Several cultivars of R. ×alba date back to the ancients while others originated in the 19th century. They are upright shrubs to 2 m or so tall with large, scattered prickles and are believed to be descendants of R. canina. Leaves greyish blue, hard. Flowers mostly double, white to deep pink in summer. Examples available include 'Alba Maxima' and 'Maiden's Blush' which are two of the earliest cultivars in this group of about 60.
Source: (2002). Rosaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.
Ancient rose chiefly of cottage gardens, possibly a sport of 'Alba Semiplena'. Tall shrub to 2 m tall, arching. Flowers prolific, double, blush pink at first, becoming creamy white, strongly fragrant.
Said to be the White Rose of York, a robust shrub with grey-green foliage. Flowers large, more or less single, milky white, with prominent stamens. Highly fragrant and cultivated commercially for the production of the perfume, Attar of Roses.
Rosa 'Madame Legras De Saint-germain'
Shrub to 2 m tall, sometimes grown as a climber. Flowers domed and with numerous petals, white with a hint of yellow. Probably originating as a cross with a Noisette. Fragrant. In cultivation since at least 1846.
Mounding shrub or climber. Flowers pompon-like, creamy white, tinged with yellow at first, becoming white, centre of green stamens, sweetly fragrant. Probably originating as a cross with a Noisette. Bred and int. by Plantier, France, 1835.
S blush' Arching shrub. Flowers loosely double, pale pink, the petals paling and reflexing at the tips. Fragrant. Ancient rose in cultivation since at least the beginning of the 16th century.
Shrub to about 1 m tall with thin stems and small buds. Flowers clustered, small, pale lilac-pink, fading, slightly fragrant; late season. Int. 1876.
