ILLSE ROOS – dark red hybrid tea rose - Orard
Illse Roos brings a sense of coastal theatre to even the smallest veranda, its velvety, dark crimson blooms glowing like sunset clouds after a salty breeze. This hybrid tea rose suits sheltered Cornish or Devon balconies where managing moisture and drainage matters as much as colour, giving you a reliable focal point without fussy specialist skills. Grown on its own roots for long-term stability, it settles in steadily and rewards you with seasons of dramatic flowers to cut for indoor vases. Medium maintenance means just light pruning and occasional plant protection, while its good heat tolerance keeps the colour-rich blooms looking fresh through warm, windy spells. Dense, glossy foliage helps it hold its shape as a compact screen, ideal as a wind-softening backrest for that late-afternoon cup of tea. Plant once, then watch the quiet progression as roots establish in year one, shoots gain confidence in year two and by year three the full ornamental impact transforms your coastal retreat.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Coastal veranda in a large container |
Compact height and bushy growth make Illse Roos easy to manage in a 40–50 litre pot, while its heat tolerance copes well with sun-baked, wind-exposed balconies. Medium maintenance keeps tasks light for busy coastal veranda owners |
| Feature rose for a small family garden |
The XL, velvety dark red blooms provide a dramatic focal point without needing a large border, and own-root vigour supports a long-lived planting in typical suburban soil. Straightforward pruning suits beginners wanting a standout rose |
| Wind-softening rose near seating |
Bushy, dense foliage and a 75–105 cm height work as a gentle visual buffer, softening wind without overwhelming tight spaces, ideal beside a shingle path or garden bench for families enjoying sheltered tea corners |
| Cutting patch or cutting-friendly border |
Solitary, very full XL flowers on sturdy stems are designed for cutting, with a classic hybrid tea form and strong damask scent that perfumes indoor arrangements, rewarding home gardeners who love scented bouquets |
| Coastal-style mixed bed with perennials |
The deep burgundy-red flowers contrast beautifully with silvery foliage and grasses, pairing well with plants like sea kale or Festuca in coastal themes, while medium disease resistance suits hobby gardeners planning relaxed mixed borders |
| Partially shaded urban courtyard |
Its tolerance of partial shade lets you use it where walls or neighbouring houses limit sun, and the intense colour reads strongly even in softer light, reassuring urban owners with only a few bright hours |
| Long-season focal point by paths |
Remontant flowering with a generous second flush keeps colour and scent in view across the season, ideal beside paths you pass daily, providing continuing interest for people who want results from a single rose |
| Low hedge or repeating rhythm in beds |
Recommended spacings of 40–50 cm allow you to build a rhythmic line of plants that knit together into a low, fragrant hedge, anchoring borders without complex design work for gardeners seeking simple structure |
Styling ideas
- Veranda-focus – Place one Illse Roos in a 50 litre tub with pale gravel mulch and a low-backed chair to enjoy its scent out of the wind – ideal for coastal balcony owners.
- Shingle-border – Combine with blue Festuca and sea kale in a free-draining strip where the velvety blooms glow against cool, beach-inspired foliage – suited to seaside garden experimenters.
- Romantic-duo – Plant near soft pink or cream roses so the dark red flowers add depth and fragrance without overwhelming a small bed – perfect for cottage-style romantics.
- Silver-contrast – Set Illse Roos among Artemisia and other silver-leaved perennials so its burgundy-red colour becomes a dramatic accent – for design-conscious small-garden owners.
- Cutting-corner – Group three plants at 50 cm spacing with easy perennials like coreopsis to create a reliable source of scented stems – appealing to home florists and gift-givers.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose, registered as ORA 9898, marketed as Illse Roos Parfums de Lyon ORA 9898; dark red exhibition-type blooms in the Parfums de Lyon collection. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Pierre Orard in France, 2010; parentage unknown. Introduced by Ludwig’s Roses in South Africa, later offered more widely as a premium, strongly scented hybrid tea. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy shrub, around 75–105 cm tall and 40–60 cm wide, with dense, glossy dark green foliage and moderate prickles; forms a compact, upright plant suitable for beds or large containers. |
| Flower morphology |
Very full, solitary XL blooms with over 40 petals in a cupped hybrid tea form; remontant, producing a plentiful second flush that extends ornamental value across the main season. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Velvety deep dark red, appearing burgundy to near-black in shade; ARS dr, RHS 187A–187B. Colour moderates to carmine as blooms open but overall remains firmly in the burgundy-red range. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Classic, powerful damask fragrance, noticeably strong even from a distance; bred as a perfume-focused hybrid tea suited to seating areas, entrances and cutting for scented indoor arrangements. |
| Hip characteristics |
Occasionally sets small spherical hips, about 8–12 mm in diameter, red at maturity; decorative late in the season but usually secondary to the variety’s main use as a richly flowering hybrid tea. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to about −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7, USDA 6b, Swedish zone 3). Medium resistance to black spot, powdery mildew and rust; benefits from standard monitoring and timely plant protection. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best as a feature shrub, bed rose or cut-flower plant; space 40–50 cm in groups, 90 cm as a specimen. Prefers well-drained soil, regular feeding and consistent watering until well established. |
ILLSE ROOS – dark red hybrid tea rose - Orard rewards you with XL, strongly scented blooms, compact growth for small spaces and durable own-root resilience; consider it if you would like a long-lived, dramatic rose with modest upkeep.
