DÉLICIEUSE GOURMANDISE – pale pink climbing rose – Schmitz
Delicious and romantic, DÉLICIEUSE GOURMANDISE is a pale pink climbing rose for those who want effortless beauty around the home without complex gardening. Its very double rosette blooms, carried on bushy, easily trained canes, create a soft curtain of flowers with a strong, sweet, fruity fragrance that drifts across the garden. As an own‑root plant in the pharmaROSA® ORIGINAL 2‑litre format, it settles reliably, building long‑term stability and regrowth from the base so the structure endures for years. Ideal for small pergolas, arches and house walls in classic British front gardens, it copes well with typical breezy, rainy UK conditions by providing secure anchoring on supports when tied in properly. Given decent drainage and regular feeding, you can expect roots to establish in the first year, strong extension growth in the second, and full ornamental impact by the third, creating a lasting vertical feature that feels at home in cottage‑style planting. Its height also lends valuable privacy and soft screening in family gardens where space is at a premium.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Front‑garden arch or small pergola |
The long, flexible canes and bushy habit make it easy to train over a modest arch or compact pergola, giving a romantic pale‑pink tunnel of bloom and fragrance at the garden entrance for those who value welcoming cottage charm, especially beginners. |
| House wall or around-the-doorway trellis |
Its tall growth and dense foliage clothe a sunny wall or doorway trellis with soft colour, adding gentle privacy and curb appeal while remaining manageable in typical family gardens where simple pruning and tying‑in are all that is needed for busy homeowners. |
| Feature pillar or obelisk in a small bed |
Trained up a sturdy pillar or obelisk, it becomes a vertical focal point without taking much ground space, ideal for compact plots where you want height, fragrance and a long‑lived own‑root structure that can be refreshed by cutting back by confident hobbyists. |
| Mixed cottage border with perennials |
The pale‑pink, strongly scented rosettes pair beautifully with classic border partners such as bearded iris or purple coneflower, creating a layered cottage look while the own‑root plant slowly matures into a balanced, repeat‑flowering framework prized by style‑focused gardeners. |
| Screening between neighbouring properties |
When planted along a boundary with appropriate supports, its height, density and repeat flowering help soften views and create a scented, floral screen, giving a sense of seclusion and enclosure that suits families wanting gentle separation as considerate neighbours. |
| Rose bed focal point or specimen |
Used as a specimen in a small rose bed, the generous second flush and strong scent draw the eye and nose, while the own‑root form provides long lifespan and renewal from the base, reducing replacement needs over time for cost‑aware rose collectors. |
| Large decorative container near seating |
In a very large container of at least 40–50 litres with a strong support, it offers intense fragrance and romantic flowers at close quarters on patios or balconies, provided watering and feeding are kept regular by space‑limited but detail‑oriented city‑dwellers. |
| Exposed, breezy corner with support |
Tied carefully to a robust frame, it forms a well‑anchored, flower‑laden structure that handles typical rainy, windy British spells without losing its display, offering dependable vertical interest where other shrubs might rock or loosen, reassuring cautious starters. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage-arch – Train it over a narrow arch with bearded irises and feather reed grass at the base for a light, pastel entrance vignette – ideal for lovers of informal cottage style.
- Doorway-frame – Flank a front door with two plants on trellises, underplanted with lavender or nepeta, for fragrance every time you step outside – perfect for homeowners focused on kerb appeal.
- Pillar-focus – Spiral it up a single metal obelisk in a small lawn bed, with low geraniums around the base, to create a strong vertical accent – suited to gardens needing a simple focal point.
- Pastel-border – Combine its pale pinks with white foxgloves, soft grasses and dusky salvias in a mixed border for a layered, airy look – appealing to design-conscious but time-poor gardeners.
- Patio-haven – Grow it in a 50‑litre container beside a bench, with trailing thyme and small heucheras beneath, for evening scent close to seating – best for balcony and courtyard retreats.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
DÉLICIEUSE GOURMANDISE – pale pink climbing rose – Schmitz; large-flowered climber with shrub-like bushy habit; commercial type climbing rose; no separate registered exhibition name recorded. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Daniel Schmitz, Roseraie Daniel Schmitz, Malmedy, Belgium; breeding date 2011; introduced by the same nursery; parentage not published, selected for colour, fragrance and climbing habit. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Vigorous, bushy climber reaching about 220–380 cm high and 110–190 cm wide; dense, matt, light green foliage; moderately thorny canes; can be used as a climber or large, trained shrub form. |
| Flower morphology |
Very double, rosette-shaped blooms with over 40 petals; large flowers (approximately 7–10 cm) borne mostly singly; remontant with a generous second flush in suitable conditions when well cared for. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Delicate, milky translucent pale pink overall; buds pastel pink, opening to soft candy pink and then light creamy pink as they fade; colour retention moderate; even pale-pink at full bloom with slightly deeper centre. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strong, sweet, fruity rose scent noticeable from a distance in still air; highly fragrant along paths, seating areas and entrances; heavy doubling limits nectar access, so ornamental value outweighs pollinator appeal. |
| Hip characteristics |
Very double flowers set few hips; occasional small ovoid red hips, about 10–14 mm diameter, may develop; hips are incidental rather than a primary decorative feature on this climbing cultivar. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to about −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7, USDA 6b, Swedish zone 3); disease susceptibility is high, especially to powdery mildew, black spot and rust, so consistent plant protection and monitoring are recommended. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil; water during prolonged drought; regular feeding and pruning improve performance; suitable for beds, pergolas, training on structures and strongly scented cut flowers. |
DÉLICIEUSE GOURMANDISE offers strongly scented pale-pink rosettes, graceful climbing height and enduring own-root structure for long-term garden value, making it a thoughtful choice if you enjoy classic fragrance and romantic vertical colour.
