No it is not! I'll try to make some photo's.(it's very grey and humid over here) PS: You can see prickles on my last photo of the young plant and on the photo of member Fraggle.
I didn't think it was. However perhaps it is one of those roses that can grow thorns at will - if it feels like it! I've added all of that reference. John Nieuwesteeg is a well respected nurseryman of Dutch origin, emigrating to Australia in the 1950s. He says he has had the rose since the 1960s.
Perhaps Eric Timewell might see this comment and photograph for us a typical cane or two of 'Etoile de Hollande' at the Nieuwesteeg Heritage Rose Garden.
And "ALMOST thornless" is a stretchable concept. My experience is too, that on one plant a cane can be completely without prickles, whilst the other(s) is(are) brutally armed with them.
Oh - to go out into the dark on a cold autumn night carrying torch and camera to photograph a prickly rose! Only a rosarian does things like that! My regards.
It was more like in the twilight (zone): Still some light, but grey and damp! No lantern light needed, but too dark to not use the flash-light. And I promised to.... but was surprised myself, how prickly (not Thorn-less) it was, considering my previous photo.
Apart from the 1999 reference, I can find no good reason for the parentage to be shown as seedling of 'Château de Clos Vougeot'. Hopefully the Administrator who altered it will enlighten us further. Ideally things should be substantiated by a notation or reference. In the meantime, I have changed it back to 'General MacArthur' x 'Hadley'. Thanks Jay-Jar and Marnix.
In the references I found this about the health of this Rose:
"The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Roses EDIT Book (Feb 1993) Page(s) 184. Includes photo(s).
Etoile de Hollande Large-flowered hybrid tea. Parentage: 'General MacArthur' x 'Hadley'. The Netherlands 1919. Description and cultivation... flowers are a deep red with a strong fragrance... has a sickly constitution with a tendency to mildew... The climbing form is very vigorous and well worth growing..."
UNTIL NOW NO HEALTH ISSUES WHATSOEVER.... Despite the relatively bad spot it is located in our garden!
