RAYMOND BLANC – pink nostalgia rose – Delbard
On a breezy coastal afternoon, Raymond Blanc brings a sense of relaxed elegance to small family gardens, combining nostalgic, globular blooms with an easy-going, shrub-like structure that sits naturally among shingle, grasses and driftwood touches. Its upright habit and dense, glossy foliage create a gentle living screen that copes reliably with blustery days and the challenges of coastal moisture and drainage, offering a calm, sheltered corner where you can enjoy tea after collecting seashells. Large, double, richly pink flowers appear in generous flushes, carrying a surprisingly strong, lingering fragrance that feels fresh rather than overpowering, and they repeat well through the season for continued colour without complicated pruning regimes. As an own-root rose it settles in steadily, giving solid, long-term stability, able to regenerate if cut back and to maintain ornamental value for many years, with the first year focusing on root-building, the second on stronger new shoots and the third on its full, romantic garden presence.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Small coastal front garden bed |
An upright, medium-height shrub that anchors easily in breezy, exposed Cornish or Devon fronts while still fitting modest plots, giving romantic pink globes without complex care for seasonal interest; ideal for the busy homeowner. |
| Coastal veranda container (40–60 litres) |
Performs well in a large, well-drained pot where you can control moisture and root space, offering strong fragrance and repeat blooms close to seating, with less bending and simpler maintenance in everyday use; perfect for the relaxed veranda-owner. |
| Low, informal wind-filtering hedge |
Planted at 55 cm spacings, the dense, glossy foliage and upright structure form a soft, flowered barrier that breaks coastal gusts into gentler breezes, allowing more comfortable outdoor seating areas; well suited to the practical family-gardener. |
| Feature rose near terrace or seating area |
The strong, long-lasting scent and large, nostalgic blooms are best appreciated close by, creating a focal shrub you can enjoy from the table without needing specialist pruning, rewarding basic deadheading with fresh flushes; appealing for the relaxed tea-lover. |
| Mixed border with coastal perennials |
Combines harmoniously with sea kale, blue fescues and lavender, its rich pink clusters weaving through silvery and blue foliage for a soft seaside palette that looks considered but remains easy to look after; attractive for style-conscious beginners. |
| Cutting patch for home bouquets |
Long-stemmed, cluster-flowered blooms provide multiple romantic heads per cut, with strong fragrance and good vase presence, so a small area can supply plenty of indoor arrangements over summer without specialist cutting-rose knowledge; ideal for the aspiring florist. |
| Clay soil beds with improved drainage |
Where heavy clay is opened with grit or organic matter, the upright shrub form roots steadily and offers reliable seasonal flowering, rewarding simple watering and occasional protection with long-lived structure and charm; reassuring for the cautious newcomer. |
| Permanent specimen in a family back garden |
As an own-root shrub it matures into a durable, medium-sized feature that can recover from harder pruning or weather damage, giving consistent shape and flowering over many years with straightforward yearly trimming and feeding; suited to the long-term planner. |
Styling ideas
- Seaside-Nostalgia – plant as a central rose in a shingle bed with sea kale and blue Festuca, echoing traditional coastal fronts – for homeowners wanting a soft, romantic seaside feel.
- Veranda-Retreat – grow one plant in a 50–60 litre container beside outdoor chairs, underplanted with trailing sweet alyssum – for those who like fragrant breaks without intensive gardening.
- Rose-Hedgerow – use a loose row along a boundary, interspersed with cherry laurel ‘Miki’ for evergreen structure and summer pink flushes – for families seeking privacy and gentle wind filtering.
- Cutting-Corner – dedicate a sunny strip with several bushes at 65 cm spacing for repeat-cut flowers that refresh both garden and vases – for creative homeowners who enjoy arranging their own blooms.
- Cottage-Coastal – mix with lavender and Virginia obedient plant for a relaxed, cottage-style border that still copes with breezes and light salt influence – for beginners favouring easy, romantic combinations.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Romantic shrub rose from the Chefs' Roses collection, registered as DELnado, marketed as Raymond Blanc Chefs' Roses DELnado, also known in exhibitions under the name Club Camif. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Georges Delbard in France before 2003, registered in 2003 and introduced around 2007; parentage not recorded, selected for nostalgic bloom form and strong garden performance. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Medium to tall upright shrub, typically 100–150 cm high and 70–100 cm wide, with dense, dark green glossy foliage and moderate prickliness, forming a full, rounded structure in borders or hedging. |
| Flower morphology |
Large double pompon to globular blooms, 2.75–3.95 inches across, borne in clusters, with 26–39 petals; remontant habit providing abundant first and second flushes when regularly deadheaded. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Rich vibrant pink flowers, ARS code MP, RHS 62C outer and 62B inner petals; deep pink in bud, fading to lighter pink with a fine silvery edge as blooms age, offering nuanced colour changes on the plant. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strong, long-lasting perfume that reads clearly in the garden and in cut stems; detailed scent notes are not documented, but the variety is chosen for its pronounced and persistent fragrance character. |
| Hip characteristics |
Hip set is usually light; where present, hips are 8–13 mm, ellipsoid and red (RHS 46A), offering discreet late-season interest without significantly affecting the plant’s flowering potential. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to approximately -21 to -18 °C (RHS H7, USDA 6b, Swedish zone 3); disease resistance is moderate to powdery mildew, black spot and rust, benefitting from basic preventive care in damp seasons. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in sunny positions with well-drained but moisture-retentive soil; suitable for beds, hedges and cutting. Maintenance is moderate, with occasional plant protection and manual deadheading for best repeat. |
RAYMOND BLANC offers richly scented, repeat pink blooms on a medium, upright shrub that suits small gardens and containers, with the long-term resilience and easy rejuvenation of an own-root rose, making it a thoughtful choice for relaxed coastal spaces.
