ILE ROUGE – dark red floribunda bedding rose - Delbard
If You dream of a welcoming, “girly” front garden with a touch of drama, ILE ROUGE offers deep red clusters of blooms that keep returning through Ireland’s short summers and cope calmly with regular rain and soft Atlantic breezes. This bushy floribunda builds dense, slightly glossy foliage that stays attractive for years, while its own‑root form supports a long‑lived, stable display that recovers well if stems are ever damaged. In its first year it quietly builds roots, the second brings stronger shoots, and by the third You can enjoy its full, velvety ornamental impact in a relaxed family garden setting.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Cottage-style front garden border |
The bushy, 110–150 cm shrubs form a generous, upright backdrop that suits small Irish cottage front borders without overpowering the space, giving long‑term structure and colour for low‑maintenance gardeners seeking reliable character, especially beginners. |
| Repeat-flowering focal feature by the front door |
Clusters of medium, very double, dark red blooms repeat well with an abundant second flowering, so an individual shrub at 75 cm spacing gives months of interest near entrances for homeowners who value steady colour with little fuss, ideal for busy. |
| Small flowering hedge along a path |
Planted 40 cm apart, the dense foliage and bushy habit create a neat, flowery hedge for paths or driveways, providing a gentle sense of enclosure and privacy without high upkeep, which suits practical, design-conscious families. |
| Bedding blocks in urban front gardens |
Square planting at around 4.9 plants/m² produces an impactful block of colour in compact front gardens, coping well with regular Irish rainfall and soft coastal winds, suiting city dwellers seeking reliable structure and seasonal drama, especially urbanites. |
| Mixed border with soft perennials |
The dark red blooms contrast beautifully with pale, airy companions such as lady’s mantle, yarrow or lamb’s ear, helping You create a relaxed “girly” cottage feel without complex planning, reassuring for style-led but time-poor owners. |
| Long-term structural planting scheme |
As an own-root shrub, the plant ages slowly and can regenerate from the base after hard pruning or weather damage, giving a stable framework for multi‑year plans, ideal for gardeners thinking ahead over seasons, especially long‑view planners. |
| Deep-colour accent in family seating areas |
The rich, dark red with blackish tones adds a cosy, intimate mood beside patios or seating, while the very weak fragrance keeps it comfortable for those sensitive to scent, making it attractive to fragrance‑cautious yet romantic buyers. |
| Large container on terrace or doorstep |
In a well‑drained container of at least 40–50 litres, its bushy habit and colour retention give long seasonal value; own‑root resilience makes repotting and rejuvenation simpler over time, well suited to container‑focused, space‑limited gardeners. |
Styling ideas
- COTTAGE RIBBON – edge a narrow front path with a single, gently curving line of ILE ROUGE, underplanted with lady’s mantle to catch raindrops – perfect for romantic cottage-front enthusiasts.
- BURGUNDY FOCUS – place one shrub by the front door with a pale gravel mulch and a simple pot of lavender nearby for contrast – ideal for homeowners wanting impact from one easy-care plant.
- VELVET CARPET – create a bedding block near the lawn using close planting, with common yarrow threading through for soft texture – suited to those who enjoy classic floribunda bedding with a modern twist.
- SOFT BORDERS – mix ILE ROUGE with lamb’s ear and ornamental grasses for a blend of dark blooms and silvery foliage – great for busy families seeking structure that still feels natural and relaxed.
- URBAN SHOWCASE – grow it in a large, 50‑litre container with a light-coloured pot and simple evergreen backdrop – ideal for city gardeners looking for long-lived colour in limited space.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Floribunda bedding rose, registered as DELpablan, traded as Ile Rouge Bedding rose DELpablan, exhibition name Delpablan; part of the Bedding rose collection for garden and landscape use. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Georges Delbard in France and introduced in 2007 by Pépinières et Roseraies Georges Delbard, with parentage not disclosed; selected for garden performance and distinctive dark red colour. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy shrub reaching about 110–150 cm in height with 40–60 cm spread, moderately thorny shoots, and dense, mid‑green, slightly glossy foliage; no confirmed data are available on self‑cleaning properties. |
| Flower morphology |
Very double, cup-shaped flowers with over 40 petals, medium sized at 4–7 cm, borne in clusters on floribunda-style trusses; remontant habit with reliable rebloom and notably abundant second flush in season. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Deep, dark red flowers with blackish tones, ARS code DR, RHS 187A–187B; colour fades only slightly to deep burgundy with dark brown shading, maintaining a rich appearance from bud through full bloom. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Displays a classic rose fragrance character, but with very weak intensity that is barely noticeable in normal garden use, making it a suitable choice where heavy scent might be unwelcome or overpowering. |
| Hip characteristics |
Due to very double blooms, rose hip set is usually sparse; when present, it forms small spherical, orange-red hips about 7–10 mm across, adding occasional late-season detail without becoming dominant. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to approximately −21 to −18 °C, corresponding to RHS H7, Swedish Zone 3 and USDA Zone 6b; disease resistance to black spot, powdery mildew and rust is medium, needing occasional protective care. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Prefers sunny positions with well-drained soil; recommended spacing is 45 cm for bedding, 40 cm for hedges and 75 cm as a specimen; suitable planting densities around 4.9–5.7 plants/m² depending on arrangement. |
ILE ROUGE offers repeat dark red flowering, a bushy long-lived shape and own-root resilience that rewards patient gardeners with steadily improving performance, making it a thoughtful addition to a relaxed family garden.
