Sourire du Havre

Where to plant. As a solo accent in a small bed; in a city garden; in street planters thanks to its compact size; as the front of a warm-toned mixed border; under windows, thanks to its low height.

Climate. Central and southern Ukraine, with light winter protection (USDA 6b); tolerates summer heat well — the orange colour intensifies.

Care. Full sun; moderate disease prevention; feed 2–3× per season; prune by ⅓ in spring; water at the root, not on the leaves.

Name. 'Sourire du Havre' = 'Smile of Le Havre' (French). In honour of the city of Le Havre in Normandy — France's second-largest seaport. A poetic, evocative name: the warm salmon-orange colour is like the 'smile' of a seaside city at dawn.

Breeding. Bred by Bernard Panozzo at Star de Doué — a small family rose nursery in Doué-la-Fontaine (Loire, France). Code PANaldap (also PANoldap). Introduced around 2008–2011. Parentage not disclosed. Officially named on 5 October 2008 at the Château de Fontaine Henry in the presence of the mayor of Le Havre — a typical 'civic ceremony', in which a rose is solemnly given the status of a city symbol.

Significance. A 'city showcase' rose — a typical French tradition of the XX-XXI centuries, in which towns commission exclusive roses from breeders as living symbols. Sourire du Havre is an example of this tradition. Doué-la-Fontaine (the town where the nursery is located) is an unofficial 'rose capital' of France and the largest centre of the industry's production. The nostalgic 'old-fashioned' form with 41+ petals is rare among modern HTs, closer to Old Garden Roses. Star de Doué is a small family rose nursery of the Panozzo family, specialising in exclusive commissions for towns and events. Outside France it is available only in limited quantities — a real collector's find for a Ukrainian garden.