DÉLICIEUSE GOURMANDISE – pale pink climbing rose - Schmitz
Imagine sipping tea on a sheltered coastal veranda as petals of DÉLICIEUSE GOURMANDISE open into generous rosettes, filling the air with a strong, fruity perfume that drifts on salty breezes. This elegant pale-pink climber quickly builds a screen of dense, light-green foliage, giving you privacy and a soft windbreak while coping well with breezy, maritime conditions and thoughtful drainage. In a typical family garden it can be trained neatly up a trellis, pergola or veranda post, delivering a long season of repeat-flowering colour from its very double blooms. As an own-root rose, it establishes steadily for a long-lived, reliable display, with Year 1 focusing on strong roots, Year 2 on confident shoots, and Year 3 revealing its full ornamental presence. Give it a sunny aspect, a 40–50 litre container or open ground with improved soil, and it will reward light but regular care with a luxurious, seaside-holiday ambience you can enjoy from your favourite chair.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Coastal veranda windbreak |
Trained up posts or trellis, this tall, bushy climber creates a soft, living screen that calms salty breezes without feeling oppressive. Dense foliage and repeated flushes of pale-pink blooms give privacy and seasonal drama for coastal-style lovers. |
| Small family garden pergola |
The moderate spread and 2.2–3.8 m height are ideal for framing a compact pergola without overwhelming the space. It offers long-season colour overhead while leaving ground room for lawn or play areas, suiting busy family gardeners. |
| Feature rose in a large container |
In a 40–50 litre pot, roots are well anchored and moisture is easier to manage, helping this climber perform consistently on patios or roof terraces. It becomes a vertical highlight where borders are limited, appealing to urban veranda owners. |
| Training along a sunny fence |
The bushy habit and flexible canes lend themselves to gentle tying-in along horizontal wires, quickly forming a flowering boundary. This brings structure and height to average suburban plots while staying manageable for hobby gardeners. |
| Romantic seating-corner backdrop |
The strong, sweet scent carries well, so one or two plants behind a bench can perfume an evening tea spot. Repeating flushes of very double rosettes add a soft, “girly” atmosphere that suits lovers of romantic gardens. |
| Mixed border with coastal-tolerant companions |
Combined with sea kale, airy grasses or lavender, this pale-pink climber gives vertical focus and a long vista of flowers while companions help with soil structure and water balance, matching gardens where breezes and rain call for careful water management. |
| Cut-flower supply for the home |
The large, very double blooms, refined rosette form and strong fragrance translate beautifully into fragrant indoor arrangements. A few well-placed canes can provide regular, high-quality stems through the season for home bouquet enthusiasts. |
| Statement specimen near an entrance |
Planted as a solitary climber beside a doorway or arch, it creates a welcoming focal point that matures steadily year by year. Own-root growth supports long-term reliability and graceful ageing, reassuring long-term-minded homeowners. |
Styling ideas
- Coastal-Veranda Charm – Train it up a veranda post with a base of sea kale and pale Festuca for a breezy, seaside look – ideal for coastal-style lovers seeking effortless romance.
- Romantic Pergola Walkway – Let canes arch over a narrow pergola, underplanted with lavender for scent at ground level – perfect for homeowners dreaming of a soft, “girly” retreat.
- Patio Rose Column – Grow in a 40–50 litre pot with a slim obelisk, adding vertical colour where ground space is scarce – suited to balcony and terrace gardeners.
- Soft-Edge Boundary – Tie stems along wires on a sunny fence, blending with feather reed grass for movement and light screening – good for families wanting a gentle, green enclosure.
- Fragrant Welcome Nook – Position by a front step or bench and pair with bearded iris and echinacea for seasonal layers of interest – appealing to those who value a memorable entrance.
Technical cultivar profile
| Property |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Délicieuse Gourmandise is a large-flowered climbing rose marketed as a climber for garden use; it belongs to the climbing rose collection and is sold under this confirmed trade name. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Daniel Schmitz in Belgium around 2011 and introduced by Roseraie Daniel Schmitz; exact registration year and initial commercial release date have not been documented. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Vigorous, bushy climber reaching 2.2–3.8 m high with a 1.1–1.9 m spread; moderately thorny canes carry dense, matt, light-green foliage that forms a substantial vertical presence when trained. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, very double rosette blooms with more than 40 petals, typically borne singly on the stem; remontant, producing an abundant second flush and additional flowers during favourable weather. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Buds open from pastel pink to a delicate, milky-translucent pale pink, sometimes slightly deeper at the centre; blooms then fade towards light creamy pink, with overall colour retention rated as moderate. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Notable for its strong, sweet, fruity perfume that can be appreciated from a distance in still air; primarily ornamental, as the dense doubling limits pollinator access despite its sensory appeal. |
| Hip characteristics |
Very double flowers set few hips; occasionally, small ovoid red hips around 10–14 mm across may form, adding minor late-season interest without significantly affecting flowering performance. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Winter hardy to about –21 to –18 °C (RHS H7, USDA 6b, Swedish Zone 3) but highly susceptible to powdery mildew, black spot and rust, requiring consistent preventive plant protection in most gardens. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil; spacing 1.4–2.5 m depending on use. Needs careful watering during prolonged drought and regular disease management, particularly in damp or enclosed sites. |
DÉLICIEUSE GOURMANDISE rewards you with strongly scented, pale-pink rosettes, reliable repeat flowering and an elegant climber’s presence that matures steadily on its own roots, making it a refined choice if you enjoy tending a characterful garden feature.
