Historic Rose

01-006-1
01-006-2

Duchesse de Rohan

Heritage rose

- – René Lévêque

The petals are full and evenly medium-pink in shade, with a slight carmine tone. - historic, portland rose - strong, long-lasting scented rose - full, classic old-rose scent

– Strong, long-lasting old-rose fragrance.
– Healthy foliage with excellent disease resistance.
– Graceful cup-shaped, medium-pink blooms.
– Reliable remontant flowering through the season.
– Hardy shrub rose for cold climates.
Special feature: Awarded ARS Victorian Award at multiple US shows for authentic historic charm.
Breathing garden concept – Reliable online shop
Duchesse de Rohan
pharmaROSA® ORIGINAL 2-litre own-root potted rose
21,10 £
Unfortunately, we are currently unable to ship to the United Kingdom; we only deliver to countries within the European Union. For more information, please contact us!
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DUCHESSE DE ROHAN – pink historic Portland rose - Lévêque

Elegance in a compact, upright shrub, DUCHESSE DE ROHAN brings classic mid‑pink, cup‑shaped blooms to small British front gardens without demanding advanced gardening skills. The strongly scented old‑rose perfume and remontant flowering give lasting enjoyment through the season, while its historic character adds cottage‑style romance to borders and mixed plantings. On its own‑root system this variety matures steadily, forming a balanced, long‑lived bush that rewards simple, regular care. With reliable disease resistance and sparse prickles for easier handling, it copes well with typical UK summers, even where you need to think about good soil structure after heavy rain and wind. Plant your 2‑litre potted rose as a ready‑to‑grow start: in year one it concentrates on roots, in year two on shoots, and by year three it shows its full ornamental value in daily use. Ideal as a fragrant specimen by the front door or grouped for a low, blooming hedge along a path, it fits naturally into family gardens where you want a beautiful rose that simply settles in and performs.


Closed bud of Duchesse de Rohan, showing vivid pink petals with slight carmine at the tips.

Usage options

Target area Reasoning
Front garden focal shrub The upright, moderately dense habit and 90–140 cm height make this rose ideal as a single statement plant by a gate, path or entrance. Strong old‑rose fragrance and classic mid‑pink blooms provide long‑season charm with little intervention, suiting fragrance‑loving beginners and improvers alike.
Low, traditional hedge Plant at around 110 cm spacing to form a low, informal hedge that flowers repeatedly and keeps a coherent line without complex clipping. Own‑root growth ensures long‑term stability, and sparse prickles make light trimming and deadheading more manageable for family gardeners seeking.
Cottage-style mixed border Its historic Portland character and medium height blend naturally with perennials such as feverfew, Oriental poppies and yarrow, creating a relaxed, cottage feel. Reliable disease resistance keeps foliage presentable among other plants, supporting tidy yet romantic borders for design‑conscious home gardeners everywhere.
Small group planting in beds Groups of 3–5 plants at about 120 cm spacing give a generous drift of scented pink flowers without overpowering an average‑sized garden. Balanced, upright growth and remontant flowering add structure and continuity, appealing to those wanting simple layouts that look considered without detailed planning themselves.
Specimen near seating areas The strong, long‑lasting perfume is best appreciated close to a bench, terrace or patio. As an own‑root shrub it develops steadily into a durable, well‑anchored plant, rewarding regular watering in dry spells and basic pruning, ideal for busy owners who still value evening scent in their outdoor space nearby.
Part-shade family side garden This variety tolerates partial shade, making it suitable for side gardens or positions with only part‑day sun. Consistent mid‑pink flowering and good disease resistance help maintain a cared‑for appearance even where light is less than ideal, suiting practical homeowners working with real‑world plot constraints today.
Classic rose-and-perennial border The 26–39 petalled, cup‑shaped blooms and gentle colour fade from vivid to powdery pink give layered visual interest through each flush. Set in front of taller shrubs, it provides a refined mid‑height tier, particularly attractive to gardeners who appreciate subtle colour shifts and historically inspired planting arrangements.
Large container on patio or courtyard In a well‑drained container of at least 40–50 litres, this rose offers a movable, scented feature for paved spaces. Regular watering supports its moderate heat tolerance, while own‑root vigour underpins a long life in pots, suiting urban and small‑garden owners wanting flexible planting with enduring structure included.

Styling ideas

  • Cottage Border Duo – Combine DUCHESSE DE ROHAN with feverfew and common yarrow for a soft, traditional cottage look where its historic form and repeat flowering provide gentle structure – ideal for lovers of romantic, low‑maintenance front gardens.
  • Fragrant Entrance – Plant a single shrub by the front path or doorway so the strong old‑rose scent greets you daily, with classic pink blooms offering a welcoming note – suitable for homeowners wanting a simple yet distinctive focal point.
  • Period Hedge Line – Use a row of plants at hedge spacing along a boundary or drive, letting their upright form and remontant, mid‑pink flowers create a low, traditional screen – appealing to those restoring or evoking period and heritage‑style plots.
  • Patio Statement Pot – Grow one plant in a 50‑litre terracotta or stone-effect container on a terrace, pairing with low, silver foliage at the base to highlight its cup‑shaped blooms – perfect for small‑space or courtyard gardeners seeking classic character.
  • Mixed Perennial Weave – Thread groups of three roses through a border with Oriental poppies and airy perennials, using their upright habit and good foliage to knit together flowering gaps – suited to gardeners who enjoy relaxed structure without complex design work.

