COMTE DE CHAMBORD – pink historic Portland rose – pharmaROSA® NEONATAL propagation material
Heritage own-root COMTE DE CHAMBORD provides a compact, bushy, upright framework well suited to premium container and specialty production, with a historic Portland character that supports thematic and collection-led rose ranges. Its very double, mid-pink, cup-shaped blooms with a silvery sheen and fragrance of classic damask strength deliver a clear value proposition for Dowager-class, collector and show-garden programmes. On own roots this cultivar offers stable, long-term cropping potential and predictable quality for nursery networks focusing on curated heritage assortments; development typically moves from root establishment in year one, structural shoot build-up in year two and full ornamental expression by year three. In production systems serving public and private projects across the UK, it fits reliably where winter hardiness and tolerance of challenging wind exposure are required. As tray-grown, 3–6‑month-old rooted cuttings, pharmaROSA® NEONATAL material integrates smoothly into existing propagation beds and 5–7 L premium containers, supporting planned volumes and homogeneous finished batches for professional partners.
Usage options
Finished-product ideas
- 5–7 L Heritage Collector Pot – premium 5–7 L container, bush-trained with discreet support to highlight compact, historic character and strong fragrance, positioned as a selection-grade heritage SKU – specialist retail and collector channels
- Dowager Exhibition Line – batch-grown from NEONATAL material for uniform structure and large, very double mid-pink blooms, released as a named Dowager/old garden exhibition line – show-focused nurseries and exhibition growers
- Hardy Heritage Bed Unit – own-root plants raised in nursery beds, then marketed for cold-tolerant heritage flower beds and park plantings with controlled 80–130 cm habit – landscape and public-realm project suppliers
- Fragrance Feature Container – once-blooming but highly scented historic rose presented in premium 5–7 L containers as a fragrance-led centrepiece for thematic rose gardens – high-end garden centres and mail-order specialists
- Historic Cut-Flower Block Starter – NEONATAL trays contracted as starter stock for dedicated heritage cut-flower blocks, leveraging strong fragrance and bloom form within a short harvest window – niche floriculture producers
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Current trade name COMTE DE CHAMBORD, a historical Portland rose in the Heritage rose collection; American Rose Society exhibition name COMTE DE CHAMBORD; unregistered cultivar with verified authenticity for professional use. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred in France around 1858 by André Robert and François Moreau, parentage ‘Duchesse de Portland’ × ‘Baronne Prévost’; introduced 1863 by Moreau-Robert, representing classic Portland and Damask Perpetual breeding lines. |
| Awards and recognition |
Holds the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit (1993) and WFRS Old Rose Hall of Fame status (2022); multiple American Rose Society Dowager Queen titles between 1998 and 2005 confirm long-term exhibition value. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy, upright shrub reaching 80–130 cm in both height and spread, with moderately dense, slightly glossy mid-green foliage; sparsely thorned shoots improve handling, with a structure suitable for bush training with discreet support. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, very double, cup-shaped flowers with over 40 petals, usually borne in clusters; non-remontant, providing a single but pronounced flowering period, with poor self-cleaning so spent blooms benefit from professional deadheading. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Rich mid-pink with a subtle silvery sheen; buds open from deep pink to mid-pink with pearlescent outer petals, then fade to pastel pink and pale peach tones; colour remains stronger in cooler conditions, fading more in heat and strong sun. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very strongly scented with a classic damask fragrance, noticeable from a distance; decorative, densely petalled blooms reduce pollinator access, so it functions primarily as an ornamental and fragrance feature rather than a pollinator resource. |
| Hip characteristics |
Rose-hip set is generally poor due to heavy doubling, though occasional ovoid, red hips of about 14–23 mm diameter may form; hips are ornamental only on a limited scale and not a primary production or display feature. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Rated to approximately −32 to −29 °C (RHS H7, Swedish zone 5, USDA 4b); resistant to powdery mildew and black spot, with moderate rust susceptibility; medium heat tolerance, requiring regular watering during extended heat or drought. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Suited to flower beds, specimen and park plantings, and niche cut flowers; medium maintenance with occasional pest and disease control and deadheading; best presented as a premium container, specialty product using bush training with discreet support. |
COMTE DE CHAMBORD offers a compact, low-thorn, award-backed historic profile on predictable, long-lived own roots, giving nurseries a dependable premium heritage line; we would be pleased to discuss capacity, scheduling and propagation planning with you.
