The most Beautiful Meilland Roses

Large-flowered rose ‘Black Baccara’: Meilland's blackest rose

It is one of Meilland’s classics: rose ‘Black Baccara’ was initially used by florists as a cut rose before being grown by amateur gardeners. It is a modern shrub rose, related to hybrid tea roses.

Its solitary turbinate flowers, 11 cm in diameter, bear around forty petals. Its incredible flowering blends very dark red, garnet and velvety purple, creating, depending on light, the impression of a mysterious black rose. Flowers then progressively lighten throughout their opening and in sunlight, becoming increasingly red.

Perpetual, this variety flowers from June to September or October. Flowers give off a light rose scent.

Rose ‘Black Baccara’ has a bushy habit and a modest silhouette of 90 cm height by 60 cm spread. Its strong branches carry glossy green foliage.

Cultivation and companion planting of the large-flowered rose ‘Black Baccara’

If rose ‘Black Baccara’ was originally intended for professional florists, that is due to the holding quality of its roses in bouquets: by taking care to cut them a little before ripeness, at bud opening, they will last up to 10 days in a vase.

This rose requires good growing conditions and a little maintenance to thrive: preventive treatments against typical rose diseases (downy mildew, Marssonina, powdery mildew), removal of faded flowers as they go to ensure continuous flowering, regular watering during dry periods, periodic applications of fertiliser.

‘Black Baccara’ thrives in sunny or semi-shaded positions in warm climate of southern France.

Paired with light-coloured flowers or plants with purple foliage (heuchera, carex, creeping bugle or even colocasia ‘Madeira’), its colour will be perfectly showcased.

In a French-style garden, surrounded by box and yews or paired with other mauve-flowering roses, it will also reveal all its aesthetic qualities.

Large-flowered rose 'Lolita Lempicka': powerful, unforgettable fragrance

The rose ‘Lolita Lempicka’ is a modern hybrid tea belonging to the ‘Romantica’ series. It was created in tribute to the stylist and eponymous perfume creator.

Its large solitary double flowers of 12 cm are turbinate and carry between 60 and 70 ruffled petals. They reveal a magnificent magenta or raspberry-pink, which lightens delicately over time.

Its highly scented flowers exude floral notes of woody rose and jasmine, lifted by fruity notes of apricot, apple and lime.

This rose offers abundant perpetual flowering from May until first frosts, continuously if spent blooms are removed as they fade.

Its dark green, semi-matte foliage forms a bushy bush 1 metre in height with a 70 cm spread.

Disease-resistant, it has been awarded at prestigious international competitions in Switzerland and Italy.

Cultivation and pairing of large-flowered rose ‘Lolita Lempicka’

This large-flowered rose will thrive in all types of non-calcareous soil, ideally in rich, well-drained soil. It grows in climates of both northern and southern France, in sunny or partly shaded positions.

Pruning adapted to perpetual roses will allow it to produce abundant flowering.

Its roses are ideal for scented bouquets, accompanied by peonies, iris or lilacs.

The rose ‘Lolita Lempicka’ can be paired in a flowerbed with plants featuring delicate foliage and flowerings in blue or pink tones: grasses, gypsophilas, nepetas, hardy geraniums or campanulas.

It can also be grown in isolation, or in groups of several plants, which will brighten the garden.

(Photo Comin)

Shrub rose ‘Yann Arthus-Bertrand’: a sparkling ode to nature

The ‘Yann Arthus-Bertrand’ rose is dedicated to the eponymous nature defender.

Its wild-rose-style flowers of 5 to 6 cm are single, cup-shaped and borne in abundant clusters. They display an intense pink tending towards coppery orange, set off by a yellow centre and a cluster of handsome red stamens. Their colour tones vary with exposure and soil type.

Its flowers, although unscented, are melliferous and much appreciated by foraging insects.

After flowering from May to October, the rose is adorned with pretty decorative red fruits (rose hips), which in turn are much appreciated by birds.

