Alexandre Girault Rose Rosa 'Alexandre Girault' (Ra)
ABOUT
The Alexandre Girault is a type of rambling rose known for its striking blossoms and lush foliage. The blooms of this plant are particularly noteworthy, featuring a lush, vibrant pink hue that can vary from deep to a more pastel shade. The flowers are rich and full, with a myriad of petals that form a classic rosette shape, exuding a romantic and old-fashioned charm. Each blossom has a sweet and inviting fragrance that adds yet another layer of sensory delight. The leaves of the Alexandre Girault are a lustrous green, providing a striking contrast to the vivid color of the flowers. These leaves are typically glossy, with a healthy, vigorous appearance, and they serve as an excellent backdrop that makes the pink flowers stand out even more strikingly. To further enhance its appearance, this rose variety often displays an abundance of flowers, with a generous clustering habit that creates a sense of opulence and abundance. The flower clusters can fill the plant with color and scent, making it a true focal point in any garden setting. Overall, the Alexandre Girault rose is celebrated for its robust display of delightful pink flowers and its ability to contribute both color and fragrance to its surroundings. It is often admired for its vigorous growth and floriferous nature, which makes it a popular choice among gardeners who wish to add a touch of elegance and old-world charm to their landscapes.
About this plant
NamesSynonyms
Alexandre Girault Rose, Climbing Rose.
Common names
Rosa 'Alexandre Girault'.
ToxicityTo humans
Rambling roses, including the 'Alexandre Girault' variety, are not considered toxic to humans. They are widely cultivated for their beauty and are not associated with any significant toxicity if ingested. In general, roses are considered safe, and rose petals are even edible and sometimes used in culinary applications. However, if someone were to ingest a significant amount of rose plant material, like any non-food plant, they might experience mild stomach upset. It is always best to avoid ingesting plants not known to be safe for consumption.
To pets
Rambling roses, such as the 'Alexandre Girault' variety, are generally considered non-toxic to pets as well. They are not known to contain any substances that are harmful to domestic animals like dogs and cats. However, ingesting a large amount of plant material may cause mild gastrointestinal upset in some pets, as it would with humans. This can include symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. If your pet has ingested a significant amount of rose plant material and is showing signs of distress, it is advisable to consult with a veterinarian.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Deciduous
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
Pink
Height
10 feet (3.05 meters)
Spread
6 feet (1.83 meters)
Plant type
Climber
Hardiness zones
6
Native area
Cultivar
Benefits
General Benefits- Enhances Aesthetics: The plant's vibrant blooms and lush foliage contribute to the beauty of gardens and landscapes.
- Attracts Pollinators: This rose variety attracts bees and butterflies, which help pollinate other plants.
- Scent: Rosa 'Alexandre Girault' emits a pleasant fragrance that can enhance the sensory experience in a garden.
- Privacy: When grown as hedges, these plants can provide a natural privacy screen.
- Versatility: This rose can be trained to climb trellises and arbors, offering various landscaping options.
- Cultural Significance: Roses are symbols of love and appreciation, making them ideal for special occasions and as gifts.
Medical Properties- This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Rambling roses like the 'Alexandre Girault' can be trained to climb over unsightly structures, such as old sheds or fences, providing an easy aesthetic solution to hide undesirable views in the garden.
- The canes of 'Alexandre Girault' roses may be used in basket-weaving or for other craft projects, offering a natural and sturdy material with a unique appearance.
- The petals of the rose can be pressed and included in homemade paper as a decorative element, giving the paper a delicate, floral touch.
- These roses are often used as a natural dye source for fabrics, yielding soft and sometimes unexpected hues depending on the preparation and material used.
- The 'Alexandre Girault' rose's strong fragrance can be captured in potpourri mixes, offering a sustainable way to maintain a pleasant scent in the home.
- Crushed or bruised rose petals of this variety can be placed in sugar jars to create rose-infused sugar, which can be used to add a subtle floral note to teas and pastries.
- When dried, petals from 'Alexandre Girault' roses can be included in sachets to naturally repel moths in clothing storage areas.
- The visual appeal and sweet scent of this rose make it suitable for floating in baths or water features as a luxurious, decorative element that also lends a relaxing fragrance.
- Petals from these roses can be used as a natural confetti for weddings and other celebratory events, providing a biodegradable alternative to synthetic confetti.
- As a tool for education and conservation, the rose can be cultivated by garden clubs and societies to promote the importance of heirloom varieties and plant biodiversity.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe climbing rose is not specifically used in traditional Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe climbing rose is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Love: As a species of rose, the Alexandre Girault rambling rose symbolizes love and passion, with its lush, abundant blooms representing the depth and intensity of romantic feelings.
