LONG ISLAND – pink climbing rose – Orard
LONG ISLAND is a climbing rose for those who picture afternoon tea beneath an arbour, its warm porcelain-pink rosettes filling the air with a fragrance so strong you notice it from the house. Bred by Roseraies Orard, it clothes arches, fences and pergolas with romance, producing very full, XL blooms in generous clusters from early summer onwards. As an own-root plant it offers reassuring longevity, quietly rebuilding from the base if stems are damaged and keeping its shape neat over the years. In typical British gardens it copes reliably with breezy weather and unsettled summers, giving you dependable flowering even when conditions are less than perfect. Over time its dense, glossy dark-green foliage builds a strong visual structure in the garden, while the steady repeat flushes help create that cottage-garden charm against brickwork or woven fencing. In the first year it focuses on the underground roots, the second year on taller shoots, and by the third year you can expect the full romantic effect of this storybook climber.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Arbour or pergola over a seating area |
Ideal where you want a scented canopy for relaxed afternoon tea or evening unwinding: the XL, very full blooms and strong classic-rose perfume create an enveloping, romantic atmosphere and repeat well through summer for cottage-garden lovers and beginners. |
| Climbing rose for house wall or sunny fence |
Suited to training against walls or sturdy fences, where its 2.2–3.5 m height and dense, dark-green foliage quickly form a leafy screen, while the porcelain-pink clusters soften brick or timber and give structure without complex pruning for busy homeowners. |
| Feature rose by entrance, gate or pathway |
Plant as a welcoming accent near the front gate or along a path, where the strong fragrance is enjoyed at close quarters and the pastel-pink rosettes bring a storybook feel that fits traditional family homes and reassures time-pressed urban gardeners. |
| Large container for terrace, balcony or patio |
Can be grown in a large container of at least 40–50 litres with a trellis or obelisk, giving renters or small-garden owners a vertical rose without altering the hard landscaping; own-root vigour helps long-term performance for romantic-style balcony owners. |
| Fence-line or boundary in cottage-style garden |
Works well on a post-and-wire or rustic fence to define boundaries while remaining friendly and inviting; the repeating flushes of mid-pink flowers and dark foliage blend naturally with hedging and kitchen-garden planting for cottage-border families. |
| Mixed rose-and-clematis planting |
The full, pastel-pink clusters pair beautifully with light viticella clematis, sharing supports and extending the season; own-root resilience means the rose copes well with occasional pruning adjustments valued by imaginative but time-limited enthusiasts. |
| Specimen climber in lawn island bed |
As a solitary feature on a sturdy pillar in the lawn, its height and layered rosettes become a focal point visible from the house, while moderate maintenance needs remain manageable for those wanting impact without specialist skills, ideal for romantic-style buyers. |
| Climber in UK coastal or breezy gardens |
Suitable for exposed gardens where steady wind and rain are common, as its flexible, climbing habit and own-root robustness help it anchor and recover, giving reliable flowering with straightforward seasonal care for practical yet sentimental rose fans. |
Styling ideas
- Tea-arbour romance – Train LONG ISLAND over a timber pergola with white-painted furniture beneath, underplant with lavender and catmint for extra scent – ideal for homeowners seeking a classic afternoon tea corner.
- Country front door – Frame a porch or cottage doorway with two plants on obelisks in generous containers, adding violas and herbs at the base – for families wanting a welcoming, traditional entrance.
- Kitchen-garden backdrop – Let it climb a rustic fence behind raised vegetable beds, mixing with espaliered fruit trees and chives – perfect for those blending productive plots with romantic flowers.
- Soft-pink screen – Use several plants along a side boundary to create a fragrant, semi-formal screen, interplanted with box balls and foxgloves – suited to gardeners after privacy with gentle cottage character.
- Pastel partnership – Combine with pale viticella clematis and creeping bugle as groundcover beneath, for layered pink, purple and green – appealing to creative gardeners designing a storybook corner.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Registered as ORAlinco (ORA 151-905), marketed as Long Island Parfums de Lyon ORAlinco; ORA 151-905, a large-flowered climbing rose in the Parfums de Lyon collection. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Pierre Orard, Roseraies Orard, Feyzin, France; breeding completed 2020, introduced 2022, with parentage undocumented but selected for strong fragrance and ornamental climbing habit. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Vigorous climber reaching about 2.2–3.5 m high with 0.8–1.3 m spread, moderately thorny, with dense, glossy dark-green foliage that clothes supports well and creates a substantial vertical presence. |
| Flower morphology |
Very full, rosette-shaped flowers with 40+ petals, XL size around and above 3.5 inches, borne mainly in clusters, repeating well through the season with a notably abundant second flush of blooms. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Warm porcelain pink; buds pale with a silvery tone, inner petals vivid pink, outer paler, fading to pastel with outer petals nearly white; ARS LP, RHS 55B outer, 62A inner, colour retention medium. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very strongly scented with a sweet, classic rose perfume noticeable from a distance in still air, designed primarily for ornamental enjoyment rather than cutting for cosmetic or culinary fragrance uses. |
| Hip characteristics |
Occasional small, spherical hips form, typically 6–10 mm in diameter, coloured red to RHS 42A, adding a light decorative effect in late season without being a major ornamental feature. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to approximately −21 to −18 °C (USDA 6b, RHS H7), tolerates moderate heat and short dry spells with watering; disease resistance moderate to black spot, powdery mildew and rust, needing routine checks. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in a sunny position on pergolas, fences, walls or sturdy supports; also suitable for large containers, cut flowers and specimen use; plant at 1.4–2.3 m spacing, with moderate maintenance and occasional deadheading. |
LONG ISLAND combines powerful fragrance, generous repeat flowering and strong, own-root resilience to form a long-lived, romantic climber for arches, fences or containers; a thoughtful choice if you would like enduring cottage-garden character.
