DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER ® – salmon-pink climbing rose – Meilland
Let Dee Dee Bridgewater ® bring a soft, salmon-pink glow to cottage walls, railings and Dublin terraces, even where rainfall is frequent and summers are short. This large-flowered climber covers its canes with XL, cup-shaped blooms, combining a medium aniseed-spicy fragrance with refined colour that fades gently to pastel, never looking muddied in Irish light. Own-root plants settle in securely and age gracefully, giving you stable shape, easier pruning and reliable regrowth if winter or wind take a branch. Plant once and enjoy a long season of repeat flowering with manageable, medium maintenance rather than constant fuss. In year one it concentrates on roots, year two builds strong shoots, and by year three you can expect full ornamental value and a quietly romantic presence in the garden.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Cottage-style house wall or sunny façade |
Large, salmon-pink, cup-shaped blooms give a classic cottage look, ideal for softening plain masonry or render with an elegant vertical curtain of colour. Suits those wanting a showy yet manageable climber, particularly beginners. |
| Front garden railings or low fences |
Moderate height and spread make it easy to train along railings without overwhelming narrow pavements, bringing welcoming colour and scent to Dublin terraces. A good choice where you want impact but limited upkeep for busy owners. |
| Pergola or arch in a family garden |
Remontant flowering with an abundant second flush keeps an arch or pergola in bloom through much of the Irish summer, despite cooler conditions and frequent showers. Ideal for those who value long display with modest work, especially families. |
| Feature climber in small to medium gardens |
The controlled, climbing habit and mid-green foliage allow it to form a tidy, premium-looking focal point that ages slowly and retains structure over many seasons. Well suited to gardeners seeking durable structure with low replanting for homeowners. |
| Own-root, long-term garden investment |
As an own-root climber it regenerates readily from the base, keeping its form and character even after hard pruning or winter damage, reducing replacement and renovation work. Especially reassuring for those planning long-lived plantings, like planners. |
| Large containers on patios or balconies |
Can be grown in substantial pots of 40–50 litres or more with a sturdy trellis, giving vertical colour where soil is poor or space is tight, provided watering and feeding are regular. Attractive for urban gardeners wanting impact in pots, mainly city-dwellers. |
| Scented seating area or path edge |
The medium-strength, aniseed-spicy scent is noticeable without being overpowering, adding gentle fragrance around benches or along paths where people pass close by. Ideal for those who enjoy subtle, sophisticated fragrance, especially fragrance-lovers. |
| Mixed planting with groundcover companions |
Works well above low, drought-tolerant groundcovers like Vinca, Sedum or Potentilla, which help keep soil covered and improve drainage around the base in heavier Irish clays. Suits nature-minded gardeners aiming for easy, layered planting, mainly eco-conscious. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage-porch welcome – Train along a porch or doorway with Vinca minor at the base for a soft, storybook entrance – for homeowners who love a romantic, traditional look.
- Dublin-rail charm – Weave it through front railings with neat gravel and low Sedum edging – for city dwellers wanting kerb appeal without high maintenance.
- Pastel-pergola walk – Cover a simple wooden pergola, underplant with Potentilla and spring bulbs – for families seeking a gentle, scented garden route to the back lawn.
- Container-column – Grow in a 50-litre pot with a slim obelisk, pairing with trailing thyme – for balcony and patio gardeners needing vertical colour in tight spaces.
- Evening-nook scent – Place by a bench or small terrace, partnered with pale perennials to reflect light – for fragrance-lovers who unwind outdoors after work.
Technical cultivar profile
| Property |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Registered as MEItandar, marketed as Dee Dee Bridgewater ® Climbing rose MEItandar; large-flowered climbing rose in the Rós dreapadó group, approved exhibition name Dee Dee Bridgewater. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Alain Meilland, Meilland International, France; breeding completed 2003, registered 2003, introduced 2004, initially distributed by Meilland Richardier for international garden use. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Climbing habit reaching about 180–260 cm high with a spread of 200–320 cm; moderately dense, mid-green, slightly glossy foliage and moderate prickliness, forming a structured but manageable framework. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, double, cup-shaped flowers over 10 cm across, typically borne singly on stems; 26–39 petals with remontant behaviour and an abundant second flush after the main early summer flowering. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Uniform salmon-pink with a delicate coral hue, ARS Mpk, RHS 36B–36C; buds deep salmon-pink, opening rich then fading to softer pastel tones, with outer petal edges lightening at full bloom. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Noticeable, medium-strength fragrance with a distinct aniseed-spicy character; best appreciated near seating or paths where air movement carries the scent at nose level in mild weather. |
| Hip characteristics |
Rose hip production is generally low due to double flowers; when formed, hips are small, ovoid, red, around 9–16 mm in diameter, adding occasional discreet seasonal interest in late season. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to about -21 to -18 °C (RHS H7, Swedish zone 3, USDA 6b); good resistance to powdery mildew and black spot, medium resistance to rust, with moderate tolerance of summer heat. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in sunny positions; plant 150–275 cm apart depending on use, at 0.33–0.38 plants/m²; medium maintenance, occasional plant protection, suitable for fences, pergolas, specimens and large containers. |
DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER ® offers repeat salmon-pink flowering, gentle aniseed-spicy fragrance and long-lived, regenerating own-root growth; a considered choice if you would like lasting vertical colour with modest effort.
