An Alba rose. This rose is usually considered a synonym of ‘Alba Semi-plena’, and is a name used for the rose grown for perfume in Bulgaria. When Roger and I visited the rose fields near Isparta in Turkey, we did not see any alba roses being grown there. Our illustration of ‘Alba Suaveolens’ comes from a plant grown by Richard Rix in Kent, and shows flowers with more petals than ‘Alba Semi-plena’ but less than ‘Alba Maxima’. Gerry Kreuger records that ‘Alba Semi-plena’ has anthers on the inner petals, while ‘Alba Suaveolens’ does not. Zone 3, surviving -25°C, and probably less.

Photographed at the garden of Richard Rix Kent UK.