BOTERO® GPT. – deep red climbing rose – Meilland
Bring a sense of theatre to your Irish garden with BOTERO® GPT., a velvety deep-red climbing rose that turns a simple wall, fence or arch into an uplifting retreat. Its very large, rosette blooms open from almost black-red buds, carrying an intensely perfumed damask-fruity scent that lingers in the damp air after showers, creating the feeling of a short outdoor walk under raindrops and soft light. Bred for strong health, it offers reliable disease resistance even in our cool, humid summers, coping well with breezy, rain-laden conditions near the coast. As an own-root rose it establishes steadily, building long-term character and the ability to regenerate if cut back hard, giving you dependable structure over the years without fussy maintenance. Think in terms of gentle progress – roots in year one, frame-building shoots in year two, and full ornamental impact by year three, ideal for “girly” cottage-style planting or a romantic Dublin terrace frontage.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Family home pergola or arch |
Strong, upright growth to 2–3 m makes this rose perfect for dressing a pergola or arch with generous, extra-large blooms and a sumptuous scent that greets you every time you pass through, particularly suitable for fragrance-loving beginners. |
| Front garden wall or railings |
The deep, velvety crimson-red flowers and dark green foliage create high-impact kerb appeal in small Dublin terraces and cottage fronts, while sparse thorns make it easier to manage beside paths for style-conscious homeowners. |
| Low-maintenance family seating area backdrop |
Good resistance to black spot, mildew and rust keeps foliage neat with minimal spraying, so you enjoy a handsome, flower-laden screen behind your seating area without adding to weekend chores, ideal for time-poor urban gardeners. |
| Romantic Irish cottage border centrepiece |
The very double, rosette flowers with award-winning perfume bring a classic old-rose feel, yet on a modern, robust climber that thrives in cool, damp Irish summers, suiting nostalgic, cottage-style planting. |
| Partially shaded side passage or gable |
This variety tolerates partial shade, so it will still flower and scent the air along side passages or north-east aspects, using walls and fences you already have to create atmosphere for space-conscious owners. |
| Cut flower and house display corner |
Extra-large, densely petalled blooms with a long-lasting, damask-fruity fragrance are excellent for cutting, allowing you to bring that “after the rain” scent indoors from a single productive plant, appreciated by creative home florists. |
| Long-term feature for small to medium gardens |
As an own-root climber it builds a durable framework, lives for many years and can be rejuvenated by hard pruning, so your initial planting matures into a stable garden feature for forward-planning families. |
| Large container on terrace or balcony (40–50 L+) |
When planted in a 40–50 litre or larger container with good drainage and regular watering, it offers the drama of a ground-planted climber on balconies or patios, bringing vertical colour and fragrance to space-limited residents. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage-arch romance – Train over a wooden arch with nepeta and coreopsis at the base for a soft, “girly” cottage look – ideal for front gardens seeking nostalgic charm for fragrance fans.
- Velvet-wall drama – Cover a sunny house wall, pairing with pale foxgloves and airy grasses to let the deep red blooms glow – suited to homeowners wanting bold colour with low fuss.
- City-terrace frame – Grow along railings in a 50 L trough, underplanting with catmint for haze and movement – perfect for Dublin terraces needing vertical privacy and romance.
- Evening-scent corner – Place by a seating nook with soft white companions like gaura to catch the light as the perfume intensifies at dusk – great for busy people who unwind outdoors after work.
- Cut-flower pantry – Dedicate a fence run to this rose, clipping stems for richly scented bouquets while keeping the structure simple – for hobby florists who like easy, reliable pickings.
Technical cultivar profile
| Trait |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Climbing rose from the Rós dreapadó group; registered cultivar name MEIafonesar, marketed as Botero® Gpt. Climbing rose MEIafonesar; exhibition name Botero® honours artist Fernando Botero. |
| Origin and breeding |
Sport of the hybrid tea ‘Botero’, bred by Alain Meilland at Meilland International, France; bred 1999, introduced and registered 2003, initially distributed by Meilland International. |
| Awards and recognition |
Highly decorated for fragrance: Baden-Baden Fragrance Prize, Geneva Perfume Cup, Madrid Pere Dot Fragrance Award, Saverne Fragrance Award (all 1999), plus Nantes Grand Prix International du Parfum and Fragrance Award (2001). |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright, large-flowered climber reaching 200–300 cm high with 70–130 cm spread; dense dark matte foliage, sparsely thorned stems; best on supports such as walls, arches, fences or pergolas. |
| Flower morphology |
Very double, rosette-type flowers with more than 40 petals; solitary, extra-large blooms over 10 cm across; remontant habit provides repeat flushes with a particularly generous second flowering period. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Velvety deep red with crimson undertone; ARS code MR, RHS 53B outer, 53A inner; buds near black-red, colour deepens from ruby to burgundy with darker edges as blooms mature, with good overall colour stability. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very strongly scented with a long-lasting damask and fruity character; suitable for those prioritising perfume in the garden; fragrance remains noticeable in cool, damp conditions and performs well as a cut flower scent. |
| Hip characteristics |
Hip set usually low due to very double flowers; when present, hips are ellipsoidal, 12–18 mm diameter, in a strong red shade (RHS 43A), adding modest late-season interest without prolific seeding. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Good resistance to powdery mildew, black spot and rust; hardy to about –23 to –21 °C (RHS H7, USDA 6a, Swedish zone 3); tolerates heat but needs watering in prolonged drought or in containers. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Plant against walls, fences, arbours or pergolas; spacing 140–250 cm depending on use; prefers well-drained soil with organic matter; ideal for 40–50 L containers; prune after flowering to train main framework. |
BOTERO® GPT. offers award-winning fragrance, dramatic deep-red XL blooms and reliable disease resistance on a long-lived own-root climber; a thoughtful choice if you would like a romantic, low-effort vertical feature.
