EPI D'OR – yellow hybrid‑tea rose – Delbard
If You would like a rose that feels instantly at home in a typical Irish front garden, Epi d'Or is a classic hybrid tea that rewards You with large, golden-yellow blooms on a compact bush without demanding complicated care. The pharmaROSA ORIGINAL 2-litre own-root plant settles in steadily, forming a durable framework that copes well with humid weather and the kind of fungal pressure our gardens often face. Its bushy, mid-height habit keeps it neat in smaller beds and borders, while the strong colour retention of the flowers ensures a consistently radiant display from first opening to the final lemon-yellow tones. This variety rose to fame in the early 1980s with several top European awards, proving its quality over time, and its remontant character offers generous repeat flushes for reliable cutting and garden colour. Planted once and given reasonable moisture and drainage, it builds roots in year one, stronger shoots in year two, and by year three reaches its full ornamental potential.
Use cases
| Target area |
Reason |
| Front garden focal shrub |
The bushy, compact habit and XL, cup-shaped blooms create an immediate focal point beside a path or doorway, giving a formal yet welcoming look that stays in proportion to typical Irish front gardens, ideal for the busy homeowner |
| Small cut-flower corner |
As a hybrid tea bred for exhibition-quality stems, EPI D'OR produces long, straight, solitary flowers that are easy to cut and arrange, bringing its luminous yellow colour and mild fruity scent indoors for simple, satisfying home bouquets, perfect for the home florist |
| Low-maintenance rose bed |
Moderate maintenance needs, own-root resilience and balanced growth make this variety easy to manage with basic feeding and pruning, so You can keep a tidy, flowering bed without specialist techniques, reassuring for the beginner gardener |
| Colour anchor in mixed border |
The stable, non-fading medium-yellow flowers act as a dependable colour anchor among perennials and grasses, holding their tone through each flush and helping the whole planting look composed over the season, appreciated by the design-conscious |
| Rose group of 3–5 plants |
Recommended spacings of 50–60 cm allow You to plant small, even groups that knit together into a rounded hedge line, giving a strong block of colour and structure while still allowing airflow and straightforward care, attractive to the practical planner |
| Coastal or exposed family garden |
The sturdy bush form and reliable hardiness down to around -20 °C provide a stable framework that copes with cool winds and our often wet, maritime climate with persistent humidity and disease pressure, reassuring for the Irish gardener |
| Large patio container planting |
In a 40–50 litre container with good drainage, the moderate height and bushy spread make EPI D'OR a long-lived patio feature; as an own-root plant it rebuilds well after pruning and continues to flower generously, ideal for the balcony owner |
| Cottage-style edging with perennials |
Its tidy size and warm yellow flowers combine beautifully with soft companions like lamb’s ear, cranesbill and groundcover Waldsteinia, creating a romantic yet orderly edging that suits both rural cottages and urban homes, inspiring for the cottage-garden lover |
Decorating ideas
- Doorway Welcome – Plant a pair in large 40–50 litre pots flanking your front door, underplant with lamb’s ear for soft silver contrast – for homeowners wanting a smart, low-fuss entrance.
- Golden Cottage Strip – Line a short front path with a staggered row of EPI D'OR, weaving in cranesbill between plants for a relaxed, cottage look – for those who like informal charm without clutter.
- Sunlit Island Bed – Use three to five bushes in the centre of a small lawn island, ringed by low grasses or Waldsteinia for groundcover – for families who want year-on-year structure and colour.
- Patio Cut-Flower Corner – Place one rose in a big container, surround with herbs like rosemary and chives, and cut stems regularly for the house – for busy urban gardeners with limited space.
- Warm Yellow Border Anchor – Position EPI D'OR at the midpoint of a mixed border with blues and purples around it to stabilise the colour scheme – for design-minded gardeners planning long-term plantings.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose from the Grands Parfums collection. Registered as DELépi; trade name Epi d'Or, ARS exhibition name Épi d'Or. Commercial type and group: hybrid tea rose for garden and cutting. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Georges Delbard in France, 1981, from complex hybrid tea parentage: (Madame A. Meilland × Marcelle Gret) × (Velizy × Jean de la Lune). Introduced commercially by Delbard in 1982. |
| Awards and recognitions |
Highly regarded exhibition rose with strong early recognition: Gold Medal and Plus Belle Rose de France at Lyon Rose Competition 1981, and Gold Medal at Rome Rose Competition 1981. |
| Growth and structure |
Bushy, upright shrub 55–85 cm high and 50–70 cm wide with moderately dense, matte mid-green foliage and moderate prickles. Forms a compact, balanced framework suitable for beds, borders and containers. |
| Flower morphology |
Very large, double, cup-shaped blooms with around 26–39 petals on mostly solitary stems. Remontant with a generous second flush, giving repeated flowering through the season on strong, cuttable stems. |
| Colour and phenology |
Uniform, medium yellow with a warm, luminous sheen. Colour retention is very good; the shade hardly fades, only softening towards lemon-yellow as flowers age, giving long-lasting visual impact in the garden. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Pleasant, mild fragrance with a restrained, fruity character. Not overpowering near seating or paths, but adds a gentle scent to cut stems in vases and to sheltered spots around doors and patios. |
| Rose hip characteristics |
Occasional orange-red hips, ellipsoidal, around 15–21 mm in diameter. Decorative in late season but not produced in heavy quantities; primarily appreciated for flowers rather than fruit display. |
| Resistance and hardiness |
Fully hardy to approximately -21 to -18 °C (H7, USDA 6b, Swedish zone 3). Disease resistance moderate, with some susceptibility to powdery mildew, black spot and rust under pressure; routine monitoring advised. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Plant in well-drained soil, improving heavy clay for drainage. Space 50–60 cm in rows or 2.8–3.2 plants/m² for mass planting. Maintenance moderate: seasonal feeding, pruning and occasional disease control as needed. |
EPI D'OR offers large, long-lasting yellow blooms, a compact, easy-care bush and dependable hardiness on a durable own-root framework, making it a confident choice for your garden if You would like a reliable rose to plant this year.
