PRINCESSE DE MONACO® GPT – cream-white-pink climbing rose - Meilland
Imagine stepping outside for a few quiet minutes after the rain, soft Irish light catching the cream‑white blooms of your Princesse de Monaco® GPT as they open again and again along a cottage‑style wall. This large‑flowered climber gives you glamorous, cup‑shaped roses with a ruby‑pink edge, yet remains pleasantly manageable in an average family garden. Its remontant nature means generous repeat flowering through our short summers, so even cool spells do not end the display. On its own roots it settles in steadily for a long lifespan, regenerating well after wind or pruning and keeping its ornamental value without fuss. Plant once, then let it build up from strong Year 1 roots to confident Year 2 shoots and full garden presence by Year 3. With simple attention to drainage, it copes reliably with our heavier soils and regular rainfall, needing only light seasonal maintenance. Ideal trained on a sunny Dublin terrace front or a country cottage gable, this premium gold‑rated climber offers enduring elegance for gardeners who want beauty without complicated routines.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| House wall or Dublin terraced front |
The tall but not over‑vigorous climbing habit and glossy foliage make it perfect for training flat against a warm wall, giving an elegant, welcoming frontage with extra privacy; suited to style‑conscious homeowners. |
| Romantic Irish cottage‑garden arbour |
Remontant flowering with XL, cream‑white‑and‑pink blooms creates a classic, “girly” arch that keeps producing through short Irish summers, so a small family garden enjoys colour for months; ideal for dreamy‑garden beginners. |
| Feature pillar or pergola in family garden |
Medium maintenance and moderate prickliness mean it can be safely trained up a pillar or pergola where children play nearby, with only occasional tying‑in and deadheading needed; good for busy families. |
| Long‑term structure in a clay‑soil garden |
Once established, own‑root growth gives a stable framework that copes well with typical heavy Irish soils if planted into improved, well‑drained holes, rewarding patient gardeners over many years; reassuring for long‑term‑planning owners. |
| Low‑effort vertical accent in small gardens |
The combination of moderate growth, medium maintenance and reasonable winter hardiness offers an easy‑care way to bring height and colour without complex pruning, especially useful where time and space are limited; ideal for time‑poor urbanites. |
| Sheltered coastal or windy suburban spot |
Dense foliage and a flexible climbing framework allow it to be tied securely to supports, so it rides out blustery, damp conditions along Ireland’s western and coastal belts with simple tying and mulching; helpful for weather‑exposed gardeners. |
| Large container on balcony or patio (40–60 L) |
It can be grown in a substantial 40–60 litre container with sturdy support, where moderate maintenance and its own‑root resilience simplify long‑term care and renewal of top growth; attractive for pot‑loving residents. |
| Structured rose and perennial border backdrop |
Clean, cup‑shaped flowers and glossy dark foliage form a refined vertical backdrop above salvias and phlox, bringing dependable form and colour even in showery summers when other climbers sulk; perfect for design‑oriented enthusiasts. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage-arch romance – Train it over a simple wooden arch with Phlox paniculata and woodland sage at the base for a soft, storybook entrance – for lovers of traditional cottage charm.
- Elegant-frontage screen – Fan it along trellis at the boundary of a Dublin terrace, underplanted with compact box or lavender for a neat yet feminine street presence – for tidy, style‑aware homeowners.
- Pastel-pergola walk – Let the large blooms drape from a pergola, mixing in blue globe thistle and airy grasses for contrast and long‑season interest – for relaxed family gardens.
- Container-column focus – In a 50‑litre pot, spiral it up a slim obelisk surrounded by seasonal bedding in cream and blush tones – for balcony or patio decorators.
- Layered-border backdrop – Place it at the rear of a mixed border with salvias and phlox in front, so its cream‑pink flowers float above a tapestry of blues and purples – for colour‑combination enthusiasts.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Climbing large‑flowered rose; registered as MEIbergamu, marketed as Princesse De Monaco® Gpt in the MEILLAND® Classics collection; ARS exhibition name Princesse de Monaco, Cl. |
| Origin and breeding |
Sport of ‘Princesse de Monaco’; bred by Meilland International, Australia 1985; introduced by Meilland Richardier in France in 2014; detailed registration year not documented. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Climbing habit 210–310 cm high and 120–190 cm wide; dense, glossy dark green foliage; moderately thorny canes; self‑cleaning only moderate, so spent blooms usually need removing. |
| Flower morphology |
Very large, double, cup‑shaped solitary blooms over 10 cm; 26–39 petals; remontant with generous second flush; carried mainly singly on stems for a classic exhibition look. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Cream‑white base with pink to carmine edging; buds ivory with pink veil; colours lighten slightly in strong sun; RHS 155C outer, 60C inner; edging may fade as blooms age. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Fragrance very weak, with a fresh, light character only barely noticeable; grown primarily for visual impact and flower form rather than for strong perfume or scented‑garden roles. |
| Hip characteristics |
Rose hips form only slightly due to double blooms; ellipsoidal, about 10–14 mm, orange‑red when ripe; ornamental effect limited and usually secondary to flower display. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to about −34 to −32 °C (USDA 4a, RHS H7, Swedish zone 5); disease resistance moderate to powdery mildew, black spot and rust; needs watering in prolonged dry spells. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best on sunny walls, fences, pergolas or pillars; spacing 140–250 cm depending on use; prefers improved, drained soil; plant as 2‑litre own‑root container and train gradually. |
PRINCESSE DE MONACO® GPT offers repeat XL blooms, moderate maintenance and long own-root resilience, making it a refined choice for Irish walls and pergolas you may happily live with for years.
