@malcolm_manners

I grew Semi-plena seeds years ago (like 25 years ago) and if I remember correctly, they germinated well when sown in a pot and left outdoors for the winter, buried in the garden. Germination rates were low (like 15%) but I did get seedlings. I see no reason to think that the standard refrigerator stratification method wouldn't produce similar (or better) results.

Thanks Paul. Much variation among the seedlings?

@malcolm_manners

Variation? Nope. The ones I grew to flowering size all looked much like Semi-plena. Some had a few more petals, but that's about it.

How strange...I've even heard of Alba roses growing feral in Europe and in America. Is it possible for it to be true to seed?

Ian, not so strange, really. R. alba semi-plena is very close to the type, which itself is a natural hybrid of R. gallica and R. canina. Some rosarians used to dispute whether semi-plena was truly a separate variety from R. alba, or more a minor variant or sport. It's fully fertile, both ways, so there's nothing to prevent it from naturalizing. If the cross occurred once (before at least Roman times, evidently), it has probably happened many times since, and probably happens occasionally anywhere the two species co-habit. Voila...wild stands of rosa alba.

Not quite a species but acts like one lol

Thanks @fig_insanity

R. Semi-plena produces offspring that resemble it closely. Many are indistinguishable from their parent, and they tend to vary only in petal count.

BOOM! Great to know.

Thanks, @Paul Barden.

I should REALLY be focusing on these Albas...I'll try and get Alba Semi Plena sometime soon.

Alba 'Semi-plena' is a fine rose, to be sure. But the blooms are fairly unsophisticated — nothing wrong with a slightly-more-than-single rose, of course. But as the large white Albas go, 'Alba Maxima' is a much nicer flower on a very similar large shrub.

Both are tall (8-12 feet) and both are virtually indestructible shrubs, capable of surviving some of the harshest winters without any freeze damage whatsoever. Great roses, as long as you have the space and don't mind a fairly brief (+/- 4 weeks) bloom period.

If I could have only one Alba, it would be 'Konigen von Danemark' without hesitation; a mannerly, restrained shrub of about 6X6 feet, loaded wit exquisitely shaped fully double light/medium pink blooms and an exceptionally rich fragrance. The bloom period for this one is typically 6 weeks or more (in the PNW), with one or two final blooms lasting into early July.

@Paul Barden - I have heard wonders about KvD..Is it's foliage or disease resistance better than say the original Albas? And how is the fragrance..More damask or pure?

Green Mantle Nursery has this rose in their catalog, maybe I'll get it.

Thanks

@Ian Stewart: Zone 6 Western Kentucky, USA

'Konigen von Danemark' has excellent foliage — very good disease resistance: no Blackspot (for me) ever, no Mildew, ever, and only occasionally have I seen Rust when climate conditions are especially stressful.

Without a bloom in front of me right now, I'd be hard=pressed to describe it with any accuracy. However, my recollection is that it's an intense blend of "classic" Damask and traditional Alba scents.

Blooms for 6 weeks (which is wild), great disease resistance, fragrant, beautiful foliage, BEAUTIFUL blooms, yeah this checks out on my of my list.

Does it sucker? 😅

Thanks Paul, beautiful picture by the way!

@Ian Stewart: Zone 6 Western Kentucky, USA My specimen is about 27 years old and is grafted onto R. Laxa. It came from Pickering Nurseries in Ontario. Because it is (still) on the Laxa roots, I have not seen it sucker at all, but if it were own-root, things might be different. So I can't answer your question with any confidence, since mine is not own-root. Maybe someone else has first hand experience with it on its own roots. Most Albas do sucker somewhat.

Good to know then @Paul, thank you.

I'll maybe see about getting this rose this year along with other roses of the old European classes.

Though while we're at it, I wanted to ask a question if that's okay. I've been working on getting the best roses from each of the 4 main European old rose classes (Damask, Gallica, Alba, Centiflolia). I already have a few Gallicas (as you sent me) and a few damask.

If you had to pick the best out of each class what varieties would they be?

Thanks Paul, regards Ian.

Literally am noting each of these roses, lol!

Alba: I've heard people talk about Felicite Parmentier better than Königin von Dänemark so nice to hear. Also Chloris seems great for a up-front walk way due to it's being nearly thornless.

Centiflolia: Honestly I have heard barely anything from the Centiflolias as a class except for the original. I'll look up these on HMF.

Gallica: I was happy to see that out of the ones you picked as for some of the best were the ones you gave. Tuscany Superb quite literally seems AMAZING and I think my mom will love the blooms of Duchesse de Mills. Honestly I think I will too. I love that light color of DdM. Cardinal de Richelieu has a beautiful color and better form than Tuscany Superb too (at least from the pictures I've seen).

Damask: Along with the Albas, this is probably my favorite group due to first rose I ever owned being Bella Donna. I haven't heard of 'La Ville de Bruxelles', glad you mentioned this beauty. Wow.. Botzaris..Sigh. Funny story for this one. During the holiday sale for RvR Botzaris was in stock and when I went to buy it, it was sold out. Literally. Sold out before my eyes, lol. I got Mme Plantier instead and I'm happy with that one. Madame Hardy is a rose I know that isn't the best on health and so on but I fell in love with the blooms. One rose I think I'll forever have. I'll try and share this rose around 😉. As for the Autumn Damask I have been on & off about it for months. I love it's history but is it's fragrance REALLY that good compared to others? Cultivars like Stanwell Perpetual apparently has better bloom than even it's parent, the Autumn Damask. Also I have seen people grow AD in hot climates which is rare for OGR. I have a lot of questions about AD but I don't know. Also, I once saw on a thread I believe on here of an Autumn Damask seedlings you found that was remontant, and it's petal count was very high. Someone once got seedlings from the Autumn Damask that was nearly identical to Omar Khayyã¡m damask and was "nearly immune to black spot".

"Nothing on your wish list from the Moss class?? Many great roses in that class to choose from."--- I have looked into the mosses but they originally derived from the Centiflolias so I merely just merge them together. However, most mosses now are cearly very hybridized. That said I have looked into a few mosses like James Mitchell, Capitaine John Ingram, Moore mosses & even a few of YOUR moss roses, miniature mosses I believe were the ones I looked at from your collection.

Regards, Ian Stewart