Rosa x Noisette 'Madame Alfred Carrière'

The Ancient Rose 'Madame Alfred Carriere' is perhaps the best of the perpetual climbing roses. This ancient French creation dating back to 1879 has stood the test of time and changing trends, never ceasing to impress rose enthusiasts with its impressive list of qualities. Vigorous and healthy, it produces large, double, cream-white roses with a pink heart, accompanied by a pleasant fruity fragrance that is as surprising as it is delightful. This robust hybrid Noisette rose can flower from May to June to October, almost without interruption, even in shaded areas and poor soils. It can cover an entire wall with its long branches adorned with beautiful dark green foliage. This obedient and less thorny rose can also be trained as a tall and elegant bush by pruning it short every year in March. In summary, here is a rose that never disappoints!

The Madame Alfred Carriere rose is a sarmentous rose with a complex lineage that includes a Noisette Rose and Tea Roses. With its elegant climbing habit and rapid growth, it can easily reach over 3.50m (11ft) in height. The young stems and shoots are red, then elongate into long, flexible, less thorny stems adorned with beautiful deciduous foliage. In spring, the foliage is acid green, turning into a satin dark green in summer.

Flowering begins in June (sometimes as early as May if the weather is mild) and continues until the arrival of the first frost. The flowers, grouped in small bouquets of 5 to 7, emerge from pointed buds in a soft pink colour. They open into large, double ivory-white cups with pink reflections at the centre. They measure about 10 cm (4in) in diameter and comprise many small, crumpled petals. Their fruity fragrance is delightful and quite intense. This rose shows remarkable resistance to diseases and difficult conditions. However, it can be susceptible to marsonia in overly humid climates and powdery mildew if planted against a very sunny wall. It is worth noting that, for a hybrid Noisette rose, it is relatively cold-hardy.

What better tribute could be paid to a lady passionate about roses? Madame Alfred Carriere was the wife of Alfred Carriere, editor-in-chief of the famous Horticultural Review. This popular climbing rose is perfect for adorning a fence, pergola or wall, even in shaded areas. Its very flexible stems are easy to train on any support. Like 'Gloire de Dijon', this rose is particularly interesting for bringing lushness and colour to lightly shaded garden areas, especially in dry and hot climates. It will thrive in the north (in sunny exposure) and in the south (away from the scorching sun) of our country, with some care at planting and during the first two or three years of cultivation. Like other climbers under 4.50m (15ft), it can be trained as a tall bush with regular pruning: it will "climb" less than when used as an espalier, and, after three years of cultivation, it will moderate its growth while maintaining appreciated vigour. It will also adorn a gate, fences, and pergolas and can be planted behind overly strict flower beds. With a beautiful fragrance, its pastel and refined roses are also stunning in bouquets. 

Bred by Schwarz in 1879.

This exceptional rose is part of the "Old Rose Hall of Fame," which includes ten historic old roses selected by the World Federation of Rose Societies. It has received numerous awards and honours, including the prestigious English AGM award in 1993, and was voted the best white climbing rose in 1908 by the Royal National Rose Society.