Fair Bianca is a hybrid shrub rose in the rose family (Rosaceae) bred by David Austin of the United Kingdom in 1982. Parentage is unknown. This upright bushy shrub will grow 3-5 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide in full sun in amended, well-drained, moist soil. Prune in late winter. Protect new growth from spring frosts. White to white blend flowers are very full with 40 or more petals that open flat and quartered with reflexed edges. They are 2-3 inches wide with a strong myrrh fragrance and bloom in clusters nearly continuously for the season. Semi-glossy, mid- to dark green leaves are on stems with prickles. Use this shrub in the border, in groups, as a specimen or accent in an English, cottage or cutting garden. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Watch for black spot, rose rust and powdery mildew. See pests of roses to the left. Deer will browse roses. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common rose diseases as well as a factsheet on insects and other related pests. More information on Rosa .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheRosa Abraham Darby 'AUScot'Rosa Sweet Juliet® 'AUSleap'Rosa Winchester Cathedral® 'AUScat'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Perennial; Rose; Shrub
Life cycle
Perennial; Woody
USDA zones
5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Medium to deep semi-glossy green leaves.
Flower color
White
Flower value
Fragrant; Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower shape
Saucer
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Saucer-like 2-3 inch wide double blooms spring through summer open flat and quartered with reflexed edges. Up to 40-60 petals per bloom. They appear singly or in clusters.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Stem color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Medium green to reddish-green stems with reddish-green prickles.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Wildlife value
Attracts bees.
Play value
Attracts Pollinators
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Patio; Walkways
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; Cutting Garden; English Garden
Design feature
Accent; Barrier; Border; Hedge; Mass Planting; Small groups
Garden tags
#non-toxic for cats #non-toxic for horses #non-toxic for dogs #cutting garden #deciduous #fragrant flowers #repeat flowering #English garden #border #white flowers #long bloom season #groups #cottage garden