Technical cultivar profile
Parameter Data
Name and registration Historical Portland rose marketed as DUCHESSE DE ROHAN, a heritage shrub type. Exhibited as a shrub rose and Victorian exhibition rose; unregistered cultivar, verified for authenticity in specialist trade.
Origin and breeding Bred by René Lévêque, introduced by Louis Lévêque & Fils, Paris, France. Dates from the 1840s, with commercial introduction recorded in 1846 as a classic French Portland, Damask Perpetual rose.
Awards and recognition Recognised in American Rose Society shows with Victorian Awards in 2001 at the Great Lakes District Show and Medford Rose Society Show, confirming continued exhibition value for historic rose collectors.
Growth and structural characteristics Upright shrub reaching about 90–140 cm tall and 100–150 cm wide, moderately dense mid‑green foliage with slight gloss, and sparsely thorned shoots, allowing easier handling and integration into family garden borders.
Flower morphology Double, cup‑shaped blooms with 26–39 petals, medium size at approximately 4–7 cm across, usually carried in clusters of three to five per stem, with remontant flowering where the second flush is lighter than the first.
Colour data and phenology Medium pink with slight carmine tone; RHS 55C outer, 55D inner. Buds vivid pink, then fading through pastel to powdery, sometimes whitish‑tinted edges as flowers age, providing nuanced colour shifts over each flowering phase.
Fragrance and aroma Classic old‑rose scent of strong intensity, notable for its fullness and persistence around the plant. Fragrance is best enjoyed near paths or seating areas; abundant petals slightly limit pollinator access, making it chiefly ornamental.
Hip characteristics Rose hip production is expected to be limited due to the double flower form and reduced stamen exposure, so hips are generally not a significant ornamental or wildlife feature on this variety.
Resistance and winter hardiness Rated H7, hardy to approximately −26 to −23 °C and USDA zone 5b. Demonstrates good resistance to black spot, powdery mildew and rust; moderate heat tolerance, needing regular watering in extended dry or hot periods.
Horticultural recommendations Suited to borders, specimen use, cut flowers and hedging, with low maintenance needs. Own‑root plants adapt well; remove spent blooms, water in dry spells, and allow space (110–180 cm) depending on hedge or solitary use.

DUCHESSE DE ROHAN offers fragrant historic charm, reliable disease resistance and adaptable own-root vigour for long-lived structure, making it a thoughtful choice if you would like a classic rose that quietly earns its place.

Detailed product attributes

Product Identification Data

Product Name: DUCHESSE DE ROHAN – pink historic Portland rose - Lévêque
Product Type: pharmaROSA® ORIGINAL - 2-litre own-root potted rose
Cultivar Authenticity: Verified:27.02.2025
Cultivar Quality Rating: premium silver
Item Number: [317] 01-006 (14.02.2026) pharmarosa.co.uk

Name and Registration

Meaning of Cultivar Name: The name 'Duchess of Rohan' pays tribute to the holder of the French noble title.
Original Trade Name: Duchesse de Rohan
Current Trade Name: Duchesse de Rohan Heritage rose Lévêque
Rose Group: Portland, Damask Perpetual
Commercial Type: historic, portland rose
Commercial Group: Historical rose
Exhibition Category: shrub rose; historical exhibition rose
Collection: Heritage rose

Origin and Breeding

Initial Distributor: Lévêque (France)
Registration Year: unregistered variety
Breeder: René Lévêque
Breeding Company / Institution: Louis Lévêque & Fils (Paris)
Breeding Year: France, 1847
Parentage: unknown

Awards and Honours

Competition and Show Awards: American Rose Society – Victorian Award, Great Lakes District Show (2001); American Rose Society – Victorian Award, Medford Rose Society Show (2001)

Growth and Structural Characteristics

Height: 3-4.6ft (90-140 cm)
Spread: 3.3-4.9ft (100-150 cm)
Growth Habit: upright
Foliage: The variety has moderately dense foliage, and its leaves have a slightly glossy surface and a mid‑green colour.
Prickliness: sparsely thorned
Self-Cleaning Description: Spent blooms often remain on the plant and require subsequent manual removal.
Self-Cleaning Intensity: Self-cleaning: poor.

Flower Morphology

Petal Count: 26-39
Flower Fullness: double-flowered
Flower Shape: cup-shaped
Flower Size: M (1,5-2,75 in)
Inflorescence Type: clustered, 3-5 flower/stem
Colour Code: ARS code: MP RHS code: RHS 55C (outer), RHS 55D (inner)
Repeat Flowering: Remontant; the second flowering is not as abundant.

