ICE COOL – white climbing rose – Delbard
Imagine returning from the beach to a sheltered corner where an elegant white climber filters the breeze and throws soft shade over your veranda table. ICE COOL clothes arches, pergolas and façades with pure white blooms and glossy dark foliage, creating a calm, refreshing backdrop that works beautifully in coastal gardens coping with strong winds and salt-laden air. Its reliable flowering and semi-double, high-centred blooms bring a gentle, feminine feel to shingle gardens and compact town plots alike. As a premium own-root rose, ICE COOL offers reassuring longevity, steady regrowth after pruning or harsh weather, and a stable display year after year. In a large 40–50 litre container or open ground, roots first, then framework, then a curtain of blooms – by year three you can expect full ornamental impact with surprisingly little effort from the average gardener.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Coastal veranda windbreak |
Dense, glossy foliage and a climbing habit let ICE COOL form a light, airy screen around verandas or balconies, softening wind without creating a solid wall, ideal where salty, breezy conditions limit more delicate shrubs for the relaxed coastal-style homeowner. |
| Compact family pergola |
Medium vigour and 2,4–3,6 m height make it easy to cover a small pergola without overwhelming the structure; its semi-double white flowers keep the space bright, while own-root stamina promises a long-lived feature for the busy family. |
| Shingle and gravel seating area |
The pure white, cut-rose style blooms stand out against shingle and decking, pairing well with low grasses and lavender; regular deadheading is simple, and the plant’s long-term framework anchors informal seating corners for the relaxed garden beginner. |
| Facade greening for townhouses |
Climbing growth, dark green foliage and moderate spread allow neat training on wires or trellis beside doors and windows; its remontant flowering gives repeated flushes without complex pruning, suiting the style-conscious but time-poor urban owner. |
| Arch over garden path |
Solitary, medium-sized blooms show clearly at eye level as they repeat through the season, and the semi-double form keeps the effect light rather than heavy; own-root growth recovers well after shaping, reassuring the occasional pruner and weekend gardener. |
| Large container on sheltered terrace |
Thrives in a 40–50 litre or larger pot with good drainage, allowing you to enjoy a climbing rose even where soil is poor or paved; careful watering and feeding are straightforward, while the long-lived root system rewards the container-focused enthusiast. |
| Partial-shade side passage |
Suitable for partial shade, ICE COOL can brighten narrow side paths or shaded corners where intense colour can look heavy; its white flowers and glossy leaves reflect light, extending usable garden space for the practical space-maximising planner. |
| Coastal-style mixed border backdrop |
Planted at the back of borders with sea kale, Festuca and dwarf lavender, the white curtain of bloom unifies the composition and withstands breezy conditions, echoing the look of Cornish and Devon seafront gardens for the coastal-character loving gardener. |
Styling ideas
- Seaside-Veranda Arch – Train ICE COOL over a simple metal arch set in shingle, underplant with Festuca and dwarf lavender for movement and scent – for coastal veranda owners wanting soft privacy.
- Cornish-Courtyard Wall – Fan-train along a sun-warmed wall with pots of sea kale and dwarf sedges below to echo beach textures – for townhouse gardeners seeking a light, maritime feel.
- Tea-and-Shells Pergola – Let the climber drape a small pergola above a bistro set, pairing with pale decking and white cushions – for families who enjoy relaxed afternoon tea outdoors.
- White-Dove Gateway – Frame a garden entrance by planting one rose on each side of a timber arch, keeping underplanting low and gravelled – for beginners who want a clear focal point with simple upkeep.
- Container-Coastal Corner – Grow in a 50 litre tub with free-draining mix, add New Zealand flax and lanterns for evening atmosphere – for busy homeowners making the most of a small terrace.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Climbing rose from the Grand Colours collection; registered as DELgribla, marketed as Ice Cool and Blanche Colombe; exhibition large-flowered climber with pure white blooms. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Georges Delbard in France and introduced in 1995 by Roseraies Georges Delbard; parentage unknown, selected for flower form and garden performance as a decorative climber. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Medium to tall climber reaching about 2,4–3,6 m high with a 1,6–2,4 m spread; dense, glossy dark green foliage on moderately thorny stems, best grown with support and light training. |
| Flower morphology |
Semi-double, high-centred, pointed buds opening to medium-sized blooms, typically solitary on the stem; around 13–25 petals with a cut-rose character and good presentation on arches and pergolas. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Pure white flowers with a creamy, silky sheen; buds milky white with a greenish tint; colour remains bright, later softening to milky-cream, with slight creamy tones in strong sun over a long season. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Fragrance is very weak and often barely noticeable, making it suitable where strong scent is not desired; semi-double form offers some pollen access and moderate pollinator interest in mixed plantings. |
| Hip characteristics |
Hip set is generally sparse because of the semi-double blooms; where formed, hips are small, spherical, about 6–10 mm across, and mature to an orange-red colour later in the season. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to approximately −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7, USDA 6b); moderate heat tolerance, needs watering in prolonged drought; good black spot resistance with moderate susceptibility to mildew and rust. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Ideal for arches, pergolas, fences and façades; plant 1,85–3 m apart depending on use; prefers well-drained soil with regular feeding, plus occasional pest and disease checks and deadheading. |
ICE COOL offers long-lived, own-root reliability, elegant white climbing coverage and adaptable use in coastal-style or compact family gardens, making it a thoughtful choice if you value lasting structure with minimal complexity.
