QUATRE SAISONS® – mid-pink historic Damask rose – Meilland
Bring a touch of romantic cottage-garden charm to your front path or terrace with QUATRE SAISONS®, a mid-pink Damask whose name honours its almost four-season flowering. This historic shrub settles reliably even in our cool summers and frequent showers, coping well with breezy, rain-laden conditions along the coast and inland. Large, cupped, semi-double blooms in a gentle, silvery mid-pink appear in generous flushes, followed by a lighter second display, creating a lived-in, familiar character that suits older Dublin terraces and rural cottages alike. Its very strong, classic Damask fragrance carries on damp air and fills small gardens with perfume, while semi-double flowers still offer a moderate welcome to visiting pollinators. As an own-root shrub it is bred for longevity, regrowing faithfully from the base after hard pruning or weather damage, so you can simply plant, mulch, water in dry spells and enjoy, as roots anchor it in the first year, top growth builds in the second, and by the third season it reaches full ornamental presence.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Front garden focal shrub |
Plant near a doorway or front window to make the most of its very strong Damask scent and generous, cupped mid-pink flowers, creating that “girly” cottage feel with minimal fuss for busy homeowners and beginners. |
| Informal cottage-style border |
Use in a mixed border with perennials to enjoy its remontant, historic-style flowering, where the lighter second flush blends naturally into relaxed, slightly wild plantings, ideal for nature-oriented gardeners. |
| Small family lawn edge |
Its bushy, moderately tall habit makes a soft, romantic boundary along paths or lawn edges, giving colour at child’s-eye level without demanding complex pruning, well suited to time-pressed families. |
| Own-root long-term planting |
As an own-root shrub it lives and regrows from its own wood, keeping shape and bloom quality stable for years with simple annual pruning, rewarding patient owners. |
| Atlantic-influenced coastal gardens |
This variety copes reliably with our rain-cooled summers and moist, breeze-swept conditions, so flowers and foliage remain attractive where other roses may sulk, reassuring coastal and west-facing gardeners. |
| Lightly managed urban green spaces |
Medium disease resistance and good winter hardiness mean it stays presentable with only occasional care, suiting small shared courtyards or planted strips for low-maintenance urban users. |
| Pollinator-friendly mixed planting |
Semi-double blooms offer moderate pollen access while the long flowering window provides repeated foraging opportunities, especially when paired with verbena or daylilies for wildlife-minded buyers. |
| Large container on terrace or balcony |
In a 40–50 litre pot with good drainage it becomes a fragrant, mid-pink feature close to seating, letting you enjoy historic-rose character even without a big garden, perfect for compact-space residents. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage-Romantic – Underplant with daylilies and soft grasses for a loose, old-world border – for lovers of relaxed Irish cottage charm
- Front-Door – Flank a path with two shrubs and low lavender edging for a scented welcome – for homeowners wanting impact from the street
- Terrace-Pot – Grow in a 40–50 litre clay pot with trailing thyme for texture – for balcony and patio rose enthusiasts
- Wildlife-Mingle – Combine with verbena and Persicaria for a gently buzzing, soft-pink wildlife corner – for nature-oriented gardeners
- Historic-Hedge – Plant as a loose, flowering hedge along a boundary or drive – for those seeking period character around older homes
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
QUATRE SAISONS® historic Damask shrub rose; commercial group Rós stairiúil; introduced by Meilland International for gardens seeking an old-rose look with remontant flowering. |
| Origin and breeding |
Historic Damask type with unknown parentage; bred by Alain Meilland, Meilland International, France; breeding line traces to 1633, introduced and registered for wider use in 2003. |
| Awards and recognition |
Highly decorated: Baden-Baden Gold Medal 2003, ADR certification 2003, Paris Bagatelle Silver Medal 2004 and The Hague Certificate of Merit 2006 for garden performance and bloom quality. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy shrub 100–170 cm high and 90–150 cm wide, with moderately dense, matte light-green foliage and dense prickles; forms a substantial, traditional-looking rose bush over several seasons. |
| Flower morphology |
Semi-double cupped flowers, 4–7 cm across, borne in clusters; 13–25 petals with a flat-opening form; remontant with a generous first flush and a lighter, but still noticeable, second flowering. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Mid-pink blooms with silvery sheen; ARS MP, RHS 65C–65D; colour holds well then fades to pastel or creamy pink, giving a soft, antique effect as clusters age across the season. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very strong, garden-filling fragrance with classic Damask character, especially noticeable in still, humid air; well suited to paths, terraces and seating areas where scent can be fully appreciated. |
| Hip characteristics |
Sparse rose-hip set; occasional ovoid, orange-red hips 14–22 mm across may develop, adding discreet late-season interest without significantly reducing flowering performance for display. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to about −32 to −29 °C (USDA 4b, RHS H7, Swedish Zone 5); medium resistance to black spot, powdery mildew and rust; benefits from good air circulation and basic hygiene. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in sunny sites with well-drained soil; space 95–170 cm depending on use; suitable for beds, edging, slopes, large containers, parks and urban greens; moderate maintenance with occasional treatments. |
QUATRE SAISONS® rewards you with romantic mid-pink blooms, powerful Damask scent and dependable repeat flowering, while its own-root habit supports long-term resilience and easy care, making it a thoughtful choice for your garden.
