CARTE D'OR® – yellow bedding Floribunda rose – Meilland
Imagine stepping outside after light rain, the air soft and clean, and meeting clusters of sunny yellow blooms that keep opening through our cool Irish summers. CARTE D'OR® is a bushy, medium-height Floribunda designed for effortless colour in cottage-style beds and neat front gardens, coping reliably with frequent rain and our heavy soils as long as basic drainage is in place. Its flowers appear in generous clusters again and again, creating a long season of cheerful colour with very little fuss. Dense, glossy foliage stays attractive for years, and the own-root form builds a naturally stable shrub that recovers well from pruning or weather damage. In the first year it focuses on roots, in the second on stronger shoots, and by the third year you enjoy its full ornamental impact and dependable flowering rhythm. Plant it once, give it a light annual tidy, and it settles into a quietly lasting part of your family garden, adding a touch of golden charm to every season.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Front-of-house, Dublin terraced garden |
Compact 60–85 cm height and 40–60 cm spread make this rose easy to fit into narrow front gardens or along short railings, giving a smart, cheerful welcome without blocking paths or windows; ideal for time-pressed homeowners. |
| Informal Irish cottage flower bed |
Its freely repeating yellow clusters sit beautifully among perennials and herbs, echoing traditional cottage borders while needing only moderate care and a simple winter prune; a good fit for relaxed, nature-leaning beginners. |
| Low edging or path-side planting |
Regular, bushy growth and recommended 25–30 cm spacing allow you to edge paths or lawns with a continuous line of colour that stays tidy and easy to clip, suiting smaller gardens and tidy-minded gardeners. |
| Small mixed rose bed in heavy Irish clay |
This own-root Floribunda settles steadily where clay has been loosened with compost and grit, then rewards you with reliable repeat flowering once established, suiting practical, long-term focused planters. |
| Containers on patios and terraces |
In a 40–50 litre or larger pot with drainage holes and quality compost, it forms a sturdy, long-lived shrub whose bright blooms dress patios and balconies with minimal weekly care, perfect for busy urban residents. |
| Family garden play-area border |
Moderate prickliness and dense, dark green foliage create a defined, colourful boundary while still being manageable to prune and weed around, matching the needs of safety-conscious family gardeners. |
| Season-long colour focus bed |
Long flowering from early summer into autumn, plus stable, non-fading yellow petals, ensures the bed stays bright even in changeable weather, supporting those who want impact without complex maintenance. |
| Low-care, long-term planting scheme |
Moderate disease resistance and hardy roots down to around -20 °C mean the shrub endures wet winters and cooler summers with basic care; it gradually matures into a durable feature for forward-planning owners. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage-Ribbon – weave CARTE D'OR® in a loose line with lavender, hardy geraniums and dwarf asters to create a soft, storybook path edge – for romantic, relaxed front-garden owners
- Golden-Focus – group three roses at 30–40 cm spacing in a small bed, underplanting with low catmint to form a bright focal block – for those wanting simple structure and easy upkeep
- Pot-Patio – grow one rose in a 50-litre terracotta pot with trailing thyme and white bacopa for a long-flowering patio accent – for balcony and terrace gardeners short on ground space
- Neat-Hedge – plant a short row at 25 cm intervals along a drive or path, clipping lightly in winter for a uniform, tidy yellow hedge – for homeowners who favour order and clear boundaries
- Soft-Sun – mix CARTE D'OR® with blue agapanthus and pale ornamental grasses for a calm, sunny-toned border – for design-conscious gardeners seeking gentle colour contrasts
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Floribunda bedding rose, registered as MEIdresia, marketed as CARTE D'OR®; exhibition Floribunda for ornamental bedding, premium gold merit, authentic stock inspected 29 July 2025. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Alain Meilland, Meilland International, France; introduced and registered in 2001, with parentage undisclosed, selected for garden bedding performance and reliable colour. |
| Awards and recognition |
Recognised in European rose trials: Certificate at The Hague, Netherlands in 2005 and a gold medal at Courtrai/Kortrijk, Belgium in 2007 for garden and bedding quality. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy, medium-sized shrub typically 60–85 cm high and 40–60 cm wide, with dense, glossy dark green foliage and moderate thorniness, forming a compact, well-filled bedding rose. |
| Flower morphology |
Double, cup-shaped blooms with 26–39 petals, large 7–10 cm flowers carried in clusters; remontant habit with a particularly generous second flush under average garden care. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Powerful, sunny yellow blooms; deep yellow buds open to warm sun-yellow petals shaded golden at the throat, retaining colour exceptionally well with minimal fading even in strong sunshine. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very weak fragrance with a delicately sweet character, generally only noticeable at close range; primarily grown as a visual bedding and landscape rose rather than for scent. |
| Hip characteristics |
Sparse hip production; occasional small spherical hips 5–8 mm across, maturing to orange-red RHS 40A, offering minor seasonal interest without significant self-seeding. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to around -21 to -18 °C (H7, USDA 6b); moderate resistance to powdery mildew, black spot and rust; tolerates heat reasonably but needs irrigation in prolonged dry spells. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Suited to beds, edging, containers and cutting; plant 25–50 cm apart, 10–11.6 plants/m² for massing; prefers well-drained soil, copes with partial shade and benefits from regular deadheading. |
CARTE D'OR® MEIdresia offers stable, long-season yellow flowering on a compact, own-root shrub that matures into a durable, low-effort feature in family gardens, making it a thoughtful choice for your next planting.
