I've been told by a supplier it's winter hardiness is very poor, does anyone growing this rose thing it would need protection in zone 8? I've never had to provide any sort of protection in our mostly snowless winters
Looking at minimum temperatures for US zones, I think the UK, where I grow this rose, would count as zone 9. I never had any problem with it in zone 9. If your minimum winter temperatures tend to be towards the upper end of zone 8 (ie closer to 20F than 10F) I suspect you'd be OK, particularly if you plant it in the shelter of a warm wall. I highly recommend this rose -- both scent and bloom form are superb.
