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'Madame Alfred Carrière' rose Reviews & Comments
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Description states : "Do not prune."
In fact it likes to be pruned in a hard way, once in a few years.
It tends to overgrow itself and the lower/earlier branched die or get less vigorous/less flowering.
It produces lots of fresh shoots, that flower very quickly.
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This tendency to overgrow itself and then struggle to maintain overall vigour is very much my experience as well Jay-Jay. We're in Perth, Western Australia, where our winters are very mild and Mme Alfred C flowers beautifully through the coldest months here.
We definitely need to seriously reduce its bulk and length from time to time, or large parts of the plant weaken or die.
Like you say, it responds very well to trimming or to a harder cut back.
It's a rose you see over a very wide range of climate zones, so perhaps the 'Do not prune' advice is for rose growers in much colder climates? Though I'm guessing you have seriously frozen winters Jay-Jay, and the advice is incorrect everywhere.
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Instead of a blanket suggestion to not prune (which seems to have now disappeared), should there be any recommendation for how to prune MAC?
For example, should the recommendation be one of the following standard regimens?:
Remove unproductive wood every year.
Remove unproductive wood every other year.
Cut back by one-half every other year.
Resist the urge to prune this rose too heavily—it doesn't like it!
Thanks for any recommendations you can suggest.
Virginia
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#3 of 4 posted
25 JUN by
 Jay-Jay
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I would suggest: Observe the rose during its growth over the years and give it, what it needs:
Remove all dead canes, remove (end)parts of the original canes at the point where a vigorous (and flowering) shoot comes out of that original cane.
Prune when You have the time, feel the need or urge to, or just postpone it to another time when You are in need of a chore?
Once in so many years in spring just cut with a saw-blade the bulk of one of the big canes and let that cane start over again from the base.
And the best guide is Your own experience with Your own roses in Your own garden (or someone elses'.)
Success.
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Thanks. I don't grow this rose, but was trying to see if there is a pruning recommendation HMF should give in lieu of 'do not prune'. If so, I intend to update the HMF record to provide guidance for readers who grow this variety.
I listed a few standard pruning recommendations that HMF has, and am wondering if any of those are suitable in a general way for MAC.
Thanks,
Virginia
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The following comment was on the description page, but I think it belongs here instead. I have no idea who Susan is, or how this ended up where it was.
Susan writes: I planted 'Madame Alfred Carriere' in 2000 when it was a foot tall. The flowers were sparse and the plant had rose spot badly. I was disappointed. But the following year, it took off like crazy and has covered an arbor with beautiful, full, scented blooms aplenty. I am really amazed at how well it is doing. I live in Powell River, British Columbia, Canada.
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Hello,
That’s curious that there is not mention that rose is thornless or almost, because this is noticed in nearly all nursery site or place where it can be bought. Is it possible to correct that ?
Thank you very much!
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#1 of 3 posted
20 AUG 23 by
jedmar
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It is not thornless, the sites are wrong. You can see prickles even in the April 1886 illustration from Journal des Roses.
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Haa
Effectively
Thank you!
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#3 of 3 posted
24 AUG 23 by
Jay-Jay
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Some canes are almost without prickles, others are armed... on the same plant. At least over here.
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I'm wondering if Madame Alfred Carrièrecan be grown as a large shrub? Thank you.
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I have only ever grown it on a strong supporting structure, something it seems to need because it makes such long growth, and I can't recall seeing it grown as a shrub or hedge. I haven't tried to keep it lower or more compact but perhaps others have and will be able to advise how it responded.
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Thank you for sharing your experience. It does sound like it needs support.
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When I was living in San Diego 25 years ago there was a huge free standing MAC in the Quail botanical garden. The plant must have been many decades old and really impressed me with its size and its attractive overall shape.
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