MEIZELI – deep pink hybrid tea rose - Meilland
This celebrated hybrid tea has the poise of an exhibition rose with the practicality of a modern garden shrub, making it an easy choice for coastal veranda or small family plot where you want reliable colour rather than constant tasks. Large, high‑centred blooms in a rich deep pink carry an exceptionally strong fragrance with notes of rose oil and citrus, ideal beside a seating area for evening tea after a windy walk. Its upright, well‑clothed growth and dark, glossy foliage create a refined backdrop that copes well with brisk sea breezes and damp, maritime weather while still looking polished. Grown on its own roots, this premium gold‑rated rose builds a long‑lived, stable framework that regenerates well and keeps its ornamental value year after year, with an easy development arc as it focuses on roots in the first year, strong shoots in the second and full garden impact by the third, so you enjoy a dependable, low‑maintenance feature in even the busiest household garden.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Coastal family flowerbed near a seating area |
The very strong perfume carries well on the breeze, so one or two plants close to a bench or terrace will scent the air without needing a large border, suiting compact coastal gardens and low‑input homeowners |
| Specimen rose in a small front garden |
Its upright habit and dark, glossy foliage give a tidy, vertical accent that fits neatly into a narrow bed, offering a smart welcome at the front of the house for time‑pressed beginners |
| Cut flower source by the veranda or back door |
Extra‑large, high‑centred blooms on strong stems are ideal for vases, allowing you to cut armfuls of scented flowers just a step from the house, a simple pleasure for creative hobby‑gardeners |
| Own-root anchor plant in a windy Cornish border |
As an own‑root shrub it gradually forms a resilient framework that reshoots well after bad weather, providing long‑term structure and stability for exposed plots close to the sea for coastal‑style gardeners |
| Mixed bed with sea kale and ornamental grasses |
Its strong colour and clean foliage contrast beautifully with sea kale and blue fescues, creating a relaxed, seaside look that still feels refined and easy to manage for design‑conscious couples |
| Large patio container on a sheltered balcony |
In a 40–50 litre pot with good drainage, it offers season‑long blooms and scent without taking much ground space, ideal for balconies or roof terraces tended by busy urban residents |
| Low‑maintenance family border with children and pets |
Good disease resistance keeps the foliage looking healthy with minimal spraying or fuss, so the plant stays attractive through the season in a play‑friendly border for practical parents |
| Sheltered spot in a damp, breezy garden |
Performs reliably where strong winds and frequent rain are common, provided the soil drains freely and watering is regular, making it a sound choice for exposed western plots and coastal owners |
Styling ideas
- Seaside-Tea Nook – Pair MEIZELI with sea kale and pale Festuca in a shingle bed beside a bench for scented tea breaks after beach walks – ideal for coastal veranda owners
- Front-Door Welcome – Use a single plant as a focal point in a small front bed with low lavender edging to greet visitors with colour and perfume – suited to busy homeowners
- Elegant-Cut Corner – Plant two or three roses near the back door with simple gravel underplanting, giving easy access to long‑stemmed blooms for vases – perfect for home florists
- Patio-Showpiece Pot – Grow one plant in a 40–50 litre container with trailing sea‑themed annuals to frame a sunny balcony or terrace – practical for urban balcony gardeners
- Family-Border Ribbon – Space a loose row along a lawn edge, interplanted with airy feverfew, for a fragrant yet easy‑care strip – great for relaxed family gardens
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose, registered as MEIzeli, traded as Meizeli PERFUMELLA and known in exhibitions as ‘The McCartney Rose’; part of the PERFUMELLA collection for strongly scented cultivars. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Alain Meilland in France from (Nirvana × Papa Meilland) × ‘First Prize’; introduced by Meilland International in 1992 in France and 1998 in the USA after 1991 registration. |
| Awards and recognition |
Highly decorated fragrance rose with multiple gold medals across Geneva, Monza, The Hague and Le Roeulx, plus World’s Favourite Rose status awarded in 1992 for worldwide garden merit. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Strong, upright shrub reaching about 130–170 cm high and 85–115 cm wide, with dense, dark glossy foliage and moderate thorns; forms a well‑clothed structure when spaced appropriately. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, high‑centred, pointed buds open to semi‑double, exhibition‑type blooms borne singly on stems; petal count around 13–25, with reliable remontant flowering and a notably abundant second flush. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Deep pink blooms with ARS code DP and RHS 57A outer, 53C inner; colour lightens slightly as flowers open, developing raspberry‑rose tones towards the petal edges before finally fading. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very strong, distance‑carrying perfume dominated by classic rose oil notes overlaid with bright citrus accents; designed as a fragrance rose for sensory borders, terraces and cut‑flower use. |
| Hip characteristics |
Limited hip set due to flower form; when present, produces small red, ellipsoid hips about 7–11 mm in diameter, adding modest late‑season interest without significant self‑seeding. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Shows good resistance to black spot, powdery mildew and rust under normal garden care; reliably hardy to about −26 to −23 °C, matching RHS H7 and USDA zone 5b performance expectations. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with regular watering and free‑draining soil; space 55–110 cm depending on use, and consider 40–50 litre containers for patio culture, with light deadheading to tidy spent blooms. |
MEIZELI offers sumptuous, strongly scented deep pink blooms, an upright, space‑saving habit and long‑term stability from its own‑root form; consider it if you enjoy refined flowers without complex maintenance.
