Les Quatre Saisons, close-up of the flower
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Ground cover; landscape roseMeilland, 2003Pink

Les Quatre Saisons

A nostalgic pink ground-cover rose, named after Vivaldi's «The Four Seasons».

Romantica®

Variety profileGardeners' photos

Variety profile

Flowering

Repeat flowering

Continuous repeat flowering, June until frost. Months are approximate, for the climate of Ukraine.

Awards

ADR 2003

+ Gold, Baden-Baden 2003 · Silver, Bagatelle (Paris) 2004

Winter hardiness

−20 °C

Good winter hardiness (exact zone not officially stated). ≈ USDA zone 6; good winter hardiness (exact zone not officially stated).

Compare reference temperatures

Plant size

60–80 cm
person 170 cm60–80 cm
Habit
A spreading, trailing «cushion» with flexible arching canes; can be trained as a small weeping standard
Dimensions
60–80 cm tall; one bush covers more than 1 m²
Support
Not required; especially striking grafted as a weeping (cascading) standard
Shoots
Flexible, arching, cascading
Branching
Dense, even

Flower

6–8 cm
Bud shape
Round
Open flower
Very double, nostalgic, flat quartered rosette; diameter 6–8 cm
Centre
Tightly packed with petals, quartered
Fullness
Very double, about 100 petals
Flower carriage
In sprays of 2–5 flowers
Flower durability
Abundant, long-lasting flowering; flowers hold well

Fragrance

Light

Light (almost absent, typical for landscape varieties).

Disease resistance

5 out of 5

Excellent (ADR); grows without treatments.

Sun

Sun + partial shade

Undemanding; flowers well even in light, airy partial shade.

Thorns

Moderate
thornlessfewmoderatemanyvery many

Moderate number (few precise data).

Foliage

Dense, glossy, dark green.

Other names

Breeder's code MEIfafio.

All characteristics in a table
Group
Ground cover; landscape rose
Breeder
Meilland, 2003
Bud shape
Round
Open flower
Very double, nostalgic, flat quartered rosette; diameter 6–8 cm
Centre
Tightly packed with petals, quartered
Colour
Pink, from light to bright
Fullness
Very double, about 100 petals
Flower carriage
In sprays of 2–5 flowers
Flowering
Continuous repeat flowering, June until frost
Fragrance
Light (almost absent, typical for landscape varieties)
Flower durability
Abundant, long-lasting flowering; flowers hold well
Habit
A spreading, trailing «cushion» with flexible arching canes; can be trained as a small weeping standard
Branching
Dense, even
Shoots
Flexible, arching, cascading
Thorns
Moderate number (few precise data).
Dimensions
60–80 cm tall; one bush covers more than 1 m²
Support
Not required; especially striking grafted as a weeping (cascading) standard
Foliage
Dense, glossy, dark green
Resistance
Excellent (ADR); grows without treatments
Use
Slopes, retaining walls, solid ground cover, standards, borders

Colour scheme

Pink, from light to bright

Rose neighbours

Bonicasoft pinkThe Fairylight pinkLarissasoft pinkIcebergpure white · contrast

Perennials to plant nearby

CatmintblueSagepurplePerovskiablue-purpleLavenderlavender

Neighbouring roses

Pink landscape and ground-cover roses keep the same soft tone and the same easy care around Les Quatre Saisons.

BonicaThe FairyLarissaIceberg

Companion perennials

Blue and lavender perennials highlight the pink, while silver-green foliage frames the spreading bush:

catmintsageperovskialavender

Contrasting accents

For depth beside the pink ground cover, darker roses or purple foliage:

Knock Outpurple heucheracatmint

More about the variety

Use
Slopes, retaining walls, solid ground cover, standards, borders

How to grow

Where to plant. Slopes and banks, on top of and at the foot of retaining walls (it cascades downward), solid ground cover, borders, large plantings. Very striking grafted as a weeping standard.

Climate. Good winter hardiness (≈ USDA 6, down to ≈ −20 °C); it overwinters reliably in most of Ukraine and needs protection only in the coldest regions.

Care. One of the easiest varieties to look after: ADR-certified, grows without treatments. Pruning is minimal (spring thinning only). Ideal for large areas and «plant it and forget it».

About the name

Name. «Les Quatre Saisons» — «The Four Seasons» (French); a reference to Antonio Vivaldi's famous cycle. The name highlights the long, «all-season» flowering.

Breeding. Raised by the House of Meilland (France), code MEIfafio; introduced in 2003 in the Romantica® series (nostalgic flower form). International trade name: Pink Swany® (not to be confused with the white Swany; it is a different variety). Awards: ADR (Germany, 2003), Gold Medal of Baden-Baden (2003), Silver Landscape Medal at Bagatelle, Paris (2004). It combines the old quartered flower with the simplicity and hardiness of a modern ground-cover rose.

Frequently asked questions about Les Quatre Saisons

Does Les Quatre Saisons need winter protection?

The cultivar’s reference temperature is −20 °C. Overwintering depends on the conditions. Good winter hardiness (exact zone not officially stated).

How many times a season does Les Quatre Saisons flower?

Continuous repeat flowering, June until frost.

How big does Les Quatre Saisons grow?

60–80 cm tall.

Which diseases affect Les Quatre Saisons?

Overall resistance: 5 out of 5. Excellent: ADR certified, grows without chemical treatments.

How much sun does Les Quatre Saisons need?

Sun + partial shade; undemanding; flowers well even in light, airy partial shade.

What does Les Quatre Saisons smell like?

Light (almost absent, typical for landscape varieties).

Gardeners' photos and reviews

My climate

Choose a reference temperature to compare with the cultivar’s data. This is not an overwintering forecast or advice on winter protection; consider wind, moisture and the duration of frost.

Regional data are generalised. USDA describes average annual extreme minima, not a forecast; the values in the list are rounded. Check the conditions at your site. More information: Roses in Ukraine's climate.