Madame Alfred Carriere

Origin - Schwartz, 1879
Parentage - Unknown
Color - Creamy white/pink blush
Foliage - Medium green
Thorns - Moderate
Size - 20' + (climbing)
Fragrance - Strong, tea
Repeat bloom - Yes
Disease resistance - Excellent
Hardiness - Zone 7

The Name of the Rose - Named for the wife of a French scientist and amateur rose breeder.

Madame Alfred Carriere is a rose I don't think I could live without. It was one of the first old roses I grew and I was devastated a few years ago when the entire rose died (I suspect that it was a victim of the dreaded rose rosette but that is another story!). I promptly replaced her, this time placing it on another pergola near my bedroom windows.

The Madame is a fast grower and can easily scramble 20 feet or more in two years. Her effect on a pergola, wall or large trellis is magical and a lovely sight. Training should be done early because the canes become unwieldy with age.

The blooms, white with a faint blush, are spectacular in May and the fall with sporadic blooms in between. The blooms are pinker in cooler weather and you can expect blossoms throughout the year, even in December and January. The full, globular, nodding flowers have a strong fragrance.

Madame Alfred Carriere is probably the most famous of the noisette roses. Hardier than most noisettes, this is a rose that should be give a special place in the garden.

More Noisette Roses

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