I bought an "own root" alba semi plena rose from an online nursery 4 years ago. I did not keep the area around it weeded, it became overgrown and developed a mold or fungus. I finally had the area weeded properly, had the rose bush cut back and last year I had many lovely cane but no blooms. I fertilized it and waited as I know that flowers come on old growth. This year I fertilized and waited again. This lovely plant is now blooming and it's been well worth the wait. Only alba it ain't. It's pink....not a vivid pink and not just slightly pink but a lovely shade of pink. Can this really be an alba? Can it be a maxima or a great maiden's blush? Any knowledgeable rose folk on the forum? Thank you for any help with this. I planted a rosa rugosa last year and hope to see some bloom from it this summer. I love these old shrubs. I never had any luck with the grafted roses. I just don't know enough to take care of them, I guess.
No; 'Alba Semi-plena' is (as its name suggests!) pure white, not tinged pink like this. Try comparing it with 'Celestial', it looks quite like that.
I am quite pleased with whatever it is. I looked at this site: http://www.rosegathering.com/celeste.html ...and darn if it doesn't look like you may be right. I am disappointed with this major online nursery that sold me the "alba semi-plena" (I wanted one and went looking for one when I found them) because I had heard they are quite hardy in my area and very disease resistant. They certainly are all that but they certainly aren't an alba semi-plena. The cestial or celeste rose is an alba rose which does confuse me. It doesn't take much. My only doubt is the size of the plant. The cane are at least 6-7 ft high with a good 5 ft spread....and this after being severely cut back to the ground two years ago. The fellow in the article said his 5 yr old Celeste was not nearly that size. Well, if indeed, it is a Celeste then I accidentally got a rose that is perfect for that space...morning sun, lousy soil and needs little care to prosper. Thanks for your help. It smells lovely, too.... btw.
Leaves look too green and glossy for an Alba in this view. Not sure the flowers are quite right for it but foliage does look like apparently vigorous and tough 'Manetii', sometimes used as a rootstock here and persisting after a scion has died - maybe that is how specimen shown got there as well.
This was "own root" stock. I don't buy anything but "own root". It started out as a small (1 to 1 and 1/2 ft) bare root plant 4 years ago (from a very reputable online nursery). I've dealt with them many times without problems. I'm sure it was an honest mistake and a serendipitous one at that. I only recognized that it was not an alba semi-plena when it bloomed for the first time this year.
I checked out Manetii. The site that I check stated that it has distinctive striped canes and branches. No stripes anywhere on this plant.
Here are some additional photos. I sent an email to Heirloom and asked them to tell me what I bought from them...or rather...what they sent me. We'll see if I hear from them. Thank you for all of your input. I guess (for now), I'll call it an unknown pink rose bush.
Okay, I get your point. However, several articles I've found online describe manettii as thornless or nearly so. And yet another stated that they do have thorns. I can't go within a foot of these roses without long sleeves and gloves. There are a gazillion thorns and they are the kind that can sever an artery. I guess I'll wait and see if it is a repeat bloomer or not. If it isn't then it's not manettii. I don't see new leaves edged in red like the one site said either.
Hi, everyone! Thanks again for all of your input. Those of you that suggested that this rose was an alba Celestial were correct. I just had a phone call from Heirloom Roses where I bought this plant. There had been a mistake by the grower. He included 20 Celestials in a group of 100 semi plenas that they ordered. Heirloom adopted a wait and see policy. Of the 20 Celestials that went out, only 10-12 contacted them about their pink "semi plena". I was the last of those that contacted them about it. They offered to send out a semi plena or give me a credit. I was so pleased with the beautiful pink Celestial that I took neither option. The Heirloom Roses representative was very nice. We had a great conversation about the merits of "own root" roses. It's so nice to know that this company did follow up and offer a remedy even though it was over 3 years later.
