It looks more like Francois Rabelais to me. That's more of a bright true red...a beautiful shade of it. Rouge Royale has more blue tones and is deeper, also is very fragrant whereas Francois is not, to my nose.

I have Francois Rabelais, and it looks much like the rose in your photo. It's a small plant with small blooms. FR has only the slightest fragrance at times.

I imagine RR is a much larger plant with larger blooms.

I agree. Francois Rabelais is a modest size compact plant with glossy leaves and bright red flowers. Hope that helps!

Cynthia

Here are my pics...only have one RR and none too good.

FR

RR unmistakable, powerful old rose fragrance, bigger blooms too

Totally agree with Erasmus. Note that the name is Rouge Royale, not Rogue Royal. Diane

Ben, hilarious. And the Rogue ends up in one of the Former Colonies. Diane

Diane,

But rather than armed with a redcoat, this Brit’s got strawberry jam. Alas, they are calling the rogue royal’s efforts Fruitless

Thanks for the laughs Ben!’

Okay, okay, that is enough about the Spare. He has been through a lot already. As for the roses, they are easy to tell apart. ROUGE ROYALE has an intensely strong Damask and fruity fragrance. Unmistakable. FRANCOIS RABELAIS does not.

So definitely Francois. Now I really want to try Rouge Royal! I wonder how she would fare with our winters….

Kellyif you are still in a cold zone , in zone 6b ( tending more toward 5 in reality ) my Rouge Royale died back to the ground and took some time to recover. This year I mounded the dirt higher for insulation and will see how it works.

I grow my two RRs in zone 7 with nary a problem, but zone 4 might be a stretch. RR is a hybrid tea, and both mine are grafted on Dr Huey. They are very happy, bloomy roses. Diane