DELÉRI – Nahema pink climbing rose – Delbard
Step out to soft raindrops, and You can almost hear the hush of an old Irish cottage garden as DELÉRI – Nahema – breathes out its famous perfume. This large-flowered climber wraps pergolas, archways and Dublin terrace railings in intensely fragrant, pastel-pink rosettes, flowering generously from early summer with a full second flush. Bred for secure, long-term beauty, it forms its own-root base, settling in steadily so the first year builds roots, the second year fills out with strong shoots, and by year three You enjoy its full romantic presence. Medium maintenance, yet thoughtfully bred for good disease resistance, it copes reassuringly with Ireland’s soft light and frequent showers, even where drainage has been improved in heavier soils and humidity can challenge lesser roses.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Perfumed arch at a front gate |
Large, rosette blooms and an award-winning, very strong perfume make DELÉRI ideal over an entrance arch, greeting You and visitors with scent every time You come home; best for those who value a scented welcome, especially beginners. |
| Cottage-style pergola in a family garden |
Vigorous climbing growth to around 2,4–4 m and dense foliage give quick vertical cover on pergolas, while repeat flowering keeps pastel colour in view all summer for relaxed family evenings, suiting time-pressed homeowners. |
| Romantic seating corner or arbour |
The pastel candy-pink flowers with silvery edges create a soft, flattering light around benches and arbours, turning even a small space into a cosy retreat for reading or morning coffee, perfect for nature-oriented gardeners. |
| Dublin terrace railings and small front gardens |
Its tall, narrow climbing habit dresses railings and walls without stealing precious ground space, giving continuous bloom and fragrance in compact city plots; this works well for busy urban residents. |
| Easy-care long-term garden framework |
Own-root growth means the plant can regenerate from its base if weather or pruning is harsh, building a stable, long-lived framework of flowering shoots with fewer worries about graft failure, reassuring for cautious beginners. |
| Low-fuss rose border with improved drainage |
Medium maintenance needs suit Irish conditions where wet spells and heavier soils are common; once drainage and mulching are in place, DELÉRI offers reliable flowering with only occasional checks, ideal for busy gardeners. |
| Softly scented cutting garden strip |
Large, double, solitary blooms on long climbing stems make excellent cut flowers; a small row along a fence can supply vases with intensely scented roses throughout summer, attractive for fragrance-loving homeowners. |
| Weather-tolerant feature on exposed plots |
Hardy to around -21 °C with good disease resistance to powdery mildew and black spot, it performs steadily in typical Irish wind and rain where many roses sulk, which suits practical, reliability-focused gardeners. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage Archway – Train DELÉRI over a simple timber arch, underplant with creeping thyme and Lychnis for a fluttery, pink-and-lilac walkway – for romantic front-garden owners.
- Pastel Pergola – Cover a seating pergola with DELÉRI and weave in Ceanothus for blue contrast and spring interest – for families who relax outdoors after work.
- City Rail Rose – Grow as a slim climber on railings in a 50–70 litre container with good drainage, adding herbs at the base – for terrace and balcony gardeners.
- Perfumed Screen – Create a softly scented privacy screen along a path or boundary by spacing plants at 1,8 m and letting them interlace – for neighbours seeking gentle seclusion.
- Cutting Corner – Reserve a sunny fence section for DELÉRI as a vertical cutting row, pairing with airy perennials so You can harvest buds without gaps – for fragrance-focused flower arrangers.
Technical cultivar profile
| Characteristic | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Registered as DELéri, marketed as DELÉRI – Nahema in the Scented Memories of Love collection; large-flowered climbing rose for exhibition, cutting and decorative use on arches and pergolas. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Georges Delbard in France from ‘Grand Siècle’ × ‘Heritage’; breeding completed 1991, registered 1991 and introduced 2006, combining classic form with modern remontant performance. |
| Awards and recognition |
Highly acclaimed for fragrance: Perfume Award Monza 1997, Fragrance Award New Orleans 2003, Silver Medal and Most Fragrant Rose Gifu 2006, plus several additional international medals. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Strong climbing habit, typically 240–400 cm high with 140–240 cm spread; dense, dark green, slightly glossy foliage on sparsely thorned canes, ideal for training on supports and vertical structures. |
| Flower morphology |
Large 7–10 cm, double rosette blooms with 26–39 petals, mostly solitary on the stems; remontant with a plentiful second flush, giving prolonged display when regularly deadheaded and lightly tied in. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Delicate pastel pink with warmer base; buds deeper pink with peach hints, opening to soft pink and cream, then candy-pink with pale, later silvery edges; colour retention is good before gently lightening. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very strong, intense, long-lasting perfume with classic rose character, renowned worldwide and suitable for cutting near windows, doors and seating areas where scent can be fully appreciated. |
| Hip characteristics |
Occasional ellipsoidal hips, about 8–12 mm, orange-red (RHS 40A); largely ornamental and not produced in heavy quantities due to the double flower form and reduced accessibility for pollinators. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Medium overall disease resistance; good resistance to powdery mildew and black spot, medium against rust; reliably hardy in USDA zone 6b, RHS H7 and Swedish zone 3 with normal garden care. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Plant 165–300 cm apart depending on use; prefers well-drained soil with organic mulch. Medium maintenance: tie in new canes, prune after flowering and monitor for pests; avoid deep shade for best bloom. |
DELÉRI – Nahema offers intensely fragrant, long-season pastel blooms on a hardy, own-root climber that builds a durable framework over time; an excellent choice if You wish to invest in lasting garden structure and scent.
