Song of Paris – lavender-lilac hybrid tea rose
A romantic hybrid tea for those who want elegance and reliable garden structure without complicated care. Song of Paris forms an upright, well-proportioned bush that suits smaller British front gardens and cottage-style borders, coping well where breezier, wetter weather and heavy soils demand secure anchoring and careful drainage. Its large, very full blooms combine classic high-centred form with a refined lavender-purple colour that softens to a silvery pastel, giving borders a calm, grown-up look. Medium, mallowy-fruity fragrance adds a gentle, everyday luxury, while its proven disease resistance keeps maintenance low. As an own-root shrub it matures steadily, rewarding you as roots establish in year one, shoots and shape build in year two, and full ornamental impact appears from year three onwards.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Front garden statement rose |
The upright habit and moderate height give a clear, structured presence close to the house or along a path, while the lavender blooms provide elegant, not overpowering, colour. Disease resistance keeps it presentable with limited deadheading and basic seasonal care for the beginner. |
| Small mixed cottage border |
Song of Paris slots easily among perennials and low shrubs, its mid-green foliage providing a calm backdrop to looser cottage planting. The strong, high-centred flowers stand out without clashing, and the own-root form settles in steadily as the border matures around it for the homeowner. |
| Repeat-flowering focal point |
With remontant flowering and a notably abundant second flush, this cultivar delivers reliable colour through the main season when positioned in a sunny, well-fed spot. Regular, simple deadheading encourages new buds, maintaining interest on patios and in view from windows for the busy-gardener. |
| Cutting patch or cutting corner |
The long-stemmed, high-centred hybrid tea blooms are ideal for vases, offering classic form and a subtle, fruity fragrance. A few well-placed bushes can supply regular stems through the season, giving attractive home-cut flowers without specialist horticultural techniques for the hobbyist. |
| Stylish lavender colour scheme |
The steady lavender-purple tones, gently fading to silvery pastel, make coordinated planting simple, whether with cool whites or soft blues. Colour change is predictable and controlled, so borders remain harmonious rather than patchy, suiting design-conscious but time-poor gardeners for the stylist. |
| Low-intervention family garden rose |
Good resistance to black spot, mildew and rust helps keep foliage healthy in typical British humidity, reducing the need for sprays. With adequate watering and feeding, it maintains a neat, upright form, fitting well where you need reliable results from modest care for the family-gardener. |
| Wind- and weather-exposed beds |
The balanced, moderately tall bush offers stable structure in more open or breezy gardens, holding its form among shrubs and perennials. In sites where heavier soils and frequent rain are common, improved planting depth and surface mulching support root anchoring and effective drainage for the coastal-owner. |
| Large decorative container (40–50 litres+) |
In a substantial pot of at least 40–50 litres, Song of Paris becomes a long-lived feature for terraces or doorways. The own-root plant gradually fills the container with a robust root system, supporting repeat flowering and making seasonal pruning straightforward for the urban-gardener. |
Styling ideas
- COTTAGE BORDER DUO – Combine Song of Paris with Campanula persicifolia and Lunaria annua to echo its cool lavender tones in a relaxed, vertical mix – ideal for cottage-style romantics.
- STRUCTURED FRONT EDGE – Plant in a short row backed by Lonicera nitida ‘Maigrün’ for a clipped, evergreen line with lavender blooms rising in front – for owners who like tidy kerb appeal.
- LAVENDER HARMONY – Pair with soft-blue salvias and white nepeta to emphasise the silvery sheen of the flowers, keeping the palette calm and sophisticated – suited to design-focused beginners.
- CUTTING-CORNER CLUSTER – Group three plants at 55–60 cm spacings to form a small cutting area, providing repeat stems without dominating the garden – good for practical flower-lovers.
- CONTAINER CENTREPIECE – In a 50-litre pot with underplanting of low thyme or creeping campanula, it becomes a fragrant entrance feature – perfect for balcony and patio gardeners.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose, registered as Song of Paris; current trade name SONG OF PARIS – lavender-lilac tea-hybrid rose - Delbard-Chabert; ARS exhibition name Song of Paris; pharmaROSA ORIGINAL own-root form. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by André Delbard-Chabert, France, 1964, from (Holstein × Bayadère) × Prélude. Introduced after 1966 by Armstrong Nurseries in the USA and Delbard/Georges Delbard SA in France, with US Plant Patent PP 2669. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright, moderately tall bush reaching about 100–140 cm high and 65–95 cm wide, with matt mid-green foliage and moderate prickliness. Self-cleaning is weak, so regular deadheading is recommended for best appearance. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, very full, high-centred blooms with more than 40 petals, typically borne in small clusters. Classic exhibition-type hybrid tea form, suitable both for garden display and as a cut flower, especially from strong mid-season stems. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Lavender-purple base colour with silvery tint; ARS code m, RHS 76C outer, 76D inner. Buds open deep lavender purple, then fade to pastel lavender with a silvery sheen. Repeat-flowering with an abundant second flush in season. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Medium-strength, well-scented hybrid tea rose with a mallowy, fruity character that is noticeable but not overpowering near paths, seating areas or doors, adding a refined sensory layer to everyday garden use. |
| Hip characteristics |
Due to its very double flowers, hip set is generally low, though occasional small ellipsoidal hips may form, around 10–14 mm in diameter, colouring orange-red and adding a light, unobtrusive seasonal accent in late season. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Rated resistant to powdery mildew, black spot and rust under normal garden conditions. Hardy to approximately -21 to -18 °C, corresponding to RHS H7, Swedish Zone 3 and USDA Zone 6b, suitable for most UK regions. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil and regular watering. Recommended spacings: 55 cm for massing, 50 cm for hedging, 90 cm as a specimen. Ideal for borders, as a specimen shrub and for home cut flower production. |
Song of Paris offers elegant lavender blooms, reliable repeat flowering and good disease resistance on a long-lived own-root shrub; a thoughtful choice if you would like a refined yet undemanding garden rose.
