CAPRICE DE MEILLAND ® – deep pink hybrid tea rose - Meilland
Imagine a sheltered coastal corner where you can sit with afternoon tea, protected from brisk breezes by a softly rustling rose hedge that shrugs off wet, changeable weather while anchoring well in heavier garden soils. CAPRICE DE MEILLAND ® brings that scene to life with generous, high‑centred blooms in a vivid deep rose-pink, bred for exhibition yet perfectly at home in compact family gardens and on verandas. Its fragrance is rich and fruity, easily filling a small terrace, while the elegant hybrid-tea flowers appear in repeat flushes from early summer onwards. On its own roots this rose builds quietly from a year of establishing roots, through a second year of more confident shoots, into a third year of mature structure and long-lived display. In a 40–50 litre or larger container it remains pleasingly compact, with upright stems ideal for cutting, giving you reliable colour and scent with modest, straightforward care.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Coastal veranda in large containers |
Ideal for a sunny, sheltered veranda in Cornwall or Devon, this rose handles breezy, damp conditions well when planted in a 40–50 litre pot with free-draining compost, providing upright structure, repeat flowers and perfumed evenings for the time-pressed beginner |
| Small family front garden feature |
Its compact, bushy habit suits modest front gardens, giving a clear focal point without overwhelming paths or windows; own-root vigour supports a long lifespan with simple seasonal pruning, suiting households wanting neat impact with minimal fuss for the busy homeowner |
| Cutting patch or scented border row |
High-centred, long-stemmed blooms are easy to cut for the house, with strong, fruity fragrance that holds well in the vase; repeat-flowering means stems are regularly available all summer, rewarding even casual snipping for the enthusiastic hobby-gardener |
| “Girly” coastal shingle bed |
Deep pink flowers and glossy foliage introduce a playful, feminine note among shingle, timber and grasses; planted with good drainage it copes confidently near the coast, giving structure and colour that feels at home beside sea kale and decking for the coastal-style lover |
| Wind-filtering side return or passage |
Planted as a loose row along a side path, its upright, bushy growth breaks up gusty wind without becoming a dense, high barrier; the repeat-flowering display softens fences and bins, creating a welcoming passage for the practical yet style-conscious gardener |
| Mixed perennial border with grasses |
Works beautifully threaded through Stipa tenuissima or Festuca, where the refined hybrid-tea blooms punctuate soft movement; own-root durability and medium maintenance needs suit borders where you prefer dependable structure over frequent replanting, perfect for the relaxed planner |
| Compact rose hedge or low screen |
At 85–115 cm high with dense foliage, it forms a low, formal line to edge drives or patios; repeat flowering and strong scent add charm to everyday routes around the house, while simple annual trimming keeps it tidy for the time-limited family |
| Clay-based family garden with improved drainage |
In heavier UK soils, a raised or amended bed lets the roots establish securely and manage moisture, giving a stable, long-lived plant that copes well with everyday rain and wind, rewarding basic care with reliable colour for the practical coastal-veranda owner |
Styling ideas
- Coastal-Tea Nook – Place one rose in a 50 litre container beside white bistro chairs, underplanted with trailing thyme to echo the seaside while keeping care simple – ideal for veranda readers.
- Pink-Shingle Drift – In a shingle strip, group three plants with sea kale and low Gypsophila paniculata for a soft, “girly” coastal look – suited to style-led beginners.
- Elegant-Grass Border – Alternate plants with Stipa tenuissima ‘Pony Tails’ so deep-pink blooms rise from a haze of movement – perfect for design-conscious small-garden owners.
- Scented-Pathway Line – Create a low hedge along a front path at 45 cm spacing, where fragrance greets visitors without overwhelming space – good for busy households.
- Cutting-Corner Trio – Cluster three in a sunny border corner with Calamintha ‘Elfin Purple’ for easy-access, perfumed stems for the vase – made for hobby flower arrangers.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose, registered as MEIsionver, marketed as Caprice de Meilland ® Perfumella®; exhibition category hybrid tea; ARS exhibition name Caprice de Meilland. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Alain Antoine Meilland, Meilland International, France; parentage (“Tino Rossi” × “Rendez-Vous”) × “Sonia”; introduced and registered in 1997. |
| Awards and recognition |
Highly decorated scented rose: multiple 1997 fragrance prizes at Bagatelle, Nantes, Le Roeulx and Rome, plus a gold medal in Rome and Rose of the Year in Hamilton, New Zealand. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy, upright shrub 85–115 cm high and 40–60 cm wide with mid-green, slightly glossy dense foliage; moderate thorns; poor self-cleaning so spent blooms benefit from deadheading. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, double, high-centred hybrid-tea blooms with 26–39 petals on mainly solitary stems; repeat-flowering with a particularly good second flush; classic cut-rose appearance. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Uniform, vivid deep rose-pink (RHS 55B outer, 55A inner); buds darker reddish-pink; colour fades only moderately, with slightly paler petal edges while remaining distinctly pink to the end. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very strong, garden-filling scent with fruity, rosy character; primarily ornamental rather than pollinator-oriented, as the double flower form partially covers stamens and limits insect access. |
| Hip characteristics |
Occasionally produces small spherical red hips 8–12 mm in diameter, adding discreet seasonal interest but not generally a dominant ornamental feature of the cultivar. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to about –21 to –18 °C (RHS H7; USDA 6b; Swedish zone 3); medium resistance to powdery mildew, black spot and rust; benefits from good hygiene and occasional preventive treatments. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in sunny positions with fertile, well-drained soil; suitable for borders, specimens, hedging and containers; medium maintenance, requiring watering in dry spells and routine deadheading. |
CAPRICE DE MEILLAND ® offers very strong fragrance, repeat XL blooms and compact, own-root reliability in borders or large containers, making it a thoughtful choice for long-term colour and scent you can simply live with and enjoy.
