LA CLÉ DE LA ROSE – lilac-pink hybrid tea rose – pharmaROSA® NEONATAL
Fragrance and classic hybrid tea flower quality make LA CLÉ DE LA ROSE a convincing choice where you need a premium, own-root propagation base for exhibition-grade blooms and high-value retail ranges. Its upright habit, 80–120 cm height and 50–70 cm spread support predictable bush-trained development with 3–5 framework canes in 5–7 L containers, giving a reliable structure for the “exclusive finished product” positioning. With remontant, solitary, cupped flowers and a strong old-rose scent, the cultivar lends itself to premium container programmes and show-garden projects, while own-root production promotes regeneration and stand longevity under repeated cutting or pruning. Moderate overall resistance, including resistance to powdery mildew and black spot, supports quality-focused maintenance regimes in UK nursery systems. Its H7 rating and USDA 6b hardiness mean it copes well in colder production regions, providing assurance for nurseries aiming for a stable offer even where winters are severe and wind-exposed. Over a natural development arc from root establishment in year one, to strong structural shoots in year two, and full ornamental and aromatic impact by year three, it underpins dependable capacity planning for thematic rose collections and premium retail supply.
Usage options
Finished-product ideas
- Premium 5–7 L fragrance line – Own-root, bush-trained plants with 3–5 strong canes in 5–7 L pots, positioned as an exclusive, very strongly scented hybrid tea for retail benches where flower quality and fragrance are decisive – retail / reseller fragrance collections
- Large patio specimen 40–50 L – NEONATAL material grown on into 40–50 L containers to showcase height, structure and intense lilac-pink blooms, ideal as a high-ticket feature SKU within an exclusive finished product segment – garden centres and landscape retailers
- Exhibition hybrid tea cut-rose base – Bush-trained container stock selected for straight, strong stems and cupped, solitary flowers, supplying specialist exhibitors and florists seeking consistent, named hybrid tea blooms – specialist cut-rose and exhibition channels
- Thematic “historic fragrance” collection item – Used as a named component in curated ranges referencing historic rose gardens, capitalising on the strong old-rose damask scent and distinctive colour, with own-root form supporting long-term collection integrity – thematic rose gardens and heritage-focused ranges
- Pollinator-aware scented border rose – Marketed as a semi-double, fragrant hybrid tea that still offers accessible stamens, produced in premium containers from own-root stock for schemes combining ornamental value and moderate pollinator benefit – public-realm and institutional project supply
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
La Clé de la Rose is a hybrid tea rose marketed as LA CLÉ DE LA ROSE – lilac-pink tea-hybrid rose - Ducher & Massad; formal registered cultivar name not provided; exhibition name data not provided. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred in France in 2016 by Fabien Ducher and Dominique Massad, introduced the same year by Roseraie Ducher; parentage is unknown, but selection originates from professional ornamental rose breeding lines. |
| Awards and recognition |
not provided |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright bush to 80–120 cm high, 50–70 cm spread, moderately dense mid-green slightly glossy foliage and moderately thorny shoots, suited to bush training with 3–5 main canes for bed and container use. |
| Flower morphology |
Semi-double hybrid tea blooms with 13–25 petals, large 2.75–3.95 inch solitary, cupped flowers; remontant habit with abundant second flowering, providing a succession of decorative blooms through the main season. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Intense deep purplish-pink, ARS code dp, RHS 64C outer and 64B inner; buds dark purplish pink, then rich purplish-pink softening to mid lilac-pink and finally lightening with a delicate silvery veil before fading. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very strong, garden-filling fragrance with a classic old-rose damask character; scent intensity supports use where olfactory impact is important, such as scented collections, display plantings and fragrance-led retail concepts. |
| Hip characteristics |
Occasionally sets ellipsoidal orange-red hips, around 10–14 mm diameter; hips are not dominant but can add discrete seasonal interest without significantly detracting from overall flowering performance. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Moderate overall disease resistance with good resistance to powdery mildew and black spot, moderate reaction to rust; hardy to approximately -21 to -18 °C, rated RHS H7 and Swedish zone 3, USDA zone 6b. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Recommended for beds and containers with medium maintenance and occasional plant protection; ideal as a premium container product from bush-trained own-root material, where flower quality and form are primary selling points. |
LA CLÉ DE LA ROSE combines strong fragrance, premium hybrid tea flower quality and reliable upright structure on own roots, supporting long-lived, predictable stands for professional programmes; we would be pleased to discuss volumes, timelines and integration into your range.
