ERIC TABARLY® – dark red climbing rose - Meilland
Let ERIC TABARLY® turn a simple walk to your front door into a veil of velvet petals and fragrance, even when Irish weather brings soft rain and humidity. This Romantica® climbing rose clothes walls, pergolas and railings with large, old-fashioned blooms in a deep, romantic crimson shade that hardly fades, giving your cottage-style garden a rich, storybook feel. Own-root plants mean dependable longevity, steadily building strength below ground in year one, more confident growth and flowering in year two, and a truly impressive curtain of blooms by year three. Its dense foliage and medium care needs suit busy homeowners who still want a sense of luxury and soft, filtered light outside the kitchen window.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Front garden pergola by the path |
The strong, long-lasting damask scent and very full, showy blooms create a welcoming archway over a short front-garden walk, turning everyday comings and goings into a small ritual of pleasure for fragrance-lovers. |
| South- or west-facing cottage wall |
As a vigorously climbing, large-flowered variety, it quickly clothes façades with deep red rosettes while coping well with Irish wind and rain, softening brick or render for cottage-garden owners. |
| Dublin terraced-house railings or fence |
Trained along railings, it delivers high visual impact in a narrow footprint, using vertical space for colour and privacy without demanding complex care from busy-city gardeners. |
| Romantic seating corner with pergola |
Its XL, velvety blooms and dense foliage form an intimate, shaded nook with a classic “old rose” mood, ideal beside a bench or bistro set for garden-daydreamers. |
| Feature climber in a mixed shrub border |
Planted as a specimen with room to spread, it becomes a tall, flowering backdrop that anchors lower perennials and shrubs, suiting design-conscious homeowners. |
| Partially shaded side passage or gable |
Partial shade tolerance allows reliable flowering where sun is limited for part of the day, using otherwise dull side areas to add interest for space-maximising gardeners. |
| Large container on patio or courtyard (40–50 L+) |
In a substantial, well-drained container, its climbing habit brings colour upwards, giving renters or small-yard owners a movable “living curtain” that still feels established for urban-dwellers. |
| Training along sturdy arch in exposed spots |
Good heat and weather tolerance help it cope with unsettled Atlantic conditions, where regular rainfall and breezes meet summer sun, making it a reliable choice for Irish-coastal gardeners. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage Archway – train over a simple wooden arch with foxgloves and hardy geraniums at the base to create a storybook entrance – ideal for lovers of traditional cottage gardens
- Velvet Façade – cover a sunny house wall, underplanting with lavender and catmint to echo the dark red blooms with soft blues – perfect for homeowners seeking year-round structure
- City Rail Romance – weave stems through front railings, pairing with low box edging and seasonal tulips for a smart yet romantic street presence – suited to style-aware terrace residents
- Evening Perfume Corner – place a bench under a pergola clothed in this climber, with white campanulas and hostas beneath to glow at dusk – ideal for relaxed evening sitters
- Patio Curtain – grow in a 40–50 litre container with an obelisk, adding scented herbs around the rim for a lush, movable screen – great for renters and balcony or courtyard users
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Climbing large-flowered Romantica® rose; registered as MEIdrason, marketed as Eric Tabarly® Romantica® MEIdrason; exhibition name Eric Tabarly; large exhibition climber and cut-flower type. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Alain Meilland, France, from ‘Cappa Magna’ × ‘Ulmer Münster’; Meilland International SA breeding, introduced after 2004, with European protection and US plant patent granted in 2004. |
| Awards and recognition |
Recognised on the show bench as an exhibition-quality climber; awarded the Los Angeles Rose Society Show Climber Award in 2005, confirming its value for large, high-impact blooms. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Strong climbing habit reaching about 300–500 cm high and 200–300 cm spread; dense mid-green, slightly glossy foliage with many prickles; requires support and tying to form walls, arches or pergolas. |
| Flower morphology |
Very full rosette blooms with 40+ petals, typically 10 cm or more across; borne in clusters; remontant with a generous second flush after the main flowering; weak self-cleaning, so deadheading improves appearance. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Deep, velvety dark red blooms (ARS dr; RHS 53A–53B) from bud to full flower, darkening toward muted burgundy with slightly blackish outer petals; colour holds well, with only slight fading in intense sunlight. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strong, classic damask scent that lingers around paths and seating areas; primarily an ornamental display rose, combining traditional perfume with modern climbing performance for sensory garden planting. |
| Hip characteristics |
Occasionally forms small, spherical hips around 12–18 mm in diameter; hips are red (RHS N45A) and decorative but not heavily produced, as the plant prioritises repeat flowering rather than fruiting. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to approximately −23 to −21 °C (H7, USDA 6a); heat tolerant with adequate watering; medium resistance to black spot, powdery mildew and rust, benefiting from good air circulation and basic care. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best on well-drained, improved soil with neutral to mildly acidic pH; space 145–270 cm depending on use; responds to deadheading and light pruning; can be grown in 40–50 L containers with sturdy supports. |
ERIC TABARLY® rewards you with velvety dark-red blooms, classic damask fragrance and impressive height on a dependable own-root climber, making it a refined long-term choice for walls, arches or pergolas you will enjoy for years.
