ELAINE PAIGE™ – pink hybrid tea rose
Step outside to a shower of soft Irish rain and meet Elaine in your garden: large, classic blooms in a clear mid-pink that feel instantly theatre, with a strong, far-reaching fragrance that brings quiet glamour to the smallest front border. Bred for generous, repeat flowering, its remontant habit keeps buds and blooms coming in reliable waves, even where summers are short and skies often changeable with cool, moist air and passing showers softening the light. The bushy, upright growth and glossy, dark foliage give an easy-care structure that stands up well in mixed beds or a single-feature planting, while own-root toughness promises a long-lived investment for your family garden. In its first year it concentrates on roots, in the second on upright shoots, and by the third it settles into full ornamental presence that looks right at home in a Dublin terrace or cottage-style frontage.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Cottage-style front garden focal point |
The large, mid-pink, cup-shaped blooms and classic hybrid tea form give a clear focal point beside a gate, path or low wall, ideal for a “girly” cottage feel without looking fussy, suiting homeowners who prefer standout flowers with simple care for the beginner. |
| Perfumed evening seating area |
Strong, far-reaching, fresh-fruity fragrance carries beautifully on damp Irish air, so one or two bushes near a bench or patio door provide scented walks in light rain and soft dusk, perfect for fragrance-lovers seeking indulgence without demanding upkeep for the urbanite. |
| Repeat-flowering feature in small beds |
The remontant habit with abundant second flush ensures colour returns quickly after deadheading, keeping compact beds lively through a short summer, so there is always something in flower to greet you after work, especially valued by time-poor gardeners in the city. |
| Own-root long-term specimen in family garden |
Supplied on its own roots, the shrub can regenerate from the base if damaged and avoids graft-related decline, giving a longer, steadier life and less replanting over the years, reassuring those who want lasting structure with minimal fuss in the family. |
| Mixed border with herbs and perennials |
Bushy, 100–140 cm growth with dense, glossy foliage makes a solid backdrop to airy or silver-leaved companions like rosemary, sage and Bupleurum, adding classic roses to more naturalistic planting for householders who enjoy relaxed, wildlife-aware borders in the suburbs. |
| Container feature on terrace or balcony |
Its upright, bushy habit and sizeable blooms suit a deep 40–50 litre container with good drainage, bringing classic roses to paved or rented spaces where soil is poor, ideal for busy residents wanting movable colour with manageable maintenance in the townhouse. |
| Partially shaded Irish garden corners |
Tolerance of partial shade allows planting where walls or neighbouring houses limit sun, and it still flowers well through changeable, cool and moist conditions with regular care, reassuring owners of overlooked plots or narrow terraces in the neighbourhood. |
| Cut-flower rows and show blooms |
Long, large, double, solitary flowers on sturdy stems make excellent cutting material and exhibition-type blooms, with colour that fades gently from mid- to powder-pink, suiting hobby florists and local show exhibitors looking for reliable stems for the vase. |
Styling ideas
- Gateway Romance – Plant a pair either side of a cottage-style gate, underplanted with low catmint and pink hardy geraniums to soften edges – ideal for homeowners wanting a welcoming, storybook entrance.
- Perfumed Patio – Grow one bush in a 50 litre terracotta pot with thyme and trailing lobelia at the rim, placing it near seating so evening fragrance drifts through – perfect for small-terrace city dwellers.
- Herb Quartet – Combine with rosemary, common sage and Bupleurum in a sunny bed, mixing glossy foliage and pink blooms with aromatic leaves – suited to cooks and herb lovers who enjoy relaxed cottage planting.
- Soft-Pink Hedge – Space plants 40 cm apart along a low front boundary to create a loose, bloom-rich screen that frames the house without feeling formal – good for families wanting privacy with charm.
- Showbench Strip – Dedicate a narrow bed to a short row of bushes, feeding well for long stems and large flowers to cut for the house or local shows – appealing to hobby exhibitors and keen arrangers.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose, Rós taehibride collection. Registered as POUlht008, marketed as Elaine Paige™ Hybrid tea POULSEN®. Approved exhibition name Elaine Paige™ for show and cut-flower use. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred in Denmark in 2006 by L. Pernille and Mogens Nyegaard Olesen of Poulsen Roser A/S, from unnamed seedling parents; first introduced commercially after 2012 via Poulsen Roser A/S. |
| Awards and recognition |
Highly decorated show rose: Coup de Cœur Children’s Favourite & Most Fragrant Rose, Bagatelle Paris 2013; Geneva Silver Medal 2013; Monza Gold Medal 2013; further merits at Belfast, Orléans and Baden. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy, upright shrub typically 100–140 cm tall, spreading 60–80 cm with dense, dark green, glossy foliage and moderate prickliness; overall effect is a full, structural plant suited to beds or specimen use. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, double, cup-shaped blooms 7–10 cm across, usually solitary on stems, with 26–39 petals; remontant with a notably abundant second flush, providing classic hybrid tea form for garden and cutting. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Vibrant mid-pink flowers (RHS 65C outer, 65D inner) opening from deeper pinkish-red buds, then gently fading to pale, powder-pink edges as blooms age, giving a soft, pastel effect over the flowering period. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strong, far-reaching scent with a fresh, fruity rose character, easily noticed on still or damp air; mainly ornamental rather than for cosmetic use, but ideal where scented garden presence is prioritised. |
| Hip characteristics |
Hip set is generally limited due to the double-flowered form; where produced, hips are small, ellipsoidal, about 8–12 mm in diameter, colouring orange-red and adding discreet late-season interest. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Rated moderately resistant to common fungal diseases including powdery mildew, black spot and rust; hardy to approximately −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7, USDA 6b, Swedish Zone 3) with good heat tolerance if watered. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in fertile, well-drained soil with mulching on heavier clays; space 50 cm for beds, 40 cm for hedging, 75 cm as specimen; suits containers from 40–50 litres and partial shade in typical Irish gardens. |
ELAINE PAIGE™ brings large, scented pink blooms, reliable repeat flowering and enduring own-root strength to compact Irish gardens, making it a refined, long-lived choice for those ready to give a special rose a good home.