Vigorous, not very susceptible to disease and very hardy, its qualities have earned it the prestigious and exacting German ADR label, which rewards roses combining, among other things, resistance and aesthetic qualities.

This landscape bush with glossy dark green foliage can reach up to 2 metres in height with a spread of 1 metre.

Cultivation and companion planting of shrub rose ‘Yann Arthus-Bertrand’

The ‘Yann Arthus-Bertrand’ rose is an easy-to-grow variety. It will only require regular watering in case of drought during first years and an application of special rose fertiliser to further encourage flowering.

It will thrive particularly in rich, deep clay-limestone soil.

Its large dimensions will give it plenty of freedom in an informal hedge, accompanied by other shrubs such as dogwoods, hydrangeas, mock orange or spiraeas.

Yellow- or white-flowered roses will also make good companions for this rose.

Climbing rose 'Cocktail': an explosion of colour

The ‘Cocktail’ rose is a remarkable modern variety, belonging to floribunda roses.

Its 6 cm roses are single, cup-shaped, have 5 petals and are borne in clusters. Flowers display a bright red colour, highlighted by a yellow centre and golden stamens. Shades will gradually develop towards a solid magenta red with paler highlights.

This rose will dress gardens with its abundant, almost continuous flowering from June through to autumn, while giving off a light spicy, fruity fragrance.

It is a climbing rose only in southern regions, which will provide enough heat and sun. In more temperate regions, it will be just as charming as a pretty, bright bush with glossy dark green foliage.

Its robust, regular habit reaches 1.5 metres in height and spread, up to 3–4 metres in the Midi or on the southern Atlantic coast.

This rose has won several awards, including the prestigious ‘World’s Favourite Rose’ title at the Hall of Fame in 2015.

Cultivation and companion planting of climbing rose ‘Cocktail’

The ‘Cocktail’ rose is not particular about soil type, provided soil remains moist in summer.

In drought-prone regions, this rose may go into dormancy during the hottest months, which is why semi-shade is preferable. Full sun suits it perfectly in regions north of the Loire.

Note that in humid regions it will be more susceptible to disease and severe frosts, despite hardiness down to -15°C. Choose a sheltered position to protect it from prevailing rain.

Our rose can be trained along a wall, a column, an arch or a pergola.

In a border or informal hedge, it will be accompanied by white or yellow flowers for a lovely colour harmony that keeps centre stage on the rose: phlox, foxgloves, gypsophila, …

In large containers, its silhouette can be controlled to beautify sunny terraces and balconies.

(Photo Gianna Elenna)

Large-flowered rose 'Yves Piaget': retro look combined with unique colour and fragrance

‘Yves Piaget’ rose is a modern hybrid tea shrub, belonging to ‘Romantica’ series, bringing together varieties with beauty of old roses but floribundity and disease-resistance of modern roses.

Its charming large solitary flowers of 15 cm resemble peonies: its 80 dentate petals gather into a deep cup, which takes on an uncommon pink-lilac colour.

Roses diffuse a powerful fragrance reminiscent of old roses, both floral and sweet, with a citrusy hint. This exceptional scent has earned this rose numerous international awards.

Perpetual-flowering, this variety blooms abundantly from May until first frosts.

Its bushy habit reaches 85 cm in height with 50 cm spread, clad in matte green foliage that is particularly disease-resistant, especially in warm, dry climates.

Cultivation and pairing of large-flowered ‘Yves Piaget’ rose

‘Yves Piaget’ rose is hardy, but should ideally be protected in regions with the harshest winters.

Removing faded flowers as they appear will ensure continuous and abundant flowering, as will pruning suited to perpetual-flowering roses at end of season and at end of winter.

Its flowers make beautiful bouquets, lasting 5 to 6 days.

Alone, this rose is grown in groups of 3 or 5 specimens, in borders or beds.

It also pairs well with other plants, such as romantic roses, or perennial plants like lupins, geraniums, bellflowers or delphiniums.