This should be an interesting one. Fair Bianca was one of the first David Austin roses I wanted, but it also turned out to be one of the most difficult to find. An earlier variety (bred in the early 80s) long since removed from the catalog, finding one turned out to be an exercise in patience.
The interwebs are all over the place on this one. Some folks lament Fair Bianca as either the sickliest rose they ever grew or the oddest smelling, seemingly boasting about the day they shovel pruned the poor creature to make room for something else. Then there are those who adore it, in particular for the pure white blooms and unusual myrrh fragrance.
I saw several photos showing red tinted buds surrounding full, elegant white blooms and was sold. I ended up having to settle for a Winchester Cathedral when I couldn’t find any retailer that even still stocked Fair Bianca. That changed in 2017, when I discovered Roses Unlimited was still propagating this variety in limited quantities. With this past winter having led to the demise of my potted Winchester, I finally had the space for one of the first roses I wanted.
This is brand new to my garden, but I will try to post better photos soon.
Pros:
- Licorice! Licorice! It smells like licorice!
Cons:
- So far, the scent is pleasant but not as strong as I was hoping
My Source: Roses Unlimited
