Orient Express, close-up of the flower
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Hybrid TeaLim & Twomey, 1991White and cream

Orient Express

Also sold as Love & Peace (USA); Oriental Peace; Pullman Orient Express (Europe); a descendant of the legendary Peace (Meilland, 1935); AARS winner 2002.

BAIpeace code

Variety profileGardeners' photos

Variety profile

Flowering

Repeat flowering in flushes throughout the season

Awards

AARS 2002

Winner · Excellent rating on HelpMeFind

Winter hardiness

−18 °C

USDA zone 6b+. In Ukraine with winter protection.

Compare reference temperatures

Plant size

120–150 × 80–100 cm
person 170 cm120–150 cm
Habit
Upright, sturdy
Dimensions
120–150 cm tall × 80–100 cm wide
Support
No support needed; the bush is self-supporting (support is needed only for climbing varieties)
Shoots
Long and sturdy, well able to hold the large bloom; good for cutting
Branching
Medium

Flower

12–14 cm
Bud shape
Classic, pointed and tall
Open flower
Large, cupped and exhibition-style; 12–14 cm across
Centre
Tall, spirally wound; a model Hybrid Tea form
Fullness
Very full double, 40+ petals
Flower carriage
Mostly singly on a long, sturdy stem; excellent for cutting

Fragrance

Medium, fruity

Moderate, fruity and light.

Disease resistance

3.5 out of 5

Good overall; needs prevention against black spot.

Sun

Full sun for 6+ hours

In sun the crimson edge is brighter.

Thorns

Moderate
thornlessfewmoderatemanyvery many

Standard for a Hybrid Tea.

Foliage

Large, glossy, dark green.

Other names

Love & Peace, Oriental Peace, Bright Spirit, Pullman Orient Express

Breeder's code BAIpeace.

All characteristics in a table
Group
Hybrid Tea
Breeder
Lim & Twomey, USA, 1991
Bud shape
Classic, pointed and tall
Open flower
Large, cupped and exhibition-style; 12–14 cm across
Centre
Tall, spirally wound; a model Hybrid Tea form
Colour
Creamy yellow base with a broad pink-crimson border around the edge; in sun the edge darkens to cherry-crimson and is lighter in cool weather; every flower is unique
Fullness
Very full double, 40+ petals
Flower carriage
Mostly singly on a long, sturdy stem; excellent for cutting
Flowering
Repeat flowering in flushes throughout the season
Fragrance
Moderate, fruity and light
Hips
Rarely sets hips
Habit
Upright, sturdy
Branching
Medium
Shoots
Long and sturdy, well able to hold the large bloom; good for cutting
Thorns
Standard for a Hybrid Tea.
Dimensions
120–150 cm tall × 80–100 cm wide
Support
No support needed; the bush is self-supporting (support is needed only for climbing varieties)
Foliage
Large, glossy, dark green
Resistance
Good overall; needs prevention against black spot
Variations of the variety
Lasts 7–12 days in a vase; synonyms: Love & Peace (USA), Oriental Peace, Bright Spirit, Pullman Orient Express (Europe); code BAIpeace

Colour scheme

Creamy yellow base with a broad pink-crimson border around the edge; in sun the edge darkens to cherry-crimson and is lighter in cool weather; every flower is unique

Rose neighbours

Peaceyellow-pink bicolourDouble Delightcreamy red bicolourImpératrice Farahwhite and raspberry bicolourNovaliscool lilac · contrast

Perennials to plant nearby

Perovskiablue-violetSalvia 'Caradonna'purpleWoolly stachyssilveryYarrowterracotta-yellow

Rose neighbours

Bicolour 'fiery' roses hold one mood — contrast of a light base and a bright edge:

PeaceDouble DelightImpératrice FarahNovalis

Perennial companions

A cool blue-violet frame tones down the warm brightness of the flower and sets off the raspberry edge:

perovskiaSalvia 'Caradonna'woolly stachysyarrow

Contrast accents

To heighten the play of yellow and raspberry — warm, airy accents:

Coreopsis MoonbeamVerbena bonariensiscatmint

More about the variety

Hips
Rarely sets hips
Variations of the variety
Lasts 7–12 days in a vase; synonyms: Love & Peace (USA), Oriental Peace, Bright Spirit, Pullman Orient Express (Europe); code BAIpeace

How to grow

Where to plant. As a specimen in a formal area or at the centre of a bed; its long, sturdy stems make it excellent for cutting, lasting 7–12 days in a vase.

Climate. Excellent for Central and Western Ukraine; in the East and South, water moderately and mulch against heat; the north and zone 6b need winter protection.

Care. Plant deep with compost, mulch, water regularly at the root, prevent spotting diseases 2× per season, prune 1/3 in spring.

About the name

Name. In the USA the variety is known as Love & Peace ('Love and Peace'), introduced in 2002 as a rose symbolising hope. In Europe it is sold as Pullman Orient Express, after the legendary luxury train 'Orient Express'.

Breeding. Bred by Peter Ping Lim and Jerry Twomey (USA) in 1991, patent code BAIpeace. One parent is the legendary Peace / Gloria Dei (Meilland, 1935), the 'rose of peace' itself.

Significance. In 2002 it won the AARS (All-America Rose Selections), the highest varietal recognition in the USA. It inherited from Peace the large, elegant bloom of classic form and added a bright pink-crimson border. Also sold under the names Oriental Peace and Bright Spirit.

Frequently asked questions about Orient Express

Does Orient Express need winter protection?

The cultivar’s reference temperature is −18 °C (USDA zone 6b+). Overwintering depends on the conditions.

How many times a season does Orient Express flower?

Repeat flowering in flushes throughout the season.

How big does Orient Express grow?

120–150 cm tall, 80–100 cm wide.

Which diseases affect Orient Express?

Overall resistance: 3.5 out of 5. 3.5/5; good, Peace line; needs prevention against spotting diseases.

How much sun does Orient Express need?

Sun; full sun for 6+ hours; in sun the crimson edge is brighter.

What does Orient Express smell like?

Moderate, fruity and light.

Gardeners' photos and reviews

My climate

Choose a reference temperature to compare with the cultivar’s data. This is not an overwintering forecast or advice on winter protection; consider wind, moisture and the duration of frost.

Regional data are generalised. USDA describes average annual extreme minima, not a forecast; the values in the list are rounded. Check the conditions at your site. More information: Roses in Ukraine's climate.