rest period. MP is a fairly upright growing bush. Somewhere I read it could be grown even around a pillar, like a short climber. I miss mine and perhaps if luck favours, I might get a replacement. I lost it a couple of years ago out of not understanding its needs...nothing about the plant! It is quite hardy but needs regular watering ( which I didn't provide sufficiently ).

Arturo

I'm thrilled, too. I just started a rose garden this spring and planted all repeat bloomers, but, because of what I've read, photos I've seen I really wanted an Alba.

We get real winters here and I think she will be happier for that. I, also, am going to get Konigin von Danemark ( Queen of Denmark) next spring when it will be available. It would be such a shame if some of these old, historical roses become extinct or not available to buy. The plant is scheduled to arrive tomorrow and I've got the hole dug, special amendments to plant her with and she will get the best care I can give her.
I get a little sad if I see a rose with no fragrance, so, all my roses are very well scented. I think you should cave and get Mme. Plantier, Arturo!!! From everything I've read she's easy as can be to grow.
Photo is from Heirloom Roses site and is not my own photo.

Please be careful about copying photos from other sites. They are usually copyrighted so at minimum, you need to add a disclaimer and/or a credit name with the images.

I'm aiming towards hobby hybridizing and MP is also a target in that way. Although, presented as an Alba, when one looks at the parentage suggested ( since its actual parentage remains unknown) is R.damascena x R. moschata. How that ends becoming an alba-noisette is part of the mysteries that rose growing challenges most of us ,old rose fans, face. It is delightfully fragrant that just for that reason is worthy for a place in my yard. I don't mind if it doesn't repeat, because the bush itself is very attractive with light green leaves. So placed towards the back of a border mixing with other roses, I've seen a couple of shots at the HMF site that are breathtaking! I have a hunch that its descendance may provide amazing surprises.
I will urge my friend and rose nursery to get whatevers (own roots or budded) asap!
Arturo

Calif_Sue said: Please be careful about copying photos from other sites. They are usually copyrighted so at minimum, you need to add a disclaimer and/or a credit name with the images.

I took that from my own computer, but, it's the first picture of this rose on Heirloom Roses site. Should I edit my post with the pic, Sue and put that info on there?

hampartsum said: I'm aiming towards hobby hybridizing and MP is also a target in that way. Although, presented as an Alba, when one looks at the parentage suggested ( since its actual parentage remains unknown) is R.damascena x R. moschata. How that ends becoming an alba-noisette is part of the mysteries that rose growing challenges most of us ,old rose fans, face. It is delightfully fragrant that just for that reason is worthy for a place in my yard. I don't mind if it doesn't repeat, because the bush itself is very attractive with light green leaves. So placed towards the back of a border mixing with other roses, I've seen a couple of shots at the HMF site that are breathtaking! I have a hunch that its descendance may provide amazing surprises.
I will urge my friend and rose nursery to get whatevers (own roots or budded) asap!
Arturo

I am planting MP in the back yard, far from the house and near a fence, but, she won't be close enough to the fence to affect it. That far back doesn't get enough sun for a rose. Let me know, please, if you do end up getting MP.
Personally, I don't care if she is part damask or noisette, or whatever. She's lovely.

LittleAnnie said: I am planting MP in the back yard, far from the house and near a fence, but, she won't be close enough to the fence to affect it. That far back doesn't get enough sun for a rose.
Personally, I don't care if she is part damask or noisette, or whatever. She's lovely.

Well, MP is also shade tolerant! So it might as well be very happy there too. It is , yes, just such a lovely rose that who cares about her pedigree...
The more I write about her, the more I feel her loss...
I'm someone that gets attached...
to very few things :
roses, trees, books, sheet music, and...
of course people, my household pets...
not that few...



Arturo

hampartsum said: Well, MP is also shade tolerant! So it might as well be very happy there too. It is , yes, just such a lovely rose that who cares about her pedigree...
The more I write about her, the more I feel her loss...
I'm someone that gets attached...
to very few things :
roses, trees, books, sheet music, and...
of course people, my household pets...
not that few...



Arturo

Back by the fence there is hardly any sun....too many trees from neighbors, so, she will be moved about 25 feet from the fence.
How much more lovely life is when you have a few, ahem, nice attachments.