How to Plant, Grow, and Care for ‘Zephirine Drouhin’ Roses

‘Zephirine Drouhin’ is an heirloom rose with full, deep pink blooms and a vigorous climbing habit. Part of the Bourbon class, this selection is a favorite for reliable flowering and fast growth. Bourbons feature repeat flowering, strong performance, fragrance, and adaptability, 

‘Zephirine Drouhin’ delights with an exceptional classic rose fragrance full of raspberry notes. The antique roses perform beautifully in the contemporary garden. As climbers, they create vertical appeal by training on an upright structure or arching their long canes as graceful shrubs. 

What are ‘Zephirine Drouhin’ Roses?

‘Zephirine Drouhin’ is a continuous bloomer with an exceptional old rose fragrance and a tall, vigorous habit. Deep rose-colored flowers emerge in late spring and bloom until frost. An 1868 heirloom rose, ‘Zephirine,’ is of the Bourbon classification. These old garden hybrids led to the cultivation of modern roses and remain popular today. They are hardy and adaptable, with origins in wild species. Their abundant blooms, vigor, fragrance, and history enchant the garden.

Bourbon roses boast large, fragrant flowers, recurrent blooms, hardiness, and disease resistance. The cherished antique roses are parented by hybrid teas, and display adaptability and exceptional flowering.

As a carefree climber, ‘Zephirine Drouhin’ suits a variety of garden situations. It quickly fills trellises, house walls, arbors, pillars, arches, and fences. Without upright support, this vigorous Bourbon rose grows as a free-standing specimen shrub with arching canes.

Characteristics

A time-tested beauty, ‘Zephirine Drouhin’ roses shine in bloom color, size, and fragrance. Cerise-pink blooms perfume the garden with raspberry notes. Flowers occur most prolifically in the cool temperatures of spring and fall. The four-inch, semi-double blossoms hold 20 to 30 petals for a look of lush, loose, old-fashioned rosettes.

This variety has dark green foliage with coppery-red new growth. Its long canes are nearly thornless, making them easy to work with and prime for seating areas.

It is also very adaptable, thriving in full sun and tolerating partial shade and less-than-ideal soils. While susceptible to black spot and mildew diseases, the plant continues to grow and bloom despite them.

As a climbing rose, this heirloom reaches heights of 20 feet but, more commonly, a midrange of 10 to 12 feet. Climbing roses don’t twine or vine naturally; they need support, training, and tying to a sturdy structure.

Native Area

On an island in the Indian Ocean, wild roses naturally cross-pollinated to create a new type of rose and the origin of modern roses. Bourbon roses represent a group of old garden rose hybrids from a natural cross between wild roses on the Ile de Bourbon (now Reunion) near Mauritius and off Madagascar.

A lineage of ‘Autumn Damask’ hybridized with a China rose, which accounts for their heavenly fragrance and continual blooming. The new Bourbon roses arrived in France around 1820, and they went on to produce more hybrids, like ‘Zephirine Drouhin.’ ‘Zephirine’ is of French origin from the breeder Bizot.

Planting

Climbing roses grow in a variety of garden situations. Place them near a support structure like a pillar, wall, arbor, or trellis. As roots establish, long canes develop, and ‘Zephirine Drouhin’ quickly climbs. Tie the long canes to your support structure to direct growth.

Ensure good air circulation and that the roots have enough room to spread. To avoid overcrowding, leave at least one foot between roses and companion plantings and three to four feet between larger plants.

Transplanting 

The best times for planting are late winter, early spring, and fall. Cool temperatures and seasonal moisture put the least stress on the new plant. Plant roses any time of year with regular moisture and moderate conditions.

Roses ship potted or bare-root, usually from January through May, depending on your climate. They’ll be “own root” roses or grafted stock. Bare root roses arrive dormant and without soil but quickly fill out after planting and with warming temperatures. They’ll establish over the spring for summer blooming.

For nursery potted and bare-root plants, dig a rugged hole six to eight inches larger than the root ball to accommodate all the roots and loosen the surrounding soil. Amend the native soil with compost.

How to Grow

The ‘Zephirine Drouhin’ rose grows well in containers, climbing obelisks and pillars, and pegging (an old garden technique of pegging down stems). Long canes train easily and continue to need tying off as they grow.

Bourbons thrive with the same foundational requirements as other roses and are relatively carefree. Ensuring air circulation for plant vigor and health while preventing foliar diseases is essential to growing healthy roses.

Light

These flowering climbers grow best in full sun. Blooming and disease resistance improve with at least six hours of sunlight daily. 

As a Bourbon, ‘Zephirine’ tolerates light shade. Morning sun and dappled afternoon shade protection in hot climates is optimal. 

