(BTW, not to distract from this post, but I had an awful time loading this picture. I know others have reported similar difficulites. In my case, it turns out that my brother's photo was in HEIC format. When I changed it to JPEG it loaded easily. I offer this as a possible solution to at least some of the problems people have had. No doubt there are other reasons as well.)

Now - I hope - back to the mystery rose!

It would be good to have photos of multiple flowers. While this one is not typical of Smith's Parish, I could believe that that's what it is. We have a hedge of 25, alternating 'Smith's Parish' and 'Red Smith's Parish', and they are super variable from one flower to the next.

Malcolm's right, Smith's Parish is super changeable. Here's a group of it's many faces.

'Five-Colored Rose' Rose Photo (helpmefind.com)

Your rose doesn't look quite right to me, but Chinas vary so much . . .

I've seen Oakington Ruby look just like that, including the reflexed petals. How large is the plant that photo was taken of? https://helpmefind.com/rose/l.php?l=21.63230 HMF lists that A Reverence for Roses and Rose Petals have both previously sold Oakington Ruby.

I am my brother's sole source of roses and I never heard of Oakington Ruby so I'm sure that's not it. Thanks for the suggestion though. I agree that it looks like the photo.

I will send hom the link Jeri supplied, along with Malcolm's assurances.

Thanks to all - I knew I could could on this group!

And a follow up thanks from Frank, my rose photographing brother. The HMF page Jeri suggested convinced him that Smith's Parish is indeed the right rose.

COOL!

https://www.emeraldgoddessgardens.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1095
I pass this on in wonder. I couldn’t be more convinced that whatever they’re selling isn’t Smith’s Parish, and that this operation screams FRAUD to me. Am I paranoid?
I’m beginning to see more and more of this sort of thing. I’d sooner send my money to Mars. Maybe it’s just me.

Sylvia, I know nothing about Smith’s Parish rose except what I have read and the pictures I have seen. I have never grown this rose, so I have no opinion to offer as to whether Emerald Goddess Gardens is offering the true Smith’s Parish rose or not. However, I am curious what about this business screams “fraud” to you… they have been selling on eBay for quite some time now. I’m not positive, but pretty sure I’ve ordered from them before. From what I can see, they appear totally legit and are a registered mail order nursery and are certified to send to all fifty states. I believe they are a business safe to order from, but if anyone else has any evidence otherwise, please let me know.

Sylvia, I don't on what, exactly, you are basing your very negative opinions of this nursery. You only mentioned the appearance of their web site, and also the photo they have of Smith's Parish.

I had never heard of EGG, but I got curious and did some very quick research on line about it. Here is some of what I found out (none of the sources of the below were EGG's web site):

1) It sells on Amazon as well as eBay, and has dozen's of favorable reviews on Daves Gardens.

2) The address of the nursery is 3496 Peeples Lane, Wauchula, FL

3) The property is in a very rural agricultural area of Florida. Here is a photo I got from Zillow of the general neighborhood:

4) The property is 1.5-2acres, and contains one single family home (very similar to Rogue Valley Roses in OR, a very real rose nursery).

5) An inquiry into the business resulted in the info that the annual rev is about $200k, and there are 2-8 employees, and that it has been in business 10-12 years.

6) Regarding the photos of Smith's Parish on the EGG website, IMO they match perfectly with Malcolm's description of how he originally obtained SP above - a cultivar which had been bred for many years in an attempt to make it pure white, but which occasionally shows pink lines.

So, I can now say that it looks like a legitimate small nursery/retail seller of plants to me.

I know it is easy to get carried away and vent on here, but IMO we, all of us, need to be very careful about promulgating negative information, especially about small nurseries - as a group they are one of our best sources of older roses.

Jackie

I’m very sorry. Apologies for my paranoia. I agree we need as many old-rose sources as possible. Didn’t mean to malign an honest business.
BTW, I love Smith’s Parish. Wish I had room for it.

Sylvia - not to worry - we all (definitely including me!) get paranoid about things on line, unsolicited emails, etc. now - with good reason! I had fun researching Emerald Goddess Gardens, and was very happy when I finally realized that they look legit - I was expecting the opposite.

Jackie

Exactly. I tend to get suspicious easily as well because there are a lot of reasons to be wary. Thanks for your research, Jackie. They have so many nice plants to offer and I just might order from them again.

I have ordered from Emerald Goddess before. I think it was a brug and a passionvine..and she sent me a free little rooted rose as well. They were decent sized healthy plants too. I ordered again not too much later but I cant remember what I got that time. No free plant that time but it was nice she sent me something fun and unexpected with that first order! I dont know if she does that all the time on the first order nowdays. She is legit though.

Almost Eden in Louisiana has some older roses for a decent price. Like 14.99 to 19.99 etc. She doesnt have a ton of roses. They have lots of other things like camellias, pollinator plants for bees, hummingbirds etc. lots of hardy hibiscus, some edible plants.. I have recieved nothing but lovely plants and sometimes 2 in one pot with decent roots. I love their Salvia selections. You save in shipping if you order several plants rather than just one. I have no clue what the shipping is to the West Coast nowdays. They usually have a bigger selection of plants in the spring.