- Beauty: Roses are historically associated with beauty, and the Alexandre Girault rambling rose, with its attractive flowers, continues to epitomize this concept.
- Mystery: The deep, variable coloring of Alexandre Girault's blooms can suggest mystery, evoking a sense of intrigue and enigma that roses often carry in their symbolic language.
- Balance: This plant's ability to grow in harmony with its surroundings represents balance, reminding us of the importance of coexistence within nature and our environments.
- Devotion: The Alexandre Girault rose, with its climbing habit and enduring flowers, symbolizes devotion and commitment, commonly reflected in its use in gardens to celebrate lasting relationships.
- Eternal Love: As with many rose varieties, the Alexandre Girault's perpetual blooms through the season have made it an emblem of everlasting love, enduring beyond the constraints of time.
WaterRambler roses like Rosa 'Alexandre Girault' require consistent moisture to thrive, especially during their blooming season and periods of dry weather. Water the rose deeply once a week, providing about 1 to 2 gallons per plant to ensure moisture reaches the deeper root system. During hotter and drier weeks, increase the frequency to twice per week. It's important to water the plant at its base to avoid wetting the foliage, which can lead to fungal diseases. Fully soak the soil around the root zone, allowing it to dry out slightly between watering sessions.
LightThe Rambler rose, including Rosa 'Alexandre Girault', prefers full sun conditions to bloom abundantly. Plant it in a location that receives at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily. An east-facing or south-facing spot can be ideal, ensuring the plant gets ample morning light and possibly some late afternoon shade in very hot climates.
TemperatureRambler roses such as the Rosa 'Alexandre Girault' are hardy and can survive in temperatures as low as 20°F, though they thrive best when temperatures range between 60°F and 75°F. It's important to protect the rose from extreme cold and wind by providing appropriate winter cover in areas where the temperature can drop below the hardiness zone recommendations.
PruningPrune your Rambler rose, including Rosa 'Alexandre Girault', to remove dead or diseased wood, to shape the plant, and to encourage vigorous growth and blooming. Prune in late winter or early spring before new growth starts, and after the plant has finished its main flush of blooms if it repeats flowering. Remove any old or weak canes at the base, reduce the length of the remaining canes, and thin out the plant to improve air circulation. The best time for heavy pruning is after the first blooming cycle is complete.
CleaningAs needed
SoilRambler roses like Rosa 'Alexandre Girault' thrive best in fertile, well-draining soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5. A soil mix for this plant should ideally consist of one-third topsoil, one-third compost, and one-third well-rotted manure or peat moss to ensure adequate nutrition and drainage, crucial for vigorous growth and flowering.
RepottingRambler roses such as 'Alexandre Girault' are typically planted outdoors and don't require repotting. However, if grown in containers, they should be repotted every 2 to 3 years to refresh the soil and accommodate the expanding root system.
Humidity & MistingRambler roses, such as 'Alexandre Girault', prefer outdoor conditions where the ambient humidity is typically sufficient. They do not require specific humidity levels as long as their other needs, such as water, sun, and soil, are properly met.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Indoor growing isn't ideal for 'Alexandre Girault' rambler roses.
Outdoor
Full sun, fertile soil, regular water, and pruning.
Hardiness zone
5-9 USDA
Life cycleAlexandre Girault Rose begins its life cycle as a dormant bare-root plant or potted young plant, which when planted in spring, will establish roots in well-draining, fertile soil. The plant then enters a vegetative growth phase, growing stems, leaves, and thorns, and in this stage, it requires adequate sunlight, water and nutrients for optimal development. Flowering occurs in late spring to early summer, showcasing its lush, full petalled, deep pink to crimson blooms which are recurrent, providing color throughout the growing season. After pollination, the flowers may develop into hips (seed pods) which can be left on the plant for winter interest and to support wildlife or can be pruned off to encourage further flowering. In the autumn, the plant begins to enter dormancy, conserving energy and resources as growth slows and leaves may drop, preparing for winter. With proper care and pruning, the Alexandre Girault Rose can live for several decades, repeating this annual cycle and maturing into a larger, more floriferous shrub over time.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring-Early Summer
Propogation: The most popular method of propagating the Rosa 'Alexandre Girault', commonly known as the climbing rose, is through softwood cuttings. This technique is typically performed in late spring through early summer when the new growth is still tender but has begun to mature. Gardeners select a healthy shoot and cut a piece measuring about 6 inches (approximately 15 centimeters) in length, just below a leaf node. The lower leaves are removed, and the cut end is often dipped in rooting hormone to encourage root development. The prepared cutting is then planted in a pot filled with a mixture of peat and perlite or a well-draining soil mix and is kept under high humidity and indirect light until roots develop, which generally takes several weeks. It's essential to maintain consistent moisture during this time to ensure successful rooting.
