CARINA® – pink hybrid tea rose – Meilland
Imagine stepping onto your coastal veranda after a breezy walk, the air carrying a hint of salt while CARINA® greets you with classic high‑centred blooms and a strong rose perfume. This compact, upright, hybrid tea settles comfortably into small family gardens, coping steadily with brisk seaside winds and exposed conditions with reliable poise as it is well adapted to breezy, salt‑kissed British plots. Its non‑remontant, once‑a‑year display becomes an anticipated event, delivering a flush of clear mid‑pink flowers that hold their colour beautifully, even in bright sun. On its own roots it offers reassuring longevity, recovering well from pruning and weather, so there is less to worry about season by season. In a 40–50 litre container or a free‑draining coastal bed, it anchors quickly and rewards simple care, moving from root‑building to strong shoots and then full ornamental impact over its first three years.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Coastal veranda container, 40–50 L |
A single CARINA® in a large, stable container brings high‑centred, florist‑style blooms up to nose level, while the compact, upright habit fits neatly on a veranda and handles brisk seaside winds and exposed conditions with reliable poise; low pruning needs suit busy veranda owners |
| Small front garden focal point |
Planted as a specimen near the front door, its once‑a‑year, mid‑pink display becomes a seasonal highlight, with strong fragrance greeting you as you come and go, yet the bush stays modest in size and needs only light, annual shaping for time‑pressed homeowners |
| Mixed coastal border with grasses |
In a free‑draining border with Festuca and sea kale, CARINA® adds structured, high‑centred blooms and dark green foliage, while its disease resistance and own‑root resilience reduce spraying and replacement, creating a steady backdrop for low‑maintenance gardeners |
| “Girly” pink seating nook |
Clustered near a bench, its uniform, medium pink flowers and classic shape give a soft, feminine accent; even though it blooms once, the strong scent and elegant form make that period special, with minimal deadheading required for romantic tea‑drinkers |
| Urban courtyard in partial shade |
CARINA® tolerates partial shade, so a light, sheltered courtyard still benefits from its clear colour and scent; own‑root growth and modest height keep it manageable in tight spaces with only basic feeding and watering needed by city‑flat residents |
| Formal bed with repeated spacing |
Planted at regular intervals, its upright habit and similar flower size create a calm rhythm along paths or drives; good disease resistance and simple pruning keep the line smart without frequent intervention, ideal for order‑loving planners |
| Low‑input family back garden |
In an average family garden, CARINA® offers reliable structure and a single, generous flush without demanding constant attention; own‑root durability means it copes better with children, pets and occasional neglect, reassuring busy family gardeners |
| Parklet or communal planting strip |
Used in small community beds or street‑side borders, its ADR‑rated health and once‑blooming cycle limit maintenance visits; sturdy, upright growth and moderate thorns discourage trampling while still looking welcoming for communal‑space caretakers |
Styling ideas
- Seaside veranda pot – one CARINA® in a 50 L tub with blue Festuca and white sea kale for a salty, breezy look – ideal for coastal balcony owners
- Pink tea corner – plant beside a bistro set, underplant with lavender and pale pelargoniums to echo its perfume – for afternoon tea enthusiasts
- Formal rhythm – repeat CARINA® at the recommended spacing along a path, edging with low silver Artemisia – suited to lovers of classic structure
- Soft coastal mix – combine with sea thrift and Calamintha for a shingle‑style front garden that needs minimal fuss – perfect for hands‑off homeowners
- Court-yard accent – grow in a tall container with white Physostegia and trailing ivy to brighten a shaded wall – for compact urban garden keepers
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose, florists rose; registered as MEIchim, traded as CARINA® hybrid tea rose MEIchim, ARS exhibition name Carina; collection and commercial group hybrid tea rose. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Alain Meilland, Meilland International, France, from ‘White Knight’ × (‘Happiness’ × ‘Independence’); introduced 1963 via Conard‑Pyle (Star Roses), with USPTO patent granted 1964. |
| Awards and recognition |
Genoa First Prize 1966 and ADR certification 1966, signalling strong garden performance, proven health and reliable ornamental value under independent European trial conditions. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright bush, 80–110 cm tall, 50–70 cm spread, moderately thorny with moderately dense, dark green foliage; moderate self‑cleaning, some spent blooms requiring occasional manual removal. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, very double, solitary, high‑centred hybrid tea blooms with pointed buds; over 40 petals; classic cut‑rose form on sturdy stems, non‑remontant with a single main flowering period. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Clear, vivid mid‑pink (RHS 55B outer, 55C inner); buds deep pink, opening to bright medium pink, later softening to powder‑pink, with very good colour retention and minimal fading in strong sunlight. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strong, classic rose fragrance noticeable at a short distance, evoking traditional hybrid tea scent; very double flowers limit nectar access, so pollinator attraction is generally low. |
| Hip characteristics |
Due to full, double blooms, hips are sparse; when present they are small, spherical, orange‑red, about 10–14 mm diameter, adding occasional late‑season decorative interest. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Rated resistant to powdery mildew, black spot and rust; hardy to approximately −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7, USDA 6b, Swedish zone 3); moderate heat tolerance but requires irrigation in prolonged drought. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Suitable for beds, borders, parks and urban plantings; plant at 50–90 cm spacing; prefers well‑drained soil, regular watering in dry spells and light annual pruning; maintenance needs are generally low. |
CARINA® hybrid tea rose MEIchim offers a single, sumptuous season of strongly scented pink blooms on a healthy, compact bush, with the long‑term reliability and easy upkeep you expect from an own‑root rose, making it a thoughtful choice for your garden.
