BETTINA™ 78 – salmon-pink hybrid tea rose
Like a short stroll in soft Irish drizzle, BETTINA™ 78 surrounds you with cheerful, salmon-pink blooms and a medium, fruity fragrance that lifts the mood in any small family garden. This own-root rose is bred for reliability, settling in steadily and coping well with our damp summers and frequent showers, even where the soil needs improved drainage. Its upright, well-branched habit gives graceful structure for cottage-style borders or neat front gardens, while each long, high-centred bloom is perfect for cutting into vases at home. With a remontant, generously repeating flowering pattern, it offers colour over a long season, and as an own-root plant it builds a strong framework for a lasting lifespan, moving from first-year settling to generous second-year growth and full ornamental presence by the third.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Sunny cottage-style border in a family back garden |
BETTINA™ 78 gives a long season of salmon-pink flowers, returning in reliable flushes from early summer into autumn, so the border never feels bare for long. Its remontant habit means repeated display with modest input, ideal for relaxed gardeners and busy beginners. |
| Feature rose near a front door or path |
The upright, 120–160 cm habit forms a clear vertical accent without taking too much ground space, giving instant structure beside steps or railings. High-centred blooms sit neatly on strong stems, adding elegance to everyday entries for style-conscious homeowners. |
| Cutting patch for home-grown bouquets |
This hybrid tea’s solitary, high-centred flowers on straight stems are made for vases, offering classic rose form and good head size. Regular cutting conveniently replaces much of the deadheading work and encourages more buds, delighting home florists. |
| Small urban garden in damp, changeable weather |
Medium disease resistance with good tolerance of mildew and black spot helps it stay attractive in Irish humidity, provided basic care is given. It responds well to consistent moisture yet dislikes waterlogging, matching the reality of many city plots for time-pressed gardeners. |
| Own-root rose for long-term planting schemes |
As an own-root shrub, BETTINA™ 78 builds a stable framework that can regenerate from the base if stems are damaged, supporting a longer planting life. Expect roots to establish in year one and top growth to expand in year two, rewarding patient long-term planners. |
| Heavy clay beds improved with organic matter |
Where clay holds winter wet, BETTINA™ 78 performs best with added compost and a slightly raised planting position, helping surplus rain drain away steadily in our soft, oceanic climate. This simple preparation boosts health and flowering for careful improvers. |
| Roses combined with soft, romantic perennials |
The warm salmon-pink blends beautifully with whites and soft pinks, pairing well with plants like obedient plant or creeping baby’s-breath. Its consistently shaped blooms add focus, while companions supply airiness and movement, pleasing romantic stylists. |
| Large containers on patios and terraces (40–50 L+) |
In a roomy pot of at least 40–50 litres with free-draining compost, BETTINA™ 78 offers repeat flowering at eye level, perfect for patios where ground space is scarce. Stable own-root growth helps it settle and regrow after pruning, suiting balcony dwellers. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage Path Glow – Line a front path with alternating BETTINA™ 78 and white obedient plant to create a salmon-and-ivory ribbon of colour – ideal for cottage-style front-garden lovers.
- Salmon Rose Hedge – Plant at 50–60 cm spacing in a single row to form a lightly formal, flowering boundary that softens fences or parking edges – perfect for family homes wanting gentle structure.
- Patio Feature Pot – Grow one plant in a 50 L terracotta pot with trailing thyme or lobelia at the rim for a compact, fragrant focal point – suited to terrace and balcony gardeners.
- Cutting Corner – Dedicate a sunny bed to three to five BETTINA™ 78 plants, underplanted with low gypsophila for ready-made filler, giving a steady supply of classic stems – great for home bouquet enthusiasts.
- Soft Sunset Border – Combine BETTINA™ 78 with apricot perennials and dusky foliage plants to echo its warm salmon tones and medium height – appealing to colour-focused garden designers.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea florists’ rose, registered as MEIbrico, marketed as BETTINA™ 78 – salmon-pink hybrid tea rose; American Rose Society exhibition name Bettina 78, in the Rós taehibride group. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Alain André Meilland, Marie-Louise “Louisette” Meilland Paolino and Michèle Meilland-Richardier, Meilland International, France, from complex hybrid tea parentage; introduced and registered in 1976. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright shrub typically 120–160 cm high and 70–90 cm wide, with moderately dense, slightly glossy bronze-green foliage and moderate prickliness; best performance in open, sunny positions. |
| Flower morphology |
Medium-sized, 4–7 cm, double, high-centred blooms with 26–39 petals, usually solitary on stems; classic pointed-bud hybrid tea form, remontant with an abundant second flush and further repeats. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Warm salmon-pink overall, ARS op; RHS 24A outer, 25B inner petals, opening intense orange-pink with coral sheen and maturing to coral-orange, then paler peach and apricot towards petal edges. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Medium-strength, clearly noticeable scent with a fresh, fruity character; fragrance evident outdoors in still air and especially appreciated on cut stems in indoor vases and small arrangements. |
| Hip characteristics |
Limited hip set due to double flowers and regular pruning; when present, produces small ellipsoid hips about 10–14 mm in diameter, coloured orange-red and mainly of ornamental rather than wildlife value. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to around –15 to –12 °C (RHS H6, USDA 7b); medium overall disease resistance, usually resistant to black spot and powdery mildew, with moderate susceptibility to rust in challenging seasons. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in fertile, well-drained soil improved with compost; plant 50–90 cm apart depending on use, in full sun; water during dry spells, feed regularly, deadhead or cut stems to sustain repeat flowering. |
BETTINA™ 78 offers long-season salmon-pink blooms with medium fruity scent, upright structure and durable own-root growth, making it a thoughtful choice for Irish gardeners seeking lasting colour with manageable care.
