P. S. DE LUXEMBOURG™ – purple climbing rose – Orard
This vigorous climbing rose combines colour, height and long flowering to create an elegant vertical focus around porches, fences and cottage-style front gardens, while coping well with breezy, damp conditions near the coast. Its deep violet-purple blooms open in generous clusters, fading gently to lavender for a soft, romantic effect that works beautifully against brick, timber or painted walls. Strong, spicy-sweet fragrance adds character to paths and seating areas, and the dense, dark green foliage keeps structures clothed even between flushes. As an own-root plant it settles in steadily, forming a durable framework that is easy to maintain over many years, following the natural rhythm of Year 1 roots, Year 2 shoots and Year 3 full impact. Provided with adequate watering and basic feeding, it offers dependable, remontant performance for busy gardeners who want a stylish, long-lived climber without complicated care.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| House wall or sunny front façade |
Ideal for training up wires or trellis on south or west-facing walls, where the generous height and dense foliage quickly soften brick or render. The repeating clusters of purple blooms give a classic cottage feel with relatively simple seasonal pruning, suiting busy homeowners. |
| Arch, pergola or walkthrough |
The tall, flexible canes lend themselves to arches and pergolas, creating a scented passage with strong, spicy-sweet flowers at head height. Semi-double clusters give good colour without overwhelming narrow spaces, fitting gardens where you want structure and romance for family visitors. |
| Garden fence or boundary screen |
Planted at the base of a sturdy fence, it forms a leafy, flowering screen that breaks up long boundaries and offers privacy without needing intricate training. Moderate maintenance and good hardiness are helpful in typical British plots exposed to wind and persistent damp, benefitting suburban gardeners. |
| Feature pillar or obelisk in a border |
Used on a free-standing pillar or tall obelisk, it becomes a vertical accent among perennials and shrubs, adding drama in purple tones above lower planting. Regular dead-heading keeps the display tidy, while own-root growth ensures the framework rebuilds well over time for style-conscious beginners. |
| Small group in a mixed cottage border |
Two or three plants spaced along a bed can be trained on discrete supports to echo each other, picking up purples and blues from companion perennials. The colour fade from deep violet to lavender blends easily into informal cottage schemes, appealing to flower-focused homeowners. |
| Part-shade side return or courtyard |
Tolerates partial shade, so it suits side passages, courtyards or north-east aspects where full sun is limited but you still want a climbing feature. The long flowering season provides interest through much of summer with straightforward care, reassuring time-poor gardeners. |
| Trainable flowering hedge or screen |
When spaced as recommended, it forms a loose, trainable hedge along driveways or garden divisions, combining vertical shoots and lateral tying for a tailored outline. Heat and light are handled comfortably, while regular trimming keeps it within bounds, making it practical for family gardens. |
| Large container with support |
In a minimum 40–50 litre container with good drainage and regular watering, it can be grown on a trellis or obelisk for patios and roof terraces. The remontant flowering and manageable growth habit offer a refined vertical accent for urban balcony owners. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage-porch – Train up either side of a front door with Alchemilla mollis at the base, softening steps and paths in a classic purple-and-chartreuse palette – ideal for lovers of traditional British entrances.
- Romantic-arch – Grow over a metal or wooden arch, underplanting with Rudbeckia fulgida and late perennials for gold-and-violet contrast – suited to gardeners seeking a picturesque walkthrough focus.
- Contemporary-fence – Use against slatted timber with simple, repeated grasses for a clean, graphic look broken by clusters of purple blooms – for design-aware owners of modern family gardens.
- Courtyard-focus – Place in a large container with a slim obelisk, adding silver-foliage Artemisia nearby to highlight the lavender fade of the flowers – perfect for compact urban terraces.
- Parkland-line – Plant as a loose row along a path or boundary, mixing with shrubs and informal perennials for a semi-wild yet structured feel – good for those planning generous, naturalistic spaces.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Climbing rose, large-flowered. Registered as ORAfantanov, traded as P. S. de Luxembourg™; ARS exhibition name Stormy Weather. Belongs to the Climber and Shrub rose groups. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred in France by Pierre Orard (Roseraies Orard) in 2006 from Heart ’n’ Soul × Rhapsody in Blue; introduced and registered in 2010 by Roseraies Orard and SAS R.O.S.E. |
| Awards and recognition |
Highly decorated landscape climber: multiple gold medals in Baden-Baden, Rome and Nagaoka (2007), silver in Adelaide and Monza, plus Barcelona and Mesa awards for landscape and climbing performance. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Vigorous climbing habit reaching about 260–380 cm high with 120–200 cm spread. Dark green, matt, dense foliage on moderately thorny canes; self-cleaning is partial, so some dead-heading is beneficial. |
| Flower morphology |
Semi-double, cupped blooms with 13–25 petals, produced in clustered trusses. Large-flowered (around 2.75–3.95 inches), with strong remontant character and a generous second flush in suitable conditions. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Deep violet-purple inner petals with paler undersides; buds dark purple with silvery edges. Colour lightens to lavender in full bloom and further in strong sun; RHS 79A inner, 76D outer, ARS code m. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strong, long-lasting scent with a spicy-sweet character that carries well near paths and seating areas. Semi-double form offers partially accessible stamens with moderate pollinator attraction overall. |
| Hip characteristics |
Rosehip set is generally sparse; where present, small spherical hips 8–12 mm across develop, coloured orange-red and adding limited late-season interest without dominating the plant’s appearance. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to about −26 to −23 °C (RHS H7; USDA 5b; Swedish zone 4). Disease resistance moderate to mildew, black spot and rust; tolerates heat well but needs watering during prolonged dry spells. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Suited to walls, arches, fences and park plantings. Prefers well-drained soil; in heavy clay, improve drainage or use raised beds. Maintenance moderate: training, pruning and occasional plant protection required. |
P. S. DE LUXEMBOURG™ offers rich purple colour, generous height and strong fragrance on a long-lived own-root climber, making it a refined, dependable choice for those planning lasting structure in the garden.
