YardMate
English
Download
Zephirine Drouhin (Rosa 'Zephirine Drouhin'), whole plant
  • Zephirine Drouhin — close-up of leaves and flowers
  • Zephirine Drouhin — seasonal appearance
  • Zephirine Drouhin in a garden setting

Zephirine Drouhin

Rosa 'Zephirine Drouhin'

Medium · Some experience

About Zephirine Drouhin

Zephirine Drouhin is an 1868 French Bourbon climbing rose famous for being nearly thornless, producing intensely fragrant cerise-pink semi-double flowers from late spring through fall. Growing 8 to 15 feet on smooth canes that are safe to train near pathways and entrances, it tolerates more shade than most climbers and carries the rich damask-rose fragrance of its old-rose heritage. A romantic heirloom climber for American cottage gardens.

  • Fragrant
  • Shade-tolerant
  • Climbing
  • Long-blooming
WATER
Regular
Top inch dry
LIGHT
Full sun
6+ hrs direct
HARDY
Hardy to -20°F (-29°C)
USDA hardiness zones 5–9

How to care for Zephirine Drouhin

Watering

  • Springevery 7 days
  • Summerevery 5 days
  • Fallevery 10 days
  • Winterevery 21 days

Soil · Rich & loamy

  • Top dressingBark mulch15%
  • Main mixRich loam + compost 3:170%
  • DrainageGravel15%

Use fully finished compost — fresh compost burns roots.

FERTILIZER

Balanced Feed 14-14-14

An even feed covers all three needs at once, keeping leaves, roots and blooms moving together with nothing pushed out of balance.

N33%P33%K33%
  • Nitrogen · Leaves
  • Phosphorus · Roots + Blooms
  • Potassium · Strength
  • Springevery 45 days
  • Summerevery 45 days
Get watering reminders for Zephirine Drouhin — free on iPhoneDownload on the App Store

At a Glance

  • NativeEurope
  • Height8–15 ft (2.4–4.6 m)
  • Spread4–6 ft (1.2–1.8 m)
  • Flower colorPink
  • Foliage colorGreen, Bronze
  • Fruit colorOrange
  • SoilLoamy, Well-drained, Rich
  • LocationsYard

Bloom time

BLOOM CYCLE

Peak bloom

May–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Intensely fragrant cerise-pink blooms, deadhead for strong repeat

Fragrance

STRONG FRAGRANCE

The flowers have a powerful damask-raspberry fragrance.

Toxicity

Humans Safe · Pets Safe

None reported

Safe

EXPOSURE No exposure route is reported.

EFFECT No toxic effect is reported.

NOTE Listed as non-toxic for humans; avoid eating ornamental plants unless confirmed edible.

Safe

EXPOSURE No exposure route is reported.

EFFECT No toxic effect is reported.

NOTE Listed as non-toxic for dogs; avoid eating ornamental plants unless confirmed edible.

Safe

EXPOSURE No exposure route is reported.

EFFECT No toxic effect is reported.

NOTE Listed as non-toxic for cats; avoid eating ornamental plants unless confirmed edible.

Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.

DISTRIBUTION

Zephirine Drouhin · Native
  • Native
  • Europe

History

Illustrated historical scene for Zephirine Drouhin

Rosa 'Zephirine Drouhin' is a Bourbon climbing rose bred by French nurseryman Bizot and released in 1868, named for a lady whose identity remains uncertain despite her horticultural immortality. The cultivar is one of the few genuinely thornless old roses, making it a unique treasure for training around doorways, over archways, and along paths where roses are brushed against daily. The loosely double cerise-pink blooms, about ten centimeters across, open continuously from late spring to hard frost and carry a powerful sweet damask-and-raspberry fragrance widely considered among the strongest in the rose world.

The climbing plant reaches four to five meters on glossy bronze-red young foliage, though it suffers badly from black spot and mildew in humid climates. 'Zephirine Drouhin' remains beloved by heirloom-rose specialists nearly 160 years after introduction.

Bred by Bizot of Dijon, France and introduced in 1868, Zephirine Drouhin was named after Mme Zephirine Drouhin of Dijon. Its nearly thornless canes made it a Victorian favorite for training around doorways and arbors where guests might brush against it, and it remains a beloved heirloom climber in American heritage rose gardens.

Symbolism & meaning

What It Symbolizes

Zephirine Drouhin Rose makes visible safe welcome, its famously thornless canes inviting friendly handling on archways and entrance plantings. It also carries deep burgundy heritage — an 1868 French Bourbon heirloom whose cherry-pink fragrant blooms have been climbing porches for over 150 years. A rose for doorways, where guests should be welcomed by perfume rather than punctures.

  • Safe welcome — thornless canes for entryway plantings
  • Burgundy heritage — 1868 French Bourbon heirloom

Where the Name Comes From

Named by breeder Bizot for Madame Zephirine Drouhin of the Drouhin wine family of Dijon, Burgundy.

Uses & Fun Facts

  • Cerise blooms release strong sweet old-rose fragrance
  • Thornless heritage climber trained on pergolas and walls
  • Fragrant pink blooms cut for romantic cottage bouquets

Related plants

More Rosa plants

Plants with similar care

Frequently asked questions

How often should I water Zephirine Drouhin?

In summer, water about every 5 days; in winter, about every 21 days. Adjust for heat, pot size and drainage.

How much light does Zephirine Drouhin need?

Full sun: 6+ hrs direct. Watch the leaves — scorching or stretching means the light needs adjusting.

Is Zephirine Drouhin toxic to cats or dogs?

Pets Safe (Dogs Safe · Cats Safe) Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.

Is Zephirine Drouhin easy to grow?

It is moderately demanding: a good choice once you have a little experience.

When does Zephirine Drouhin bloom?

It typically blooms May–Sep in the Northern Hemisphere.

YardMate

Identify any plant in seconds

Snap a photo — YardMate names the plant, diagnoses problems, and reminds you when to water.

Download on the App Store
YardMateIdentify · Diagnose · Remind
Download