ILE ROUGE – dark red floribunda bedding rose - Delbard
Step outside after rain and this tall, bushy floribunda fills a narrow London front garden with deep red drama and quietly structured order, its dense, slightly glossy foliage giving all-season backdrop against paving, railings and brick. The glowing dark ruby buds open to very double, cup-shaped flowers that age through deep burgundy, keeping their colour with exceptional stability even in unsettled British weather and where prolonged damp can challenge roses on heavier soils and breezier plots. Planted as an own-root shrub in a small bed or a generous 40–50 litre container, it develops steadily from foundation roots to a well-branched top, rewarding you with dependable flower clusters and an easy-care, long-lived structure. With medium disease resilience, moderate maintenance and manageable height, ILE ROUGE supports long-term garden planning, fitting beautifully into sustainable, rainwater-conscious front gardens and calm, low-input rhythm in busy urban lives, as its quietly classic, very light rose fragrance lends a subtle air of poise and enduring balance.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Narrow London front garden bed |
The upright 110–150 cm height with a 40–60 cm spread makes ILE ROUGE ideal where pavement space is tight but vertical presence is welcome; dense foliage gives privacy and structure without overwhelming a small plot, particularly for the time-poor urban gardener. |
| Rainwater-friendly, sustainable front garden |
Planted into improved clay or free-draining topsoil with downpipe-diverted rainwater, this own-root shrub offers a long lifespan and reliable structure, supporting a planting scheme that copes gracefully with frequent rain and breezy conditions for the environmentally minded homeowner. |
| Low-maintenance flowering hedge |
At 40 cm spacing, ILE ROUGE forms a bushy, cohesive line of rich red clusters and dense mid-green foliage, giving a tidy, semi-formal boundary that needs only seasonal pruning and occasional plant protection to stay effective for the practical family gardener. |
| Statement rose in large containers (40–50 L+) |
In a generous pot on a terrace or by a front door, the compact spread, medium-height bush and strong colour progression create a long-season focal point; own-root growth means gradual thickening rather than sudden decline, suiting the balcony or patio beginner. |
| Mixed bedding with perennials |
Clustered, medium-sized blooms sit well among softer textures such as lady’s mantle, yarrow or lamb’s ear, giving continuous dark red highlights while perennials provide pollinator interest, building an attractive, layered border for the style-conscious planner. |
| Small urban back garden “girly” corner |
The very double, cup-shaped flowers and glossy foliage create a luxurious, almost romantic feel in compact seating areas; moderate maintenance and medium disease resistance keep care realistic over the years for the relaxation-seeking city dweller. |
| Long-term structure in a planting plan |
With a bushy habit, H7 hardiness and own-root reliability, ILE ROUGE is well suited to long-term schemes where shrubs must mature steadily, offering height, form and colour continuity as borders develop for the forward-thinking garden owner. |
| Step-by-step developing family garden |
This own-root rose establishes roots strongly in its first year, builds fuller shoots and branching in its second, and by the third season delivers its full ornamental value in a stable, easy-care shrub, matching the pace of the patient new gardener. |
Styling ideas
- Front-door elegance – Plant one ILE ROUGE in a 50 L container each side of the entrance, underplanted with trailing ivy, for year-round structure and rich colour – ideal for the style-aware townhouse owner
- Soft-edges bed – Combine a small group of ILE ROUGE with lady’s mantle and lamb’s ear to soften paving edges while the rose provides upright depth – perfect for a gentle, romantic family garden
- Structured ribbon – Use a row of ILE ROUGE at 40 cm spacing along a low fence, with gravel or brick in front, to create a neat, easy-care boundary – suited to busy households wanting order with minimal fuss
- Balcony focal point – Grow a single plant in a large pot with free-draining compost and a light underplanting of nepeta for a compact yet dramatic display – attractive for first-time balcony gardeners
- Rain-garden accent – Position ILE ROUGE just above a shallow rain-collection swale, with yarrow and grasses, to anchor a sustainable, pervious front garden design – fitting for eco-conscious city residents
Technical cultivar profile
| Property |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Floribunda bedding rose from the EleanorROSE® ORIGINAL range; registered cultivar name DELpablan, marketed as ILE ROUGE – dark red floribunda bedding rose - Delbard; ARS exhibition name Delpablan. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Georges Delbard, Pépinières et Roseraies Georges Delbard, France; bred and introduced in 2007, with DELpablan as the registered name and initial distribution handled by the Delbard nurseries. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy shrub habit, typically 110–150 cm high and 40–60 cm wide; dense, slightly glossy mid-green foliage with moderate thorns; floribunda-type branching provides good coverage in beds or hedging lines. |
| Flower morphology |
Very double, cup-shaped blooms with more than 40 petals, borne in clusters; medium flower size (approximately 4–7 cm), repeating well with an abundant second flush and further waves in suitable conditions. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Dark ruby buds open dark red (RHS 187A outer, 187B inner), deepening to burgundy with dark brown shading; colour fade is slight, giving very good retention and a persistent, dramatic dark-red display in the garden. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Classic rose fragrance character, but very weak overall; scent is generally only noticeable at close range, making the variety suitable where intensity of perfume is not a primary selection criterion. |
| Hip characteristics |
Rose hips rarely set due to the very double flowers; where present, they are small, spherical orange-red hips around 7–10 mm in diameter, adding only occasional late-season interest. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Medium resistance to black spot, powdery mildew and rust; requires moderate maintenance and occasional plant protection; hardy to around −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7, Swedish Zone 3, roughly equivalent to USDA Zone 6b). |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Prefers a sunny position with reasonable drainage; plant at 40–45 cm for hedging or bedding, 75 cm as a specimen; own-root form suits long-term use in beds or 40–50 L containers with regular watering and balanced feeding. |
ILE ROUGE – dark red floribunda bedding rose - Delbard offers rich, stable colour, a tall bushy habit and long-term own-root reliability, making it a thoughtful choice for structured, easy-care urban and family gardens.
