SOURIRE D'ORCHIDÉE – pale pink climber, rambling rose - Paul Croix
Vertical production concepts are where SOURIRE D'ORCHIDÉE delivers its most convincing professional value: a climber with dense, glossy foliage and 3–5 trained canes gives you a quickly marketable, space-defining structure for pergolas, walls and feature frames in thematic and collection gardens. The remontant, abundantly repeating flushes of shell-pink, semi-double clusters provide season-long colour for retailers positioning exclusive climbers as vertical garden accents, while the mild, fresh, apple-like fragrance adds a subtle sensory layer without complicating production. Own-root, tray-grown pharmaROSA® NEONATAL material supports predictable, long-lived, regenerating stands that underpin low replacement and consistent capacity in nursery and integrator systems, including coastal-influenced zones where wind and salt tolerance are important for public-realm planting. With an H7 hardiness rating and USDA 6a performance, the cultivar fits UK-wide professional routing from 5–7 L trained climber programs up to larger feature formats, following a natural development arc from root establishment in year one to structural shoot build-up in year two and full ornamental value by year three, ensuring stable scheduling and reliable stock for wholesale partners focused on premium collections and curated vertical landscapes.
Usage options
Finished-product ideas
- 5–7 L trained climber for retail pergolas – Own-root, staked plants with 3–5 canes and dense, glossy foliage, sold as ready-to-train pergola climbers, positioned as exclusive vertical garden features in premium garden centre assortments – target audience/channel: retail / reseller.
- Collection-grade climber for show gardens – Award-winning cultivar supplied as uniform own-root stock for thematic and competition gardens, highlighting its shell-pink, remontant clusters and verified authenticity – target audience/channel: rose collections, show-garden organisers.
- Wall-trained landscaping line in 7 L – Medium-maintenance trained climbers optimised for façades and park structures, balancing H7 hardiness with reliable repeat flowering for specification-driven projects – target audience/channel: landscape contractors, public-realm suppliers.
- Pollinator-accent pergola set – Semi-double, pollinator-attracting flowers on tall, flexible canes, produced as coordinated pergola pairs in 5–7 L for eco-oriented vertical garden concepts – target audience/channel: eco-focused retailers and project designers.
- 40–50 L mobile feature specimen – Up-potted own-root climbers trained on frames to act as movable vertical accents for entries and terraces, leveraging long-term structural stability and exclusive appearance – target audience/channel: high-end retail, commercial site managers.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Registered as CROchetdit, marketed as Sourire d'Orchidée Rambling rose CROchetdit; ARS exhibition name Sourire d’Orchidée; climbing rose commercial group, shrub and climber usage categories. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Paul Croix, Pépinières et Roseraies Paul Croix, France, from 'Age Tendre' seedling × unknown pollen; bred and introduced in 1985, with French origin and verified cultivar authenticity. |
| Awards and recognition |
Gold medal and Golden Rose at Geneva International Rose Competition 1985; bronze medals at Rome, Baden-Baden and The Hague competitions; also competed in Monza 1985, supporting premium positioning. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Climbing habit reaching 300–500 cm height with 120–200 cm spread; dense, mid-green, glossy foliage and moderate prickliness; suited to pergolas, walls and solitary structures with trained cane frameworks. |
| Flower morphology |
Semi-double, cup-shaped, cluster-flowered blooms with 13–15 petals and medium size of about 1.5–2.75 inches; remontant with an abundant second flowering, supporting a long ornamental production window. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Light shell-pink flowers that fade progressively to bone-white with faint pink edging; ARS light pink, RHS 65D outer and 155D inner; colour retention moderate, with pearlescent pink buds and silky, pale blooms. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Mild, fresh, apple-like fragrance character that remains restrained on the plant; semi-double form with open centres offers accessible stamens and pollen, giving moderate pollinator interest without production issues. |
| Hip characteristics |
Rose-hip set is generally slight; where present, hips are egg-shaped, orange-red and around 8–12 mm in diameter, adding discrete seasonal interest without dominating the plant’s vertical flower display. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Medium resistance to powdery mildew, black spot and rust; H7 hardiness rating, USDA zone 6a and Swedish zone 3; moderate heat and drought tolerance, still blooming in heat but needing irrigation in long dry spells. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Recommended as a solitary, pergola, wall-trained or park feature with medium maintenance and occasional plant protection; ideal as a trained climber finished product from 5–7 L own-root NEONATAL material. |
SOURIRE D'ORCHIDÉE combines award-backed vertical structure, remontant shell-pink flowering and durable own-root regeneration into a predictable, long-lived climber offer; we would be pleased to coordinate capacity and scheduling with your production plans.