Colour Data and Phenology

Colour: pink
Flower Colour Description: The petals are full and evenly medium-pink in shade, with a slight carmine tone.
Closed Bud: Vivid pink surface, with a slight carmine deepening at the tips.
Newly Opened Flower: The outer petal whorls are slightly lighter pink, while the inner ones are a richer, warmer shade.
Full Bloom: Pure mid-pink with the edges faded to a pale pastel.
Before Fading: The pink fades, becoming almost a powdery shade, with a silky whitish coating in places.
Colour Fading Description: During opening the mid-pink gradually fades; at full bloom the edges become pastel, and before senescence the colour is almost powdery, with whitish tones appearing in places.

Fragrance and Aroma

Fragrance Strength: strong, long-lasting scented rose
Fragrance Character: full, classic old-rose scent
Pollinator Attraction: Because of its double flowers (26–39 petals) and reduced stamen accessibility, it is poorly attractive to pollinators.
Pollinator-Friendly Rating: Its double (26–39‑petalled) flowers attract pollinators only to a limited extent; primarily an ornamental variety.

Hip Characteristics

Hip Comment: Rose hip formation is expected to be limited due to the double flowers.

Resistance and Hardiness

Hardiness (°C): -26–-23 °C
Heat and Drought Tolerance Description: Moderate performance in heat; requires regular watering during extended dry periods.
Disease Resistance: resistant
  • powdery mildew – resistant
  • black spot – resistant
  • rust – resistant

Horticultural Recommendations

Recommended Planting Distance: for mass planting 120 cm, for hedging 110 cm, as a solitary specimen 180 cm
Planting Density: square planting 0,7 plants/m², hexagonal arrangement 0,8 plants/m²
Partial Shade Tolerance: suitable for partial shade
Maintenance Requirement: Maintenance requirement low; good disease resistance, generally requires little intervention.
Primary Uses: flower border, specimen, cut flower, hedge, park

Comments

Strengths: Breathing garden concept – Reliable online shop
Companion Plants: Tanacetum parthenium - feverfew
Papaver orientale - oriental poppy
Achillea millefolium - common yarrow
Comment: -
DUCHESSE DE ROHAN – pink historic Portland rose - Lévêque
The petals are full and evenly medium-pink in shade, with a slight carmine tone. - historic, portland rose - strong, long-lasting scented rose - full, classic old-rose scent
Rose Shopping Online - pink - historic, portland rose - Duchesse de Rohan - (3-4.6ft (90-140 cm))
Inflorescence: clustered, 3-5 flower/stem Height: 3-4.6ft (90-140 cm) Flower shape: cup-shaped Winter hardiness: - pink - Lévêque (France) historic, portland rose - Flower size: !- Flower size: !- - Height: 3-4.6ft (90-140 cm) Height: 3-4.6ft (90-140 cm) - Flower fullness: double-flowered Duchesse de Rohan - Roses in the garden | pharmaROSA® Original - premium silver René Lévêque

We showcase the external appearance of the roses available for online purchase from our webshop.


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Information

In what condition do we dispatch the rose from our online webshop?

Let us ask ourselves the question: What would I like to use the rose for?
Flower? – Location? – Screening? – Fragrance? – Height? – Breeder? – Rose hip?

Rose purchasing information
Methods of payment – Delivery charges – Delivery – Complaints handling

Care guide

Our product is a rose grown with pharmaROSA®’s unique cultivation technology!

2-litre, own-root, potted rose.
With a shoot system appropriate to the season.
With a root system that thoroughly permeates the growing medium.
Quality compliant with the requirements of the E.N.A. (European Nurserystock Association).
Supplied in unique packaging that prevents damage.
Can be planted during frost-free periods.
True-to-variety rose bush with a unique identifier.

The pharmaROSA® own-root potted rose is a well-rooted plant that supports reliable establishment when planted and cared for properly, so it can be planted whenever the soil is not frozen.


Crop overview: several varieties and growth stages in a short crop section.
Shoot system: intensive growth of fresh basal shoots on a young plant.
Root system: demonstration of a vigorous root system permeating the growing medium, by removing the pot.
Balance: mature plant with root system and shoots in harmony with each other.

Information about the videos
The video series is not a “seasonal showcase”; it illustrates the essence of pharmaROSA® own-root cultivation in a tangible way: how the plant is built up, what the root system is like and how the shoot system regenerates. The recordings were therefore made at different times and with plants at various stages of development, so mixed foliage levels and differing stages of growth may appear in the videos. They are not a ‘sample’ of the batch dispatched, but a visual explanation of how the technology works. The current condition of the rose available to order — typical for the given period and similar to what you can expect to receive in the parcel — is shown in the upper part of the product page.

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Product types

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Garden roses for the family garden, with minimal care  → ORIGINAL®
Premium garden roses – instant impact, a truly showpiece garden  → EXTRA®
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Roses for public spaces – large areas, sustainable maintenance  → NATURAL®
Roses for projects – hedge and row planting, fast implementation  → RAPID®
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Company details

PharmaRosa Ltd.
Company registration number: 01-09-717479
VAT number: 13075314-2-43
Plant health registration no.: HU130721
Bank account (IBAN):
HU85117631891388688400000000
BIC (SWIFT): OTPVHUHB
Bank name: OTP Bank Nyrt.