I can tell you that in my "rose heaven" zone 9 it took a good five years to become more than a rooted cutting. Now it's a petite plant 2'x2' that blooms well, but it needed years and years of the very best care and soil to get to that point.

Make of that what you will. The flowers are lovely and beautifully fragrant. They don't hold up to rain particularly well.

I grow Blush Noisette, Tutta's Pink Noisette, Mme Alfred Carriere, Annie Vibert; but not Aimee Vibert...

Blush Noisette is about 3 1/2 feet tall here. Mme Alfred Carriere is 6 feet tall, Tutta's Pink Noisette is about 5 1/2 feet tall. Mme Alfred Carriere might get taller as it matures.

I've found that Noisettes can tolerate cold, but they don't grow as large as they do in the warm zones.

If you are uncertain about Aimee Vibert, Blush Noisette and Mme Alred Carriere might be two to consider.

After seeing Hoov's beautiful garden and having her tell of all the work it took to get it where it is, if Hoov does not have a huge plant, I would forget it. Mine died, so I cannot speak to its health because it was in an iffy location to begin with. I have no magical powers with flowers, just your average garden nut.

Ours is not in the ground yet, but it is a lovely healthy plant in a 7-G that NEEDS to get into the ground. It has no disease problems here in my coastal area of Southern California, and is currently sporting many buds, and blooms just opening. (Not sure how those will fare, with the cold rain.)
But I cannot answer the question of cold-hardiness.

Jeri

Yes that's the bloom, so lovely jeri!

Mine was miserable in a pot, put it in the ground, miserable there, put it back in a pot, no better, finally gave it the best soil in the garden, stayed alive but took years to get going. If it had not been a special gift I would not have bothered.

This one is a clone from a "legacy" plant in the old Sacramento City Cemetery. A beauty -- outside of the bounds of the official Historic Rose Garden.

It's maybe 4-ft tall there, and compact -- quite an old plant that has probably (like every other rose in that area, AFAICS) been chopped to the ground more than once.

I like it a LOT.

Jeri

I think there is also a plant of Aimee Vibert in the Historic Rose Garden proper, and it seems very happy. It's maybe 5'x5', but I'm not really sure - haven't been over in that part of the garden lately.

Laura

Laura, I think the one in the rose garden proper may also be a clone of the "Legacy" plant. I know it was a Fred Boutin attribution.

Jeri

Darn, I'm doomed to want things that aren't good for me. I'm enchanted with this rose, can't describe why. Also, I love anything with a history. Jeri, thanks for the photo.

Krista, for how long have you grown Mme Alfred Carriere? Does she show any tendency of become a climber, do you think she'll require support?

Thanks,
Di

This post was edited by ratdogheads on Mon, Dec 24, 12 at 5:51

My Mme Alfred Carriere is 3 years old. It does sprawl a bit, but I grow it as a freestanding shrub.

I think it might grow taller than six feet, but I don't think it will from a large climber here.

Argh! I am kicking myself for not bidding on the Aimee Vibert plant they had at the Sacramento Cemetary rose sale in April. As I recall, there was a beautiful one as part of the silent auction. I kept on debating with myself about it, but decided I didn't have the room.

Does anyone know if they will offer another Aimee Vibert at the next rose sale?

Anne

HI ratdogheads, did you end up taking a chance on Aimee vibert? I'm pretty enchanted with this rose right now but I think I'm in the same zone situation as you. Or did you try Madame alfred carriere?

I did, but I don't have much experience to offer because it was accidentally broken at the beginning of the 2nd summer. It was such a tiny plant that it never recovered. I was finally able to replace it this summer, so trying again and we shall see.

Both were bands from Rogue Valley Roses, small and fragile. They grew to about 18" in the first summer. I did let the first one bloom and the buds and blooms are as you say, enchanting. The first one did survive the winter with no damage at all; of course it was quite low to the ground so it was protected by snow and not disturbed much by wind.

Mine reached 4' this summer. It's blooming today.

Wow those pictures are beautiful. I don't know what it is about white roses but I think I could just buy all of them. Ratodogheads, I'm impressed with what you can grow in New Hampshire. I'm going to pay close attention for what does well for you because if it can grow where you are, it will grow where I am. I'm definitely putting Aimee Vibert on my list. I'm surprised at how few places sell her.

Sad to report she's got blackened canes nearly to the soil line. But she was just a little twig, so no surprise. I see green so I'm not giving up.

I hope she makes it! If you can see green that's a good sign!