LOLITA LEMPICKA ® GPT. – deep pink climbing rose – Meilland
If you dream of a romantic climbing rose that thrives in Irish gardens yet keeps everyday care simple, LOLITA LEMPICKA ® GPT. offers luxurious colour, impressive height and generous blooms with a very strong, lingering fragrance. Large, high-centred flowers in rich magenta-pink slowly soften to cottage-garden pastels, capturing the charm of a gentle shower on warm stone paths while coping well with brisk Atlantic air and frequent rainfall. As an own-root plant it builds a reliable framework that can regenerate and live for decades; think of Year 1 for roots, Year 2 for shoots and Year 3 for full impact, bringing lasting, easy-going romance to pergolas, fences and Dublin terrace fronts.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Pergola or arch in a family garden |
The tall climbing habit and extra-large, exhibition-style blooms create a dramatic overhead tunnel of deep pink, ideal for a short stroll outside during light drizzle, especially in the soft light of Irish evenings – suitable for the romantic-minded homeowner. |
| Cottage-style fence or low boundary |
Trained along a cottage fence, its dense foliage and repeat flowering provide a long, colourful screen; own-root growth means gaps fill steadily over the years with minimal replacement – ideal for the busy cottage gardener. |
| Sunny wall of a Dublin terrace |
Against a warm wall this climber reaches its full height, with strongly scented flowers enjoyed from windows above; regular tying-in and simple deadheading keep it elegant without complex pruning – appealing to the urban fragrance lover. |
| Standalone feature on a strong obelisk |
Used as a specimen on a sturdy obelisk, its high-centred, very double blooms are shown at eye level, perfect for admiring details of colour changes from magenta to soft pink – perfect for the detail-oriented enthusiast. |
| Cutting corner for scented bouquets |
The long, straight flowering stems and classic hybrid-tea form make it excellent for cutting; a few stems perfume an entire room, especially when gathered just as buds begin to open – rewarding for the home flower arranger. |
| Romantic seating nook or arbour |
Clothing an arbour beside a bench, it surrounds seating with deep-pink blooms and strong perfume, even in Ireland’s cooler, shorter summers when repeat flushes still appear – ideal for the evening garden sitter. |
| Large container near the front door (40–50+ L) |
In a very large, well-drained container it offers vertical impact where soil is poor or paved, as long as you water and feed regularly; own-root resilience supports long-term structure – suited to the small-space gardener. |
| Screening between neighbouring properties |
Planted at 1.5–2.4 m spacing along a boundary, its dense, dark green foliage and tall canes can soften views while providing seasonal interest with repeat flowers; manual deadheading keeps it neat – useful for the privacy-seeking family. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage-curve fence – Train along a gently curving timber fence with Gypsophila repens softening the base for a storybook cottage feel – for lovers of nostalgic front gardens.
- Perfumed terrace arch – Cover a metal arch at your terrace entrance so every step outside passes under richly scented blooms – for scent-focused city dwellers.
- Front-door column – Spiral it up a strong obelisk in a 50 L pot, flanked by lavender, to frame a townhouse doorway – for design-conscious busy homeowners.
- Sunset seating nook – Let it cloak an arbour with coreopsis at ground level to echo the pink and gold tones around a favourite evening seat – for relaxed after-work gardeners.
- Romantic boundary veil – Weave stems through wire on a low boundary to soften hard lines with deep-pink clouds of flowers – for families wanting privacy with charm.
Technical cultivar profile
| Aspect |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Climbing hybrid tea rose from the Romantica collection; registered as MEIzincaro, traded as Lolita Lempicka ® Gpt. and Peter Mayle in exhibition circles. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Alain Meilland (Meilland International, France); (‘Maria Callas’ × ‘Susan Hampshire’) × ‘Susan Hampshire’; introduced 2003 with US plant patent 11 660. |
| Awards and recognition |
Winner of the Golden Rose in Geneva 1998 and Silver Medal in Monza 1998, highlighting its ornamental flower quality in international rose trials. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Large-flowered climber reaching about 200–320 cm high and 100–160 cm wide, moderately thorny with dense, slightly glossy dark green foliage on vigorous canes. |
| Flower morphology |
Very double, 40+ petalled, XL-sized (10 cm+) blooms with high-centred, pointed buds; mainly solitary on long stems; repeat flowers well in successive flushes. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Rich magenta-pink with purple undertone, dark buds opening to vibrant cyclamen-pink then fading to softer pink with mauve hints; colour retains well in typical garden conditions. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very strong, long-lasting perfume characteristic of traditional exhibition hybrid teas; intensity is sufficient to scent nearby seating areas and indoor spaces from cut stems. |
| Hip characteristics |
Sparse hip set due to very double blooms; occasional 15–22 mm, egg-shaped, red hips (RHS N45A) may develop if flowers are left uncut late in the season. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to about −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7, USDA 6b); disease-prone foliage, especially to black spot and powdery mildew, so regular protection is advised in damp seasons. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best on sunny, well-drained sites; space 140–240 cm depending on use; support and tie in canes; deadhead spent blooms; ensure good air circulation and timely fungicide care when needed. |
LOLITA LEMPICKA ® GPT. offers sumptuous deep-pink, strongly scented blooms, impressive climbing height and reliable own-root longevity; consider it if you would like a romantic, long-lived vertical accent in your garden.
