PICCADILLY – yellow-red hybrid tea rose - McGredy
Piccadilly brings a touch of classic London glamour to compact coastal gardens, combining reliable flowering with a well-behaved upright habit that suits small beds or a sunny veranda pot. Its bicolour blooms open in sunshine-yellow with scarlet edges, maturing to softer ruby and cream tones that stay attractive even in breezy weather and light rain, while its bushy, dark green foliage helps anchor planting in exposed spaces near the house where good drainage matters as much as shelter from the strongest gusts. As an own-root rose, it offers reassuring longevity and the ability to regenerate if knocked back by wind or winter, settling in steadily: first focusing on roots, then building shoots, and by the third year giving full ornamental impact with generous, high-centred blooms that cut well for indoor vases. With medium maintenance needs and moderate self-cleaning, you can enjoy its colour without constant deadheading, making it a practical, good-looking choice for busy coastal families.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Compact coastal front garden bed |
The upright, bushy habit and medium height make Piccadilly easy to position near paths or front doors, where its yellow-red bicolour stands out against gravel or shingle and copes well with everyday coastal breeze and rain for busy homeowners. |
| Sunny veranda container (40–60 litres) |
In a large, well-drained pot of at least 40–50 litres, its dense root system stays stable while the dark, glossy foliage and exhibition-style blooms bring structure and colour to a sheltered veranda seating area, with care manageable for beginner gardeners. |
| Small family lawn border focal point |
Planted as a solitary at the recommended wider spacing, the strong, high-centred flowers read clearly from a distance, giving a single “star” plant that anchors mixed grasses or coastal perennials without demanding complex pruning from time-poor families. |
| Cutting corner near the back door |
The XL, pointed buds and long-stemmed, hybrid-tea form are ideal for cutting a few stems for the kitchen table, ensuring regular indoor enjoyment from one bush for many seasons, which appeals to home flower-lovers. |
| Coastal-style mixed bed with resilient companions |
Pair with sea kale, Festuca, low Heuchera or Lavandula for a shingle-inspired mix where Piccadilly’s vivid blooms float above low-textured foliage, creating a relaxed seaside feel with sensible water management and structure for coastal-style enthusiasts. |
| Urban front garden with on-street exposure |
Medium disease resistance, good black spot tolerance and compact size make it suitable for open, kerbside positions where maintenance time is limited but a smart, elegant look is still desired by urban gardeners. |
| Long-term planting in family garden beds |
As an own-root rose, it maintains ornamental value over many years, recovering more readily from winter pruning or accidental damage, so one planting can mature gracefully with the garden, suiting long-term planners. |
| Sheltered coastal seating nook windbreak |
Used in a short row at 40–50 cm spacing, the bushy, upright plants help visually define a nook where you can sit with tea after a windswept walk, while their reliable colour softens the sense of exposure for coastal veranda owners. |
Styling ideas
- Veranda-View Accent – Place one Piccadilly in a 50–60 litre terracotta pot with blue Festuca around the base for a seaside palette framing a bistro set – ideal for coastal veranda owners.
- Shingle-Romantic Border – In a gravel strip by a path, combine Piccadilly with sea kale and low Heuchera for a softly feminine yet robust edge – perfect for informal family gardens.
- Elegant Entrance Pair – Flank a front door with two large containers, underplanting Piccadilly with trailing thyme to contrast glossy foliage and upright blooms – suited to townhouses and mews homes.
- Cutting-and-Tea Corner – Create a small paved bay with a bench and a single Piccadilly backed by Ceanothus, so you can snip stems for a vase after coastal walks – great for hobby gardeners.
- Compact Colour Ribbon – Plant a short, low hedge at 40 cm spacing along a lawn edge, interspersed with small Lavandula for scent and structure – appealing to beginners wanting easy definition.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose group; registered cultivar name MACar, marketed as Piccadilly Hybrid tea rose MACar; ARS exhibition name Piccadilly; collection and exhibition category hybrid tea cut rose. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Samuel Darragh McGredy IV (Samuel McGredy & Son) from ‘McGredy’s Yellow’ × ‘Karl Herbst’; introduced 1959 by Samuel McGredy & Son, Northern Ireland, as an unregistered variety. |
| Awards and recognition |
RNRS Certificate of Merit in 1959, Gold Medal Madrid 1960 and Gold Medal Rome 1960, confirming enduring ornamental value and performance in formal trial gardens and exhibitions. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy, upright plant 80–110 cm high and 60–85 cm wide, with dense, glossy dark green foliage and moderate prickles; medium self-cleaning so some deadheading improves repeat performance. |
| Flower morphology |
Large XL, high-centred, double blooms with 26–30 petals, classic hybrid tea form and pointed buds; typically borne singly on stems, with abundant repeat flowering throughout the season. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Bicolour yellow-red flowers: ARS YR, RHS 13B outer, 45A inner; buds reddish yellow, opening sunshine yellow with scarlet edges, then softening to creamy yellow and ruby to pale pink margins. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Mild, fruity fragrance of restrained intensity; not overpowering near seating areas yet detectable at close range; double flowers offer only moderate pollinator access and are partially pollinator-friendly. |
| Hip characteristics |
Produces a moderate crop of small, spherical, bright red hips about 6–10 mm, which can add seasonal autumn interest if spent blooms are not removed for cutting. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to about −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7, Swedish Zone 3, USDA 6b); medium overall disease resistance with good black spot tolerance and moderate susceptibility to mildew and rust. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in sunny, open sites; moderate water needs with poor drought tolerance; medium maintenance with occasional pest and disease checks; spacing 40–75 cm depending on hedge, mass or specimen use. |
Piccadilly Hybrid tea rose MACar combines compact, upright growth, vivid bicolour blooms and long-lived own-root resilience, making it a thoughtful choice for relaxed coastal or town gardens where you value beauty with reassuring ease.
