Roses Noisette Portland Bourbon Hyb. Grown during the Middle Ages, Alba roses were brought to England by the Romans. As a group, these roses are hardy shrubs with exceptional form in habit and flower. Albas bloom once a year, in spring.
Flowers tend to be white or some variation thereof , whether it be cream or light pink.
The flowers have a delicate appearance, which sit well on a durable, tough plant. Disease resistance is generally excellent, as is cold hardiness. Fragrance is normally excellent , and foliage has a gray-green tint which complements the softness of the flowers and contrasts nicely with darker evergreens. Albas tend to be larger shrubs, many growing six feet tall and wide or more. As mentioned earlier, Albas do better then most roses in the shade tolerance category, but don't take a pound of medicine when an ounce is prescribed.