I just read through the current thread: What's the most foolproof antique rose in your area, and I see Felicite Parmentier mentioned a lot. Heirloom has her available, although I had never considered a once bloomer before. Is she really that good?

Unless your conditions are alkaline, I can't see 'Reine des Violettes' as a "fussy" rose. It never was for us.

Jeri

My RdV is anything BUT fussy, lol! She's an absolute monster that I have to keep whacking back or she'd take over the whole bed. She's been potted, planted and dug up a couple of times and each time she didn't even blink. Rarely spots and only occasionally mildews for me. Now mind you, in my zone she's basically a once bloomer but for you I'm betting she'll bloom at least a couple of times. And those blooms!!! Gorgeous color and even better scent!!
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Regarding: Reine des Violettes

My Bichon Frise ate a few leaves! Vegetarian?

Are the leaves also fragrant?

Kim can smell them -- a "peppery" scent.

I can't -- but then, I am "smeller-challenged." :-)

Jeri

Do you think Felicite Parmentier would get enough winter chill to bloom in 9b? I'm not sure how much of a chill the once bloomers need...

My Reine des Violettes was put in my garden 2 years ago bareroot from David Austin, and is no more than a foot high (I'm trying to be patient). My soil is more acidic (multiflora rootstock loves it here), so it may be more that I have "her" grafted on Dr. Huey than the actual Reine des Violettes plant herfelf. I burried her deep enough, and I'm hoping that she goes ownroot at some point. If she doesn't take off, I may try her on multiflora...

Tammy

I got my RdV this spring as a band.

One of my garden projects it to get her an obelisk. She is almost 6 feet tall. I am hoping she puts on a show in the spring and slows down on the growing. I might need a BIG obelisk other wise.

I put my RdV in as a band from VG and the 1st two years she didn't do much--just a few leggy canes. The second two years she grew some more and started to bloom a bit. The 5th I congratulated myself on putting her in the front row. She filled out. Even in the worst heat she has a bloom. She is nearly blackspot resistant. Love her!

My soil is alkaline (South Bay near San Jose) and Reine des Violettes was profoundly unhappy here. If your soil is like mine, I do not recommend it. Too bad; like the little girl with the curl, when it is good, it is very, very good.

Felicite Parmentier does quite well here in my low chill garden. If I were only going to grow three once bloomers, it would be one of the three. Well worth the garden space.

I have never grown Lady of the Mist so I cannot say anything useful about it.

Rosefolly

Also, Gertrude Jeckyll is out of patent and it roots fairly easily. If you want a cutting of mine, you would be welcome to it.

Rosefolly

I agree with Folly that, if your conditions are alkaline, Reine des Violettes is not for you. WONDERFUL rose -- but not for those of us with alkaline conditions.

The rose I like a LOT better than RdV, in that same color range, is the Found rose, "Forest Ranch Pom-Pom," or "Forest Ranch Purple Pom-Pom."

It's not in commerce, but it is in the Sacramento City Cemetery, and I am hopeful they will be propagating it for sale this April.

In heat (just like RdV) it can be pink, but in my cool climate, it is almost always poiple. AND it is never bothered by my alkaline conditions. Clean foliage, too!

When ours finishes its first spring flush for 2013, I'll remind DH to propagate it.

Jeri

I have no idea whether they still have any available, but "Forest Ranch Pom Pom" was listed on Vintage Gardens' 2nd release of roses for this fall. Like the New Orleans Cemetery Rose that I purchased from them (also from the 2nd release), I don't believe it was ever listed in their online rose catalog.

Here is a link that might be useful: Vintage Gardens' 2nd release of roses for fall 2012

Forest Ranch Pom Pom looks wonderful. I planted RdV because of the thornless canes but over time watering with alkaline water was bad for the bush and it declined.

If you can get it, try it. It is likely to be something sold by Gen. John Bid well, thru his Rancho Chico Nursery -- one of CA's earliest. We owe Sherri Berglund for this interesting and -- I think -- valuable save.

We don't know, yet, where it will thrive, but it's great in Sacramento, and looking great at the SoCal coast. The acceptance of alkaline conditions endears it to me.

Jeri

Plantloverkat, I followed your link to Vintage Gardens, and fell in love with Santa Clara University Rose #15. Just looking at it, I know how it smells, and can feel those petals caressing my face. Does anyone know anything about it? It looks a tad tender for Portland.

Is Gertrude related to Mme Isaac Pereire, or is that just my failing memory? I recall they have similar fragrance. You can tell it has been 3-4 years since DH killed mine. Lady of the Mist is a totally different rose and I loved it. Mine came from Roses Unlimited and it was very healthy in my garden, as was RdV but Reine did not bloom frequently enough, nor did Gertrude, for my taste. I want at least a flush in spring and fall. These both were real divas and required patience and high maintenance. I am through with that now. I am ready for some everyday bloomers, Eileen Fisher slacks and tops with one favorite pair of sandals. ;-)

If you love oddball, subtle shades of peach, pink, and gray roses, then 'Lady of the Mist' is the rose for you. Mine is a fairly large shrub/climber that has thick canes that grew through a 7' large hoop. Blooms are borne on clusters and last for days on the plant. 'Lady' gets rather tall here, about 7' or so, and perhaps 5' wide. Sturdy enough to have clematis rambling through her. She's a rose I would not be without in my gardens.