Rose Zephirine Drouhin

‘Zephirine Drouhin’ is one of the most celebrated and distinctive Climbing Bourbon roses, renowned for its almost prickless canes, generous flowering, and intensely fragrant blooms. Its smooth canes and romantic appearance have made it a long-standing favorite among gardeners and rose collectors worldwide.

The elongated, pointed buds open into loose, softly cupped flowers of a slightly informal, “untidy” charm. The blooms measure 9–10 cm (3.5 - 3.9 inches) in diameter under normal conditions, expanding to about 10 - 13 cm (3.9 - 5.1 inches) in cooler weather and reducing to 8 - 9 cm (3.1 - 3.5 inches) in heat. Flowers are semi-double to double, carrying about 17 to 25 long petals, strawberry-pink to deep pink in tone, noticeably lighter toward the base. A cluster of golden stamens is often visible at the center, enhancing their old-fashioned appeal.

Flowers are borne singly or in small clusters of 3 - 5 blooms together, usually on short peduncles close to the shoots, and are produced in remarkable abundance. ‘Zephirine Drouhin’ is among the earliest roses to bloom and continues flowering almost uninterruptedly until late autumn, often until the first frost. Removing spent blooms encourages continuous rebloom.

The fragrance is one of the rose’s greatest assets - strong, rich, and expressive, combining classic Damask rose oil notes with a distinct fruity sweetness.

The plant character is vigorous, tall, and spreading, with long, strong, reddish-crimson canes that are almost entirely prickless (thornless). New growth emerges red, maturing to smooth stems clothed in medium-large, matte, light green leaves, which bear small prickles on their reverse side. In colder climates, the rose typically reaches up to 200 cm (6.6 feet), while in warmer regions its branches may extend to 300 - 500 cm (9.8 - 16.4 feet). The mature and well-established plants spread to about 150 - 250 cm (4.9 - 8.2 feet) wide.

Because of its smooth canes, ‘Zephirine Drouhin’ is particularly well suited for arches, pergolas, columns, walls, and other supports, though it can also be grown as a large shrub. It is shade-tolerant, flowering well in full sun but also performing admirably in partial shade.

Disease resistance is weak to moderate. The rose is prone to black spot, powdery mildew, and rust, especially in still air, and therefore requires regular preventive treatments with fungicides and a well-ventilated planting site. Disease resistance tends to improve as the plant matures. For winter, the rose performs best when bent to the ground and covered with protective coverage on its full length, especially in colder regions. It shows good frost resistance in regions similar to USDA zones 5b to 10b.

‘Zephirine Drouhin’ thrives in fertile, organically rich, moist, and well-loosened soils. While it prefers warmer climates, it overwinters reliably throughout Ukraine. With proper care and attention, this rose becomes a striking and romantic feature in refined gardens, historic settings, and landscape compositions.

The rose is most likely named after the wife of a rose enthusiast from Semur-en-Auxois (Côte-d'Or, France).

Global awards:

Holds the titles “Widow Queen” and “Victorian”, awarded at multiple competitions of the American Rose Society (AARS) between 1999 and 2001.

The exact origin of the rose variety ‘Zephirine Drouhin’ is unknown, though it is widely believed to result from a cross between a Boursault rose and a Hybrid Perpetual.

This variety has produced several notable sports:

  'Emily Rhodes' (Clark, 1937)

  'Kathleen Harrop' (sport, Dickson II, 1919)

  'Marthe' (sport, Knudsen, before 1912)

USDA 5