Water

Water deeply throughout the growing season. Roses need about one inch of water per week. When newly planted, ensure the surrounding soil stays moist. Once established, water needs are average, with regular rainfall plus supplemental irrigation during dry conditions. Watering too frequently increases the likelihood of pests and fungal diseases.

Roses do best with morning water, preferably drip or ground-level irrigation. Avoiding overhead sprays helps prevent foliar diseases. With overhead irrigation, watering in the morning gives leaves time to dry in the sun.

Soil

Bourbons flourish in loose, organically rich soils, though they’ll adapt to lesser conditions. They prefer slight acidity with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. Well-draining soils with even moisture are ideal.

Compost generously with completely broken-down plant material at planting. Compost helps improve aeration, moisture retention, drainage, and nutrition. 

Temperature and Humidity

For planting, roses prefer temperatures between 40 and 60°F (4-16°C). Mulch in the summer to regulate temperatures by keeping roots cool. In cold winter areas, protect the rose crowns for best overwintering.

In high humidity ‘Zephirine Drouhin’ rose bushes need plenty of air circulation. Ensure enough space around the plant and avoid overcrowding.

Fertilizing

A balanced fertilizer in early spring and early summer ensures a vital growing season. Apply fish emulsion, seaweed extract, or an organic rose fertilizer throughout the growing season. Mycorrhizal fungi promote healthy roots and soil.

Maintenance

For the best growth, Bourbons require a few seasonal garden tasks. Year-round, maintain a three-inch layer of mulch to retain moisture, regulate temperature, and suppress weeds. Mulch also adds nutrients to the soil as it decomposes.

‘Zephirine Drouhin’ doesn’t require deadheading to flower continually, but removing spent blooms will produce flowers more quickly. Remove diseased leaves and those from the ground during the growing season and in winter. Removing fallen leaves and flowers reduces the occurrence of pests and diseases.

To increase circulation and shape the plant’s form, prune in late winter before spring buds set. As preventative maintenance, remove any crossed, diseased, or dead canes.

Propagation

A ‘Zephirine Drouhin’ rose propagates readily through hardwood cuttings. Cuttings may take a few years to develop into whole, multi-stemmed plants, but reproducing through cuttings is straightforward.

Cuttings

Common Problems

While this variety has good vigor, it is susceptible to black spot and powdery mildew. Aphids, beetles, scale, and spider mites may be occasional problems. Planting in full sun with good airflow and well-draining soils helps stave off infections. Pruning and removing diseased leaves helps prevent the spread of pests and diseases. 

Specific companion plantings like lavender, catmint, allium, geranium, and agastache repel pests like aphids, beetles, and mites. They also attract beneficial insects, creating a well-rounded garden system.

Pests

The best way to control insects is to spot them early. You’ll likely see the insects themselves or notice their sticky waste on plants, damage, yellowing leaves, or stunted growth.

Aphids are common garden insects usually treated with non-chemical means. Often, they cause no damage, but severe infestations cause stress. Signs include curled leaves and stunted growth.

Scale pierce leaves and stems to feed on sap. The little legless insects usually appear on the undersides of leaves and stems as black, gray, or silvery dots. Leaves may yellow and drop, with branches dying back in heavy infestations. Remove affected plant parts in severe infestations.

Spider mites live on the undersides of leaves, indicated by webbing and light yellowing of leaf surfaces. Beneficial insects like ladybugs and predatory mites help control populations.

To deter aphids, scale, and mites, spray leaves and stems with a strong stream of water early in the day. If necessary, follow up with neem oil.

Japanese beetles feed on leaves, causing them to turn yellow and drop. In some cases, they’ll skeletonize foliage. Hand-pick them off your plants as they feed. Treat soil where they’re known to be active with two treatments of beneficial nematodes spaced two weeks apart in temperate seasons.

Diseases

As with pests, the best disease control is prevention through cultural conditions. In general, problem roses should be removed from the garden to promote the health of surrounding plants.

Powdery mildew is a common fungal disease indicated by a gray-white powdery substance on leaves, stems, and buds. Leaves may distort and drop. To prevent the spread of this fungal disease, prune appropriately and remove any powdery foliage as you notice it.

Black spot fungus is relatively common for ‘Zephirine Drouhin’ roses, especially late in the season. You will notice black spots with feathery margins on leaves and stems. This disease occurs when leaves remain overly wet from overhead watering or periods of prolonged moisture. If spraying leaves with water to deter pests, do so in the morning or midday when leaves will have time to dry in the sun. Remove damaged foliage as it crops up.

Frequently Asked Questions