It's a lovely list. I note a distinct lack of stripes. Forgive me for going for the obvious choice. Rosa mundi is the prettiest rose on the planet. Accept no substitutes.

And Alika blooms much longer (three weeks this year) than officinalis or mundi (two weeks) in my gardens and adds a vibrant red with an orange undertone as well as having verrry interesting hip shapes.

I LOVE Tuscany Superb and Complicata.
I am absolutely mad about gallicas. Have more then 30 and keep adding every year. Just got three more before Uncommon Rose closed.
Olga

Hippolyte blooms for weeks on end. It's the first one to bloom and the last to stop blooming. Of course, it helps that the weather has been cool.

Yes, you cannot stop until you have them all! :-)

In this group I think Charles De Mills is the prettiest. As irritated as I get from gallicas suckering, I wouldn't want to lose this one.

You've got to add Belle de Crecy to your collection :). And then Duc de Guiche. Did I mention Tuscany and Alice Vena for the really dark ones? I can't count. But Belle is a must!
Lori

I'm with Estevinho...you need at least one striped Gallica...I prefer Camaieux to Rosa Mundi...though there are other "mad" Gallicas around..these 2 are easiest to find. Lee

Here is a link that might be useful: High Desert Rose Garden

I've planted a couple of Complicata's and they didn't do well. Not sure that either is still around. It is a lovely rose but it seems to lack the survivor traits of the others. I wrote recently about Jenny D. Can't kill it. Lovely color. And prolific like most.

Hippolyte is my wife's favorite. I like Charles D. but something strange happened to my 3 this spring. Bad winter die back! Never happened before. Something to do with the late low temps I guess. Or maybe my neglect at pruning it more regularly.

Thank you all....8 different rosarians...15 or so different choices ;)

I'll have to digest this all and see which one I think might best balance out Gallica X in a far too formal area in my border.

Or perhaps plan a 60 ft Gallica hedge or something! ;)

Thanks again,
John

{{gwi:274208}}

8-)
Aces

How about a spotted one? This one suckers so well, it's making a hedge all by itself. I think Paul created one very similar. I know he had cuttings from this one.
{{gwi:274209}}

So for Heaven's sake what is the name of that spotted rose and where can I get it??? I concur in what everyone says about the wonderfulness of the Gallicas and won't add to John's spiritual anguish with additional suggestions of desirable varieties. But, John, I think you should plant that hedge.

Melissa

It's an Alain Blanchard seedling I did back in the 90's. I'm pretty sure Paul bred one that was virtually identical and he sold them. Maybe he can be talked out of one.
Alain Blanchard will also have spots, just not as many.

Cheryl...I have 2 plants of "Cheryl's Spotty" and just love the plant..people who come when it's in bloom just marvel at it..I'd KILL for a hedge of it...Lee

Lee - I'm surprised it hasn't made a hedge for you by now. Mine has creaped through it's neighbors 15 feet away. How long ago did I give you cuttings? Or did you get them from Paul, who I gave cuttings to? I'm forgetting how many people I gave cuttings to - it's the holes in the brain combined with age.
It's a shame it blooms only briefly.

I just got one last spring and one this spring...and yes...got them from Paul..other downside is it doesn't hold blooms that well..which doesn't bother me..might bother some heavy duty rose people though...I love it...I'm waiting for my hedge...Lee

Paul's 'Song of the Stars'?

Cheryl's is gorgeous.

Here is a link that might be useful: SotS

Is the number of semi-doubles on the list accidental or on purpose? If it's accidental then not only are the stripes conspicuous by their absence, but so are the poufy pinks like Oelleit Flammand.

If it's deliberate, then while it isn't a gallica, Hebe's Lip really should be thrown into the mix.

{{gwi:274210}}

Oooh, I like Hebe's Lip. Mine is blooming right now.
John already has Cardinal De Richelieu, but to even out the bloom types, I'll post mine:
{{gwi:274211}}
And here's a fuller, but less spotty seedling of mine:
{{gwi:274213}}
I wish this pink didn't over saturate so much.
While I know this isn't helping John with his purchases, maybe it'll encourage more growing from seed.

You need a Gallica with the classical bicolor characteristic - deeper center and pale guard petals:

Belle sans Flatterie, Gloire de France, President de Seze.

George

Or back to the Simple Singles:

One reason to grow Complicata:
{{gwi:274206}}
Oh, and another:
{{gwi:274207}}

Then just fill-in the background as desired :)
Best wishes
Jon

I don't know why I can't grow gallicas like the rest of you. Mine tend too much to mildew. Is it possible they might grow out of this somewhat?

However, I do have Song of the Stars, and it may be my favorite rose of all. I would second Gloire de France, though. It is my next favorite gallica, and smells to me like an ice cream sundae.

Here is a blossom from my Rosa Mundi which is still covered with blooms. The only problem is the canes are bare and bent over until the last foot or so which has all the leaves and flowers. I assume I should cut back at least some canes after flowering to remedy this? The color should tend more to purple than red.

{{gwi:274215}}

Cheryl,
Is your divinely spotted rose available in Europe? I live in Italy, though I'm vacationing in my home state of Florida this summer as I've done for several years. I have 'Alain Blanchard' (got it last year) and, naturally, I love it. I noted the resemblance. I have a big garden and am hoping to get babies of various kinds as the years go on, though I have too much on my mind to be interested in a hybridizing program. I have a lot of roses, including a good-sized and growing collection of Gallicas. I like the once-blooming old roses a lot.

Melissa

Job well done guys.....my brain is melting! ;)

Those seedlings of your are wonderful cnetter!

Now I'm up to what?....a 200 ft hedge? LOL!

Mad Gallica....there has been very little rhyme or reason to what has been added to my collection since I started hanging out around here. I already had Apothecary, the Cardinal and Charles when I first joined up. The classic three that English writers seemed to agree on the most. I ordered in Sissinghurst basically because I wanted something from Sissihurst....never really expecting it to perhaps become my favorite. Alain was a definite after seeing a picture of it on Vintage's site....and I really have no idea when or how Jenny came in to play....but I don't regret it.

Luanne's Gallica X is here because it is from Luanne. I really do enjoy having little bits of friends gardens in my own.

Complete mish-mosh in other words.....think that was an expression of my Mom's so I guess those are really her other words.

Thanks for completely confusing me guys....we really do it well around here don't we? ;)

John

I've got a sucker of Rosa Mundi I'll trade-But tough to get going.
And keep that dog tied up.
And HOW does Jon get his gallicas to grow so tall, hmmm?
Charles de Mills has quit blooming for me, too. I think it is because it is grafted, and needs to sucker.
Could throw in some White rose of York for a War of the Roses garden.

I like them all and really can't pick a favorite. Here is what I'm growing:

Tuscany
Tuscany Superb
La Belle Sultane (a real beauty)
James Mason
Ellen Tofflemeir (Paul Barden's beauty)
CdR
Charles de Mills
Rosa mundi
R. gallica officinalis
Camiaeux

Cheryl just gave me several cuttings of her spotted baby, so I'm hoping those root!

Would still love to have more of Paul's gallicas too...

Nancy

I have and adore Ohl, Ornament de la Nature, Duchesse de Montebello, Comtesse de Lacepede, Jenny Duval, and Renoncule.

I have Tuscany Superb, it sprung back from being chewed up, but I've yet to have a bloom. The leaves are so pretty! I can't wait for next year!