When we came to France 19 years ago, we brought a load of pot plants and didn’t think twice about it. Beginning to plan going back the other way to the UK, we will be taking very little, but I have one absolutely stunning red climbing rose - gorgeous colour and shape, sweet smelling, repeat flowering. I have its daughter in a large pot on the cottage terrace and I am wondering whether I can take it with us?
Anyone who has gone back recently, did you take any plants with you?
Expressly forbidden to take plants/soil. You could try to root a layer or cutting this year and take it over naked?
We did the same with an Albertine from my FILs garden and are so sadwe’ve had to leave it behind. I had a layer that was doing well when it accidentally got mowed.
Thank you. I’ve found a list that talks about guns and things but not plants. 
I was hoping for more instantaneous gardening than starting from a layer. I’ll take some cuttings with me when we go over in two weeks and pop them in a pot - one or two may take.
Assuming you want to follow the rules and do it responsibly, see the link below. There are regulations that apply to ALL plant materials being imported into the UK.
An alternative would be to see if that exact variety can be purchased from a nursery in the UK.
Assuming you’re not going to become Smuggler Sue, I should mention Madame had amazingly helpful service from the people at David Austin in the UK. It may be they have a similar variety (I feel I know the colour you’re talking about: we have one along the street, and saw a couple yesterday at the Chateau du Rivau).
I know it’s not the same as your own, but it might be useful as a backup plan.
I hope you find a satisfactory answer, as you can’t be the only one wondering
Thanks for your thoughts everyone. Sadly, I have no idea of the name of the rose. I bought it from Leclerc’s many moons ago and it sulked for a year of two. I then brutally cut it virtually to the ground and it has rewarded me ever since. I’ll go and take a photo.
We have several David Austin roses all bought in France either from one of the garden centres or the David Austin.fr website. I hope you manage to get one similar (possibly from David Austin in the UK) because they have a wonderful collection. Here is one that we have - Munstead Wood. It’s fantastic!
Try the rose finder?
This is it. I suspect it is NOT a David Austin because Leclerc would not be buying from them - too expensive.
You’re right, so probably dutch or Belgian variety
That’s the shade I anticipated, @SuePJ . Round here we’re awash with them and others, but we’re close to Doué and other rosy places.
Hope you find one or manage another way.
Could be Meilland? Or a Dutch one obv.
In fact I had forgotten that several years ago both Leclerc and HyperU had a David Austin promotion of roses. And they were less than 5€ from memory. One of them we bought was Winchester Cathedral
In fact, this is a strange one. Sometimes the blooms are pink and when I asked the David Austin company they explained that it is because it is a genetic mutation of the pink rose Mary Rose.
Another we bought was Graham Thomas
and another was Strawberry Hill. I bought this because back in the 70’s I used to live in Strawberry Hill, near Twickenham.
And then we bought this one - Collette because that is the name of our neighbour !
All from Leclerc and/or HyperU !
Ah, that brings back memories… now I’m wondering just how many of us burst into song (albeit it quietly so as not to frighten neighbours 
Again, maybe too expensive for Leclerc. Our posh garden centre has virtually all Meilland roses.
My money is on cheap, “unbranded” Dutch or Belgian
Might it be an idea to buy some roses already growing.. over in UK.. but also take with you a prepared cutting or two from your French garden (I think unpotted but “ready to go” are OK for personal use ie not importing for business/sale and no soil).
that way you have instant roses and, within a little while, your French Favourite as well. 
It’s a while since I was in agricultural college but, if memory serves, ALL plant material is covered by the legislation. The regulations are to stop the accidental importation of diseased plant material regardless of whether it is being imported for personal use or re-sale.
Since Brexit I think things have tightened up. All plants must have a ‘plant passport’ - that’s why you see the certificates on plants at garden centres etc. that have come from outside France.
Fair enough… I know about phyto certificates from many years ago when my company (at the time) used to export from UK all sorts of plants by the trolley-load…
But having read all the links I could find today, there was a brief mention about … less than 2 kg of bare plants (which are not on the exclusion list) brought in by private people for own use… and that person had to self-certify… or something like that…
