Hybrid Tea; soft pink 'ballerina'Georges Delbard SA, 2017Pink

Sophie Rochas

Q: Does Sophie Rochas need winter protection?

The cultivar’s reference temperature is −23 °C (USDA zone 6-9). Overwintering depends on the conditions. Central and southern Ukraine.

Soft pink 'ballerina' with toothed petals in a cupped form; STRONG citrus-lilac fragrance with rose notes — like the 'Femme' perfume of 1944; bred by Georges Delbard SA in honour of the Rochas fashion house and its legendary perfume; compact, 60–80 cm — for a fragrance corner.

Named after the House of Rochas and the 'Femme' perfume (1944)

Variety profile Gardeners' photos

Variety profile

Flowering

Repeat flowering

Generous repeat flowering from June to October. Months are approximate, for the climate of Ukraine.

Legacy

Rochas 1944

Delbard 2017, fragrant

Winter hardiness

−23 °C

USDA zone 6-9. Central and southern Ukraine.

Compare reference temperatures

Plant size

60–80 × 50 cm

Habit: Compact upright — a typical modern HT for small beds
Dimensions: 60–80 cm tall × up to 50 cm wide — compact, for small beds, pots and the front of mixed borders
Support: Not needed — self-supporting
Shoots: Medium stiffness
Branching: Moderately branched

Flower

8-10 cm

Bud shape: Round, soft pink
Open flower: Cupped, with toothed petals: 8–10 cm, 17–25 petals
Centre: Stamens visible when open
Fullness: 17–25 petals (semi-double)
Flower carriage: Singly or in small clusters

Fragrance

Strong; citrus-lilac + rose

STRONG — citrus + lilac + rose. A complex 'perfumed' scent, reminiscent of the perfume 'Femme' by Rochas (1944). One of the most distinctive scents in the modern Delbard catalogue.

Disease resistance

4 out of 5

Good, 4/5 — Delbard markets it as a healthy modern HT. USDA 6–9 — central and southern Ukraine without winter protection.

Sun

Full sun

Thorns

Moderate

thornlessfewmoderatemanyvery many

Moderate number of prickles — typical for HTs.

Foliage

Dark green, semi-glossy, healthy.

All characteristics in a table

Group: Hybrid Tea; soft pink 'ballerina'
Breeder: Georges Delbard SA, France, 2017
Bud shape: Round, soft pink
Open flower: Cupped, with toothed petals: 8–10 cm, 17–25 petals
Centre: Stamens visible when open
Colour: Soft pink, 'ballerina pink' — a warm pastel shade, like a ballerina's pointe shoes. It does not fade to white and keeps its warm tone
Fullness: 17–25 petals (semi-double)
Flower carriage: Singly or in small clusters
Flowering: Generous repeat flowering from June to October
Fragrance: STRONG — citrus + lilac + rose. A complex 'perfumed' scent, reminiscent of the perfume 'Femme' by Rochas (1944). One of the most distinctive scents in the modern Delbard catalogue
Hips: Not documented — typically cut
Habit: Compact upright — a typical modern HT for small beds
Branching: Moderately branched
Shoots: Medium stiffness
Thorns: Moderate number of prickles — typical for HTs.
Dimensions: 60–80 cm tall × up to 50 cm wide — compact, for small beds, pots and the front of mixed borders
Support: Not needed — self-supporting
Foliage: Dark green, semi-glossy, healthy
Resistance: Good, 4/5 — Delbard markets it as a healthy modern HT. USDA 6–9 — central and southern Ukraine without winter protection
Variations of the variety: Code DELroch. Introduced 2017 through Georges Delbard SA (Malli, France). Parentage not disclosed. This is Delbard, not Meilland — some legacy catalogues mistakenly list it as Meilland. It is named not after a person called Sophie Rochas (she was a fashion designer), but after the Rochas fashion house and its legendary perfume 'Femme' (1944)

Colour scheme

Soft pink, 'ballerina pink' — a warm pastel shade, like a ballerina's pointe shoes. It does not fade to white and keeps its warm tone

