Dr. Griffith J. Buck was a professor and researcher of horticulture at Iowa State University, and is credited with hybridizing 93 of the most winter-hardy, disease-resistant roses in commercial circulation. (Pedro Dot considered him to be among the top 20 rose hybridizers in the world.)
The Buck roses are the proprietary property of the Iowa State University Research Foundation, which has a related website listing all of the "Buck Hardy" varieties here:
https://www.extension.iastate....
The website describes 'Paloma Blanca' as follows: The gobular-ovoid buds of ivory-white open to double (30-40 petals), cupped, 3 - 3.5 inch blooms of ivory-white with a faint salmon pink blush which disappears with age. The blooms, borne in clusters of 3-10, have a pleasing, light fragrance. The abundant, leathery foliage is dark olive green and has good tolerance to disease. The thorns are tan and awl-like. The erect, bushy, 3 - 3.5 foot plant is compact and spreading and in continuous, abundant bloom from June until killing frost. The plants are winter-hardy in Iowa without protection.
Interestingly, the Houston Rose Society has an old but good webpage describing Dr. Buck's work, and how the roses have been tested in other climates. You can view it here:
http://www.houstonrose.org/gbi...
I've grown a number of Buck roses, including April Moon, Carefree Beauty, Country Dancer, Distant Drums, Golden Unicorn, Hawkeye Belle, Hi Neighbor, and Prairie Harvest. l can attest to their hardiness and endurance.
April Moon
