Rose Fair Bianca

‘Fair Bianca’ is one of the most exquisite and refined white English Roses introduced by David Austin. Though compact in stature, this rose stands out for its pure form, delicate coloration, and intense fragrance, making it a treasured choice for smaller gardens or formal plantings. Flawless, camellia-like white blooms among the most perfect among the English roses.

FLOWERING

This rose variety has a repeat flowering habit. Blooms in flushes from summer until frosts, especially reliable in warm, dry climates. The number of blooms per plant during the growing season is profuse, but there are too many to count.

The flowers of ‘Fair Bianca’ are of exceptional Old Rose formation, very full with an abundance of small, sculpted petals that form a shallow cup at first and later open flat into a rosette with a charming button eye at the center. The flowers hold their shape well until the end and are ideal for cutting. They are medium to large in size, with an average diameter of the opened flower of 8 cm (3.1 inches) on average. Occasionally, the greenish dot of the stigma is visible, lending another layer of the Old rose charm.

The colour of the flowers is pure white, often with a tint of cream or buff at the base of the petals. They emerge from tight, red-brown buds, offering a subtle contrast before opening. Each cluster typically holds 3 to 9 blooms, and the flowers are well suited for cutting, lasting admirably in the vase. Unfortunately flowers can brown after heavy rain, and it shows the best performance in drier climates or with overhead protection.

One most beloved quality of this rose is its intense and distinctive scent: a heady myrrh fragrance, with a haunting note of heliotrope that lingers in the air. The scent evokes classic Alba roses and adds a deeply nostalgic tone to the plant's otherwise pristine appearance.

PLANT

The rose variety ‘Fair Bianca’ is classified as a Shrub rose and is part of David Austin’s English Shrub Roses collection. It forms a neat, upright, and bushy shrub, reminiscent of a Gallica or Alba, and is ideal for small spaces or low hedges. It generally stays compact, rarely exceeding 100 cm (3.3 feet) in height and yet has a quietly architectural presence in the garden. A mature and well-established plant has a height of about 90 - 100 cm and the width of about 60 - 80 cm.

The foliage is pale to mid-green, semi-glossy and somewhat sparse, it may show susceptibility to blackspot, especially in humid or rainy climates. In drier, Mediterranean-type conditions, it performs far better.

Its stems are covered with fine, slender prickles, giving the plant a slightly thorny character - perhaps a subtle nod to the Shakespearean character for whom it was named. They are thin, wiry, easily slotted among perennials; benefit from light staking in windy spots.

This rose is ideal for borders, small garden focal points, cutting, looks great in rose edgings or large containers.

Though not the easiest of Austin roses, in the right setting with sun, space, and care it will reward its grower with blooms of timeless grace and extraordinary fragrance. Rose variety is recommended for growing in climate conditions similar to USDA 6 and requires winter protection in more colder climates.

The rose is named for Bianca, the gentle and graceful sister of Katherine in Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. And like her namesake, ‘Fair Bianca’ exudes classical elegance, with just a hint of complexity beneath her delicate beauty.

English Shrub Roses

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The origin of the rose variety ‘Ausca’ / 'Fair Bianca' is not fully disclosed, but it is reported that the general character of both flower and bush goes right back to ‘Belle Isis’, which was one of the original crosses in lineage of this rose.

USDA 6