MEIZELI – deep pink hybrid tea rose – Meilland
Step out to the front path after a shower and you will find MEIZELI wrapping your garden in perfume, its large, high‑centred blooms glowing in rich, deep pink against glossy foliage that shrugs off Irish rainfall and summer humidity. Bred by Meilland and honoured as the World’s Favourite Rose, this hybrid tea combines exhibition elegance with easy‑care resilience, ideal for a “girly” Dublin terrace or relaxed cottage border. In an own‑root 2‑litre pot it settles in steadily, roots establishing first, then stronger shoots, before reaching full display in the third season. Give it decent drainage on heavier soils and it will reward you year after year with armfuls of scented stems for the vase, a long flowering window, and a quietly reliable presence in the everyday rhythm of family‑garden life.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Feature rose by the front door |
Planted as a single specimen near the entrance, MEIZELI delivers large, high‑centred blooms and a powerful rose‑oil and citrus scent that greets you every time you step outside, suiting fragrance‑loving homeowners. |
| Cut‑flower row in a family garden |
The long, upright stems and XL hybrid tea flowers make it ideal for home cutting, providing repeated flushes of florist‑style blooms from early summer to autumn for busy but creative gardeners. |
| Statement rose in a cottage‑style border |
Deep pink flowers above dark, glossy foliage create a romantic focal point among perennials, giving that “girly” cottage character without fussy care for relaxed, style‑conscious clients. |
| Small rose hedge along a path |
Planted at 55 cm spacing, its upright habit and dense foliage form a low, flower‑lined path edge that looks tailored yet is easy to maintain, ideal for organised but time‑pressed owners. |
| Low‑maintenance family back garden |
Excellent resistance to black spot, mildew and rust means fewer sprays and less worry in damp Irish summers that often bring persistent showers and fungal pressure, reassuring practical beginners. |
| Long‑term structure in a new garden |
As an own‑root rose it ages gracefully, regrowing well from the base if cut back or weather‑damaged, securing lasting value and stability for investment‑minded buyers. |
| Large container on a sunny patio |
In a 40–50 litre pot with good drainage, MEIZELI’s repeat flowering and strong perfume create a portable highlight for terraces or balconies, perfect for urban and rental‑home residents. |
| Showpiece for enthusiasts and exhibitors |
Its award‑winning form and very strong scent, combined with reliable remontant flowering, make it a satisfying variety to grow on for showing or simply admiring, appealing to detail‑oriented rose collectors. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage‑romantic trio – Group MEIZELI with feverfew and airy hare’s‑ear for a soft, lacy underplanting that highlights the deep pink blooms – for lovers of relaxed cottage charm.
- Elegant entrance pair – Flank a front path with two specimens underplanted with low lavender to echo the perfume and structure – for homeowners wanting simple, tidy kerb appeal.
- Cutting‑garden corner – Arrange a small square of MEIZELI with easy annuals behind for filler foliage, giving regular flowers for the vase – for creative gardeners who like homegrown bouquets.
- Patio showstopper – Grow a single plant in a 50‑litre clay pot with gravel mulch for clean lines and easy watering – for urban residents making the most of limited space.
- Rosy hedge accent – Use a short run of plants along a path, interspersed with low catmint, to soften edges while keeping structure – for families seeking beauty with minimal upkeep.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose, registered as MEIzeli, marketed as Meizeli PERFUMELLA and The McCartney Rose; part of the PERFUMELLA collection, premium gold merit rating for garden performance. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Alain Meilland in France in 1988 from (Nirvana × Papa Meilland) × ‘First Prize’; introduced 1992 in France and 1998 in the USA by Meilland International SA. |
| Awards and recognition |
World’s Favourite Rose 1992; multiple gold medals and fragrance awards at Geneva, Monza, The Hague, Le Roeulx and Baden‑Baden between 1988 and 1989 for beauty and scent. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright shrub reaching around 130–170 cm high and 85–115 cm wide, with dense, dark green glossy foliage and moderate prickles; spent blooms need occasional deadheading to stay tidy. |
| Flower morphology |
Very large, high‑centred, pointed buds opening to semi‑double hybrid tea blooms, typically borne singly on stems; petal count about 13–25, with strong remontant and abundant second flush. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Intense deep pink flowers with darker outer petals; colour lightens slightly as blooms open, shading to raspberry‑rose at the edges before fading, maintaining a luminous, uniform effect in flowerbeds. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very strongly scented rose with a classic rose‑oil heart uplifted by citrus notes; fragrance detectable from a distance in still air, especially on mild, humid days and in the evening. |
| Hip characteristics |
Limited hip set due to fuller flowers; when present, produces small, ellipsoidal red hips around 7–11 mm across, adding a discreet autumn accent without dominating the plant’s appearance. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Rated to about −26 to −23 °C (H7, USDA 5b, Swedish zone 4); good resistance to black spot, mildew and rust; needs regular watering and mulched soil to offset low drought tolerance. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with free‑draining soil, especially on heavier clays; space at 55–110 cm depending on use; water consistently in dry spells and deadhead for continued flowering and neat structure. |
MEIZELI combines award‑winning perfume, repeat XL blooms and strong disease resistance in a long‑lived own‑root form that will quietly mature with your garden, making it a thoughtful choice to plant now and enjoy for many seasons ahead.
