What's the best way to identify a rose variety?

Question

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd154/redeyed_rat/paeonyrose.jpg
Do you know what kind this is? It's peculiar in appearance because the petals always curve inward and have very light white lines on them, like a pink paeony flower, and the innermost petals are whorled, just like a paeony's. It also smells exactly like a paeony! I'd really like to know the variety so I can look for more of them.
If you don't know, what's the best way to find out? Does anyone know any good websites for identifying domestic plants based solely on appearance? Or even a book? Thank you for any information, and feel free to ask for more details as I will be checking back often. = )

Answer 1

With so many roses out there, it's almost impossible to get a rose identified (unfortunately).
-If you planted it, start with the place where you purchased it.
-You can also bring in your picture or real flower to a good local nursery and see if they can help or direct you.
-Lastly, you can search the internet. If you remember the breeder (like Weeks or Jackson & Perkins), try their sites first.

Good luck.

With a fun guess.... Is it perhaps Brilliant Pink Iceberg?? Here's a link: http://www.helpmefind.com/rose/pl.php?n=24955&tab=1

Answer 2

I can't tell from the photo. Besides, the number of roses on the market is staggering and so many varieties resemble other varieties. Here is a site that I purchase roses from all the time. They carry several varieties and maybe they have one that is similar to yours. There are four pages of pink roses so be sure to look at them all.
http://www.heirloomroses.com/cgi/browse.cgi?pagenum=0&page=searchresult&color=Blush%20Pink&color=Light%20Pink&color=Medium%20Pink&color=Deep%20Pink&color=Lilac%20Pink&color=Pink%20Blend&color=Coral&color=Copper&color=Salmon&message=&cat=0

Here is a link to the American Rose Society and they may be able to help you identify the rose in your picture.
http://www.ars.org/
Good Luck

Answer 3

Unfortunately, with roses as with pets, if you don't KNOW the variety, there's not really any way to tell. A rose has a "pedigree" just as a purebred animal does; without knowing the rose's name when you purchased it, there's no way to tell from the many hybrids that look similar.