QUATRE SAISONS® – mid-pink historic Damask rose - Meilland
Bring a sense of coastal refreshment to your garden with QUATRE SAISONS®, a mid-pink historic Damask shrub rose that feels at home in breezy, seaside-inspired spaces and family plots alike, anchoring beds even where winds and showers regularly shape the day. Its very strong, classic Damask fragrance adds everyday pleasure, while remontant flowering offers repeated colour from early summer onwards, the clustered blooms inviting a gentle stream of wildlife into your space. As an own-root plant, it offers reassuring longevity and reliable regrowth after pruning, rewarding you with a steady rise from root-building in the first season through sturdier shoots in the second and a full, settled ornamental presence by the third. In a 40–50 litre container on a veranda or on a sheltered slope above shingle, its bushy structure and moderately dense, matt foliage bring old-world character to compact, easy-care seaside or town gardens without demanding expert attention.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Coastal veranda or balcony container (40–50 litres) |
QUATRE SAISONS® performs well in a generous 40–50 litre pot, where its bushy habit and repeat mid‑pink flowering create a sheltered tea corner with historic charm and minimal fuss for beginners and busy veranda owners |
| Small family flower bed near seating |
The very strong, garden‑filling Damask fragrance makes this rose ideal beside a bench or patio, giving everyday sensory reward from early summer onwards with only moderate routine care for family gardeners seeking easy indulgence |
| Informal hedge or low windbreak |
Its bushy, 100–170 cm habit and dense prickliness allow QUATRE SAISONS® to knit into a loose, slightly protective hedge that filters breezes and frames shingle or lawn in changeable, rainy coastal weather for homeowners wanting gentle structure |
| Mixed historic border with perennials |
Mid‑pink, semi‑double clusters work beautifully with airy perennials such as verbena and daylilies, creating a soft, timeless look that feels curated yet natural for romantic style enthusiasts |
| Wildlife-friendly corner in a family garden |
Semi‑double flowers with 13–25 petals moderately attract pollinators, while occasional orange‑red hips add extra seasonal interest, supporting a more animated yet manageable garden scene for nature-aware but time-poor gardeners |
| Gently sloping bank or ground-cover drift |
Used in groups, its spreading 90–150 cm width helps clothe lighter slopes with matt, light‑green foliage and repeat flower clusters, softening hard levels while keeping maintenance practical for owners of awkward, uneven plots |
| Urban front garden with historic character |
Medium height, bushy growth and long‑lasting mid‑pink colour lend a quietly formal accent to town gardens, giving a heritage feel without complex pruning regimes for urban gardeners seeking low-effort elegance |
| Long-term feature rose in a family bed |
As an own-root shrub with ADR-level performance, it offers dependable structure and regrowth year after year, gradually settling into a stable focal point even where winds and showers frequently test plantings for practical homeowners planning for the long term |
Styling ideas
- Seaside Veranda Nook – position a 40–50 litre container by a sheltered wall, underplant with silvered Festuca and a pale gravel mulch – ideal for coastal-style lovers seeking low-effort charm
- Historic Cottage Border – mix QUATRE SAISONS® with daylilies and soft blue perennials for a gently nostalgic edge to a lawn – suited to gardeners wanting traditional looks without formal rose-care skills
- Fragrant Front Path – line a path with loosely spaced shrubs, allowing scented air to drift towards the door – perfect for families who want everyday fragrance on the school and work run
- Soft Slope Planting – repeat-plant across a gentle bank, weaving in Persicaria and ornamental grasses to stabilise and soften levels – for homeowners taming tricky changes of level with minimal maintenance
- Urban Courtyard Feature – use a single shrub as a focal point in a small bed, paired with low lavender edging for colour and scent – aimed at busy city dwellers wanting one reliable statement rose
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
QUATRE SAISONS® is a historic Damask shrub rose marketed by Meilland; the French name, “The Four Seasons”, refers to its remontant, repeatedly flowering habit in the garden. |
| Origin and breeding |
Historic Damask type of unknown parentage, selected and reintroduced by Meilland International (France); bred by Alain Meilland and commercially launched and registered in 2003. |
| Awards and recognition |
Holder of ADR certification (Germany, 2003); awarded Gold Medal at Baden-Baden 2003, Silver Medal at Paris Bagatelle 2004 and a Certificate of Merit at The Hague in 2006. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy shrub 100–170 cm high and 90–150 cm wide, with moderately dense, matt light‑green foliage and dense prickliness; forms an upright yet softly rounded structure suited to beds and informal hedging. |
| Flower morphology |
Semi-double, cupped to flat-opening blooms with 13–25 petals, borne mainly in clusters of medium-sized flowers (approximately 4–7 cm), providing a traditional historic-rose appearance with good garden presence. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Uniform mid-pink with a subtle silvery undertone; colour holds reasonably well, then fades to pastel or creamy pink towards fall; remontant habit, though the second flowering flush is lighter than the first. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very strong, classic Damask perfume that fills the surrounding garden space in warm weather, providing a rich, traditional scent experience especially effective near seating areas or paths. |
| Hip characteristics |
Sparse hip set; occasional ovoid hips 14–22 mm across develop, turning orange-red as they mature and adding discreet late-season interest without overwhelming the plant’s overall appearance. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to approximately −32 to −29 °C (RHS H7; USDA 4b; Swedish Zone 5); medium resistance to black spot, mildew and rust; tolerates summer heat but benefits from irrigation during prolonged dry spells. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in sunny sites with well-drained soil; suitable for beds, slopes, containers and urban plantings at 95–170 cm spacing; moderate maintenance, with routine deadheading and occasional health monitoring advised. |
QUATRE SAISONS® offers very strong Damask fragrance, repeat mid-pink flowering and dependable own-root longevity in beds or large containers, making it a thoughtful choice for relaxed, long-term planting plans.
