EDITH PIAF® – ruby-red tea-hybrid rose – Meilland
Imagine late afternoon light glancing off the sea while your veranda is sheltered by glossy foliage and ruby blooms: EDITH PIAF® brings a deeply romantic, yet practical accent to compact coastal gardens where reliable anchoring and drainage matter on breezy, shingle plots. This hybrid tea offers generous, repeat-flowering performance from large, velvety blooms with a sweetly fruity, old-rose fragrance, perfect for cutting and enjoying indoors after a walk along the shore. Own-root planting supports a long-lived, resilient framework with steady ornamental value and the ability to regenerate if the wind ever snaps a cane. Year by year it settles in – first strengthening roots, then building shoots, and by the third season delivering its full, luxuriant display with minimal fuss for the beginner or time-pressed coastal owner who wants reliable summer colour, elegant structure and a touch of classic French glamour.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Small coastal flower bed near a seating area |
Compact, upright growth and dense foliage make this rose well suited to modest beds by a terrace or veranda, where its large, velvety blooms are easily appreciated at eye level on breezy Cornish or Devon plots; ideal for the busy homeowner. |
| Cutting patch for home bouquets |
Its XL, very double, solitary flowers on strong, upright stems are bred as an exhibition hybrid tea, giving you long-stemmed, ruby-red blooms with powerful, long-lasting perfume for vases and table arrangements, perfect for the home entertainer. |
| Feature rose in a container on a sheltered veranda |
Planted in a 40–50 litre container with good drainage, its upright habit, dark foliage and repeat-flowering display create a vertical accent that copes well with sun and wind when watered regularly, especially useful for the veranda gardener. |
| Mixed border with coastal-tolerant perennials |
Medium height and a clear, ruby-red colour slot easily between blue-grey grasses and silvery foliage, while own-root stability helps it settle on light or stony soils in exposed gardens by the sea, valuable for the coastal stylist. |
| Partial-shade corner of a family garden |
Suitable for partial shade, this variety keeps its colour well and continues to repeat flower, making it a good option beside taller shrubs or a lightly shaded fence where other roses might sulk, reassuring for the tentative beginner. |
| Solitary specimen near a path or doorway |
Strong, sweetly fruity scent and striking, velvety petals are best appreciated close up, so a single plant by steps or a front gate provides fragrance as you pass and a welcoming focal point for the arrival-conscious owner. |
| Informal low hedge along a sheltered boundary |
Planted at closer spacing, its upright habit and glossy, dark green leaves form a low, flower-laced barrier that gives structure for many years thanks to the regenerative nature of own-root plants, helpful for the long-term planner. |
| Roses for heavy clay beds with improved drainage |
Once drainage is improved, its own-root system anchors well, building a durable framework that endures typical UK winters and summer showers on heavier soils, supporting gardeners seeking a rose that copes with such conditions for the practical improver. |
Styling ideas
- Veranda Elegance – Grow in a 40–50 litre pot with pale decking furniture and lanterns so the ruby blooms and perfume frame your coastal-style seating – for balcony and veranda owners.
- Romantic Gateway – Plant as a pair flanking a path, underplanted with low Festuca and sea kale to contrast velvety petals and airy grasses – for those who love classic entrances.
- Sunset Cutting Strip – Line a narrow bed with EDITH PIAF® and repeat-flowering perennials, giving a steady supply of scented stems – for home florists and bouquet makers.
- Coastal Mix – Combine with silvery Lavandula and Lonicera pileata groundcover to echo shingle tones and glossy foliage – for coastal-style gardeners wanting easy harmony.
- Partial-Shade Nook – Tuck one into a dappled corner with Penstemon and Monarda to extend colour and scent where space is tight – for small family gardens needing impact.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose, registered as MEIramboys, marketed as EDITH PIAF® PERFUMELLA®; exhibition category hybrid tea for garden and cutting use, authenticity verified for vivianarose.co.uk. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Meilland International, United States breeding work c. 1999; introduced and registered in 2007 by Meilland Richardier, continuing the French perfumed rose tradition. |
| Awards and recognition |
Highly decorated fragrance rose: Grand Prix International du Parfum Nantes 2005, Monza fragrance prize 2004, bronze medal Australia 2008, silver medal Alterarosa 2016. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright, medium-height bush 70–100 cm tall and 45–60 cm wide, with dense, glossy dark green foliage and moderate thorns; self-cleaning is weak, so deadheading is recommended. |
| Flower morphology |
Very double, XL hybrid tea blooms with 40+ petals, borne mainly singly on stems; cup-shaped flowers with a pronounced central elevation and generous repeat-flowering habit. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Deep, velvety ruby-red flowers with strawberry-red tints at petal edges; colour holds well in sun, only slightly lightening and sometimes acquiring a purplish tone as blooms age. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strong, long-lasting perfume combining sweetly fruity facets with a notable old-rose character; bred specifically for scent and recognised internationally for its aromatic quality. |
| Hip characteristics |
Hip set generally poor due to very double blooms and routine deadheading; where formed, hips are small, spherical, 10–14 mm in diameter and orange-red in late season. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Medium disease resistance to black spot, mildew and rust; hardy to approximately −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7, USDA 6b, Swedish zone 3) with regular watering in hot, dry spells. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Suitable for beds, specimens, hedging, containers and terraces; plant 40–80 cm apart depending on effect, allow 4–4.6 plants/m², and give routine deadheading plus occasional protection. |
EDITH PIAF® MEIramboys offers richly scented ruby-red blooms, compact upright growth and the long-lived reliability of an own-root rose, making it a thoughtful choice for those planning a lasting, characterful garden.
