Albas do better in full sun. They will tolerate some shade as some once bloomers do and many albas get quite big.

Often they get put into the back of the garden with less than pefect conditions where they seem to hold their own. If they had full sun they would bloom more and do better.

We have Armide, M. Plant-it-here (I think it is an Alba JMHO), and Alba Maxima in full sun and GMB, Alba Semi-plena, and Félicité Parmentier in semi (OK) nasty shade. They do get some sun dappled in the day and then full sun in the evenings when it is not raining.

Foghorn

I agree with Foghorn. That said, some of the Albas with LIGHT shade will hold a pink bloom better. My GMB is a white rose in full sun. The few roses that fall in the shade are light pink. OTOH, Felicite Parmentier is always light pink in full sun. Course it depends on what you call shade or light shade. Very light dappled shade for a few hours would be ok. And if the shade comes from deciduous trees, they will get good sun in winter. I think this matters.

Barbara

I'll vote for dappled sunlight or midday shade to extend bloom time when summer's heat arrives too early. (And Barbara is spot on about how to hold on to the most delicate pink in some of the great albas.)

Of course, if you put your albas in a less sunny spot, it leaves the sunnier spots for roses that really need it. I guess you have to decide in the grand scheme of your garden -- and I know it's grand! -- whether you want the Albas to achieve their fullest potential or have them play a role in the garden.

Mike

They differ a bit, but with some hours of sun they should do very well. They don't do better in partial shade and they thrive in the sun.

I have noticed that some bourbons and hybrid perpetual seem to stay healthier in partial shade. It is not so with albas. I have Maiden's Blush, Felicite Parmentier, Cloris and Maxima.

Well, I appreciate all your comments. The shady spot gets about 6-8 hours of sun each day, but it is shaded in the hottest part of the day. The daylilies and crepe myrtles do fine there so I know there's good sun...but, it's not the total, baking sun...I guess I'll keep the albas in the full baking sun.

Robert

They can be put in the baking sun if you need a rose that can take that, but the shady spot sounds like just as good to me. you can do what you like and the albas should do great in either place!

There's also the sight of that lush blueish or grayish foliage in dappled shade: it looks really good there. Albas look like they belong on the edges of woodlands. Or maybe it's just that that's where I've always planted them.
Melissa

I think that all roses benefit from some afternoon shade. We have a huge tree in our backyard that gives our roses some respite from the hot sun we have in Iowa.

Some of the branches of Alba Maxima were in the shade and I was charmed by the pink blush.

F.L.