Rosa 'Zephirine Drouhin'


'Zephirine Drouhin' or 'Zéphirine Drouhin' is a Bourbon rose, noted for being thornless, created in 1868 by the French rose grower Bizot, supposed to have been named after the wife of a rose enthusiast from Semur-en-Auxois. It is also known as 'Belle Dijonaise', 'Mme Charles Bonnet', 'Mme Gustave Bonnet', 'Ingegnoli Predilatta'.
Its origin is unknown: it was possibly the outcome of a cross between a Boursault rose and another climbing or rambling rose.

Description

'Zephirine Drouhin' blooms abundantly and continually from June to the autumn, producing numerous scented double flowers, lilac-pink or bright pink in colour, about 9 centimetres in diameter. This rose, relatively resistant to cold and quite vigorous, is a climber or rambler that can reach 3 metres in height, but it can also be trained as a bush.
A notable feature is its entirely smooth and thornless stems. Propagation is easily achieved by cuttings.
Two spontaneous mutations of 'Zephirine Drouhin' have been noted and developed, those being 'Kathleen Harrop' and 'Martha'.

Ecology

This rose is resistant to frost and is tolerant of part shade. It is vulnerable to fungal infections, particularly powdery mildew and black spot, especially in rainy weather or if trained against a wall.

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