PINK PANTHER™ – pink hybrid tea rose (MEIcapinal)
Step outside after a shower and let PINK PANTHER™ set the scene in soft, shimmering shades of coral‑pink that stay cheerful even under Irish skies and the occasional rainfall, its upright, tidy habit suiting both cottage borders and small Dublin front gardens. Large, very double blooms with a classic hybrid tea shape appear repeatedly through the season, offering a medium, distinctly May‑rose fragrance that feels like a short, indulgent outdoor walk. Grown on its own roots for long‑term stability and easy regeneration after any winter knock‑back, this 2‑litre plant is simple to plant, quick to settle, and designed for a long lifespan with just modest care. Give it decent drainage in heavier clay, a sunny spot, and watch it move from root‑building in year one, to stronger shoots in year two, and full garden presence by year three.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Feature rose in a cottage-style front garden |
The upright, medium-tall bush with dense, glossy foliage gives clear structure without overpowering a small plot, ideal beside a path or low wall where the large, classic blooms can be enjoyed up close by the fragrance-loving city homeowner. |
| Cutting rose for vases and gifts |
Long-stemmed, solitary hybrid tea flowers in the 7–10 cm range provide elegant, goblet-shaped blooms with a refined, lasting vase presence, suiting those who like to cut a few stems for the house or share with neighbours as a personal, garden-grown gesture. |
| Low-maintenance statement in a mixed border |
Reliable repeat flowering and a medium maintenance level mean that, once established with good drainage and mulching, this rose keeps performing with basic pruning and occasional spraying, a realistic choice for the busy but quality-conscious family gardener. |
| Romantic, “girly” colour accent near seating |
The warm coral to salmon-pink colour, gently lightening at the petal edges, creates a soft, playful mood beside benches or patios, pairing beautifully with light perennials for those who prefer a feminine, uplifting atmosphere without fussy planting schemes. |
| Weather-resilient rose for exposed Irish gardens |
Good heat and moderate drought tolerance, together with H7 hardiness, allow this variety to cope with cool, windy, changeable conditions and frequent soft rain in Irish gardens, reassuring the practical buyer seeking dependable performance in Atlantic weather. |
| Long-term, own-root specimen shrub |
As an own-root plant, it ages steadily without graft issues, can regenerate from low growth after hard pruning or weather damage, and builds a stable framework over the years, offering peace of mind to those wanting enduring value from a single, cherished rose. |
| Container rose for patios and terraces |
The compact 80–105 cm height and 50–70 cm spread suit a generous pot of at least 40–50 litres with good drainage, allowing balcony or terrace gardeners to enjoy classic blooms and scent close at hand despite limited ground space. |
| Showpiece in a well-prepared rose bed |
ADR certification and multiple European medals attest to its garden and exhibition quality, rewarding careful spacing, mulching and feeding with a steady display of high-class blooms, appealing to enthusiasts who enjoy nurturing a proven, decorated cultivar. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage-curve – Plant PINK PANTHER™ in a gentle arc with Alchemilla mollis and fragrant geraniums for a soft, storybook cottage look – ideal for romantic, fragrance-seeking homeowners.
- Front-door-focus – Flank a Dublin terrace entrance with two matching shrubs for a welcoming, structured display – suited to busy urban gardeners wanting maximum impact from minimal plants.
- Patio-theatre – Grow it in a 50-litre terracotta pot with trailing Ajuga at the base to frame the large blooms – perfect for small-space gardeners who like their roses close to seating areas.
- Cutting-corner – Group three plants in a sunny border section to create a mini cutting patch, underplanted with low perennials – for those who enjoy arranging scented, home-grown flowers indoors.
- Rosy-backdrop – Use a loose row at 45–50 cm intervals as a low, flowery backdrop behind a mixed herbaceous border – aimed at gardeners wanting a tidy, long-term structure without formal hedging.
Technical cultivar profile
| Property | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose, registered as MEIcapinal, marketed as PINK PANTHER™; ARS exhibition name Pink Panther; commercial group Rós taehibride; own-root, 2-litre pharmaROSA® ORIGINAL pot. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Marie-Louise Meilland (Meilland International) from ‘Coppélia 76’ × ‘MEInaregi’; introduced and registered in France in 1981 through Meilland Richardier. |
| Awards and recognition |
ADR-certified (Germany, 1981); gold medal The Hague; silver medals Le Roeulx, Geneva, Monza, Saverne; fragrance award The Hague 1982, confirming high ornamental merit. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright, bushy habit to around 80–105 cm tall and 50–70 cm wide; dense, dark green, glossy foliage; moderately thorny stems; forms a neat, structural shrub in beds or large containers. |
| Flower morphology |
Very double, goblet to cupped hybrid tea blooms, usually solitary on long stems; around 7–10 cm across with 40+ petals; remontant, with a generous second flush in suitable conditions. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Warm coral to salmon-pink with deeper raspberry tones inside; edges soften to powdery, pearly pink as blooms age; colour generally holds well, with contrast varying slightly by temperature. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Medium-strength, distinctly scented rose with classic May-rose character; noticeable at close range in still air, especially from clusters of freshly opened blooms around paths and seating. |
| Hip characteristics |
Occasional small, spherical red hips, about 6–10 mm in diameter; mainly ornamental, appearing sporadically, with limited value for wildlife or decoration compared with the showy flowers. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to about –21 to –18 °C (RHS H7, USDA 6b, Swedish zone 3); tolerates heat and moderate drought with watering in long dry spells; moderate resistance to black spot, mildew and rust. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil; improve heavy clay with organic matter and mulch; spacing 45–90 cm depending on use; medium care needs, including routine pruning and checks. |
PINK PANTHER™ offers classic, fragrant hybrid tea blooms on a compact, award-winning shrub that settles in reliably as an own-root rose, making it a thoughtful choice if you value long-lived, easy-going structure in your garden.