Rose neighbours

Scepter'd Islesoft pink

Gertrude Jekyllbright pink

Souvenir de la Malmaisonpale pink

Molineuxwarm yellow · contrast

Perennials to plant nearby

Lavenderlavender

Hostagreen foliage

Lady's mantle (Alchemilla)lime green

Salviapurple

Neighbouring roses

Fragrant roses for a 'perfume corner':

Scepter'd Isle Gertrude Jekyll Souvenir de la Malmaison Molineux

Perennial companions

Classic French cottage palette with fragrant accents:

lavenderhostalady's mantle (Alchemilla)salvia

Availability worldwide

Modern Delbard HT, since 2017:

🇫🇷 France: high · home of Delbard🇪🇺 Europe: moderate🇺🇸 USA: low🇺🇦 Ukraine: rare · via collector nurseries

More about the variety

Hips: Not documented — typically cut
Variations of the variety: Code DELroch. Introduced 2017 through Georges Delbard SA (Malli, France). Parentage not disclosed. This is Delbard, not Meilland — some legacy catalogues mistakenly list it as Meilland. It is named not after a person called Sophie Rochas (she was a fashion designer), but after the Rochas fashion house and its legendary perfume 'Femme' (1944)

How to grow

Where to plant. Near places to sit (bench, terrace, bedroom window) so you can enjoy the perfumed fragrance; in a fragrance corner; as the front of a mixed border; in pots on the terrace thanks to its compact size; in 'French' corners in a historic style.

Climate. Central and southern Ukraine without winter protection (USDA 6–9); tolerates summer heat well.

Care. Full sun; moderate disease prevention; feed 3× per season; prune by ⅓ in spring; water at the root, not on the leaves.

About the name

Name. 'Sophie Rochas' — in honour of the Rochas fashion house (founded by Marcel Rochas in Paris in 1925) and its legendary perfume 'Femme'. Femme (1944) — one of the most famous women's perfumes of the twentieth century, created by a descendant, Edmond Roudnitska, with notes of plum, peach, lilac, rose and oakmoss. Sophie Rochas is also the daughter of Marcel Rochas and a fashion designer and biographer of the family brand (she wrote a book about Hélène Rochas, her mother). A poetic tribute to the world of high perfumery.

Breeding. Bred by Georges Delbard SA (Malli, France). Code DELroch. Introduced 2017. Parentage not disclosed. Delbard is one of the best-known French rose-breeding houses, founded by Georges Delbard in 1935 and known for its 'Painters' Collection' (Camille Pissarro, Henri Matisse, Paul Gauguin and others). The perfumed rose series is a separate Delbard direction of the 2010s.

Significance. A STRONG citrus-lilac fragrance with rose notes — one of the most distinctive scented roses in the modern Delbard catalogue. The scent literally recreates the perfume notes of Rochas's 'Femme' (1944) — not marketing, but a deliberate choice by the breeder. Toothed petals are a rare decorative feature for modern HTs (reminiscent of dwarf peonies). The delicate 'ballerina pink' palette does not fade to white and keeps its warm tone. Its compact size makes it ideal for fragrance corners, pots and small beds. This is Delbard, not Meilland — some secondary catalogues mistakenly list it under Meilland. It has no major international awards (ADR/AARS) — Sophie Rochas is valued above all for its fragrance and design.

Frequently asked questions about Sophie Rochas

Does Sophie Rochas need winter protection?

The cultivar’s reference temperature is −23 °C (USDA zone 6−9). Overwintering depends on the conditions. Central and southern Ukraine.

How many times a season does Sophie Rochas flower?

Generous repeat flowering from June to October.

How big does Sophie Rochas grow?

60–80 cm tall, about 50 cm wide.

Which diseases affect Sophie Rochas?

Overall resistance: 4 out of 5. Good — Delbard markets it as healthy.

How much sun does Sophie Rochas need?

Sun; full sun.

What does Sophie Rochas smell like?