THUNDERSTRUCK – orange-yellow climbing rose (climber) - Orard
If You dream of a softly lit, “girly” cottage feel in a small Irish garden or Dublin front yard, THUNDERSTRUCK brings instant drama with its lightning-like striped blooms on a strong climber. Its shimmering orange, yellow and cream flowers lend year-round structure to walls, fences and compact pergolas, while glossy dark foliage gives a lush backdrop even between flushes of bloom. Own-root planting means a reliable long-term companion that can regenerate from the base, offering quiet confidence through Atlantic showers and breezes with good airflow helping foliage stay healthy. Simply give it sun, support and decent drainage and enjoy its evolving three-year story, from settling roots to taller shoots and finally a fully furnished vertical screen.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Sunny cottage-style front garden wall |
Ideal where You want a romantic, striped focal point that looks after itself once established, with moderate maintenance and reliable repeat flowering creating long-season drama for passers-by and visitors, especially appealing to beginners. |
| Family pergola or arch by a seating area |
The medium-sized, double blooms clothe supports densely without overwhelming small gardens, giving a lush, intimate feel and attractive screening while still allowing light through, perfect for relaxed outdoor moments for busy-owners. |
| Training along a terrace or balcony railing |
Its climbing habit and glossy foliage provide an elegant green curtain and seasonal colour on limited space, and own-root vigour supports long-term structure with only light pruning, suiting compact urban plots and city-gardeners. |
| Statement feature on a gable or house corner |
Used as a specimen, the striking colour pattern draws the eye from the street, while its height and spread build a long-lived vertical accent that anchors the planting design, rewarding patient yet practical homeowners. |
| Mixed boundary planting with evergreens |
Works beautifully with dark yew or similar shrubs, the bold flowers standing out against deep green foliage, and own-root resilience helps maintain a stable, tidy outline over years, reassuring more cautious newcomers. |
| Rose-and-grass combination border |
Partnered with ornamental grasses like feather reed-grass, the upright stems and swaying plumes soften the rose’s vertical lines and extend interest beyond flowering, a rewarding solution for creatively minded hobby-gardeners. |
| Large feature container by the front door |
In a generous 40–50 litre pot with good drainage, it offers showy colour where ground planting is limited; own-root planting supports longevity and easier recovery if stressed, making it a sound option for cautious balcony-owners. |
| Clothed fence in exposed, rainy side garden |
Set against a sturdy fence, it quickly forms a leafy, flowering screen; the Atlantic climate’s frequent breezes promote good air circulation for healthier foliage, easing care concerns for time-pressed family-gardeners. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage-Stripe – Train THUNDERSTRUCK over a white-painted trellis with cranesbill at its feet for a soft, storybook Irish cottage look – ideal for romantic front-garden owners.
- Urban-Arch – Use a slim metal arch on a small terrace and pair with pale lavender perennials to highlight the dramatic flowers – perfect for style-conscious city gardeners.
- Evergreen-Frame – Flank the rose with low dwarf yew to frame a doorway or path, letting the flowers become a changing seasonal picture – suited to homeowners seeking year-round structure.
- Grass-Rhythm – Combine with feather reed-grass in a linear bed along a fence, the grasses echoing the climber’s height and adding movement – great for modern, low-fuss family gardens.
- Doorstep-Show – Grow in a large 40–50 litre pot beside the front step, underplanted with scented cranesbill for a welcoming, informal entrance – appealing to busy beginners.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Climbing rose from the Rós dreapadó group; registered as ORAlodsem, marketed as THUNDERSTRUCK – orange-yellow climbing rose (climber) - Orard; exhibition name Thunderstruck. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Pierre Orard in France in 2011 from ORAstricap × (MEIronsse × HARzazz); introduced 2015 via international distributors with US plant protection granted in 2016. |
| Awards and recognition |
Honoured with a Gold Medal at the International Rose Competition in Barcelona, recognising its ornamental value and garden performance among contemporary climbing roses. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Large-flowered climber reaching about 220–330 cm high and 180–280 cm wide, with dense, glossy dark green foliage and a moderately thorny framework suited to wall and pergola training. |
| Flower morphology |
Medium-sized, double, cup-shaped blooms with 26–39 petals, usually carried in clusters of three to five per stem; remontant habit ensures abundant repeat flowering through the season. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Smoky orange-brown buds open to butter-cream and brownish-orange petals with reddish streaks; tones soften to rosy-peach with pale pink striping as flowers age in strong light. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Produces a very weak, barely noticeable rose scent; selected primarily for its dramatic striped colour effect and climbing habit rather than for strong fragrance or perfume intensity. |
| Hip characteristics |
Occasionally forms small, ellipsoidal rose hips about 10–14 mm across, maturing to an attractive orange-red colour that can add modest late-season interest if flowers are not deadheaded. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to around -26 to -23 °C (RHS H7, USDA 5b); generally good black spot resistance with moderate susceptibility to powdery mildew and rust, benefitting from occasional protective care. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in sunny sites with fertile, well-drained soil; space 215–350 cm depending on use, support securely, water in dry spells, and prune to maintain framework and encourage flowering laterals. |
THUNDERSTRUCK – orange-yellow climbing rose (climber) - Orard offers dramatic striped colour, strong vertical structure and long-term own-root reliability; consider it if You want a lasting feature with relatively simple care.
