Palais Royal, close-up of the flower
Photo: Thomon, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Large-Flowered Climber; climbing; Romantica series; white form of EdenMeilland, 2005White and cream

Palais Royal

The white 'sister' of the famous Pierre de Ronsard; named after the Palais-Royal palace and garden in Paris; the same lush 'Eden-type' form, just milky white; an aristocratic, stately climber of the Romantica series.

White Eden / Eden Blanc · sport of the legendary Pierre de Ronsard (WFRS Hall of Fame 2006)

Variety profileGardeners' photos

Variety profile

Flowering

Repeat, in flushes

Repeat-flowering (remontant), in flushes from May–June until the frosts; very good for a climber. Months are approximate, for the climate of Ukraine.

Legacy

Eden family

The white form of the 'world's favourite rose'

Winter hardiness

−23 °C

USDA zone 6b–9b. Light winter protection in the coldest zones.

Compare reference temperatures

Plant size

200–300 × 150–200 cm
person 170 cm200–300 cm
Habit
A powerful climber with sturdy canes; establishes slowly, like Eden, and needs about 3 years to get going
Dimensions
2–3 m tall × 1.5–2 m wide; a large climber for an arch, pergola, pillar or wall
Support
Needs: arch, pergola, pillar, wall
Shoots
Thick, stiff, upright; better trained horizontally for abundant flowering
Branching
Strong main canes, growth about 1 m per year

Flower

11–13 cm
Bud shape
Round, creamy white with a slight pink-greenish tone
Open flower
Classic 'Eden-type' form: cupped, rosette-shaped, globular, old-fashioned and quartered
Centre
Tightly packed, with curled, quartered petals
Fullness
Very double, about 100 petals (very full)
Flower carriage
Singly and in small clusters

Fragrance

Barely noticeable

Barely noticeable to light (1–2/5), as in its parent Eden; a weak point.

Disease resistance

4 out of 5

Good (4/5): according to nurseries, 'very good disease resistance'.

Sun

Sun and partial shade

Full sun for abundant flowering.

Thorns

Moderate
thornlessfewmoderatemanyvery many

Average number of thorns, as in its parent Eden.

Foliage

Green, semi-glossy, dense.

Other names

White Eden, Eden Blanc, Blanc Pierre de Ronsard
All characteristics in a table
Group
Large-Flowered Climber; climbing; Romantica series; white form of Eden
Breeder
Meilland, France, 2005
Bud shape
Round, creamy white with a slight pink-greenish tone
Open flower
Classic 'Eden-type' form: cupped, rosette-shaped, globular, old-fashioned and quartered
Centre
Tightly packed, with curled, quartered petals
Colour
Milky to pure white; in cool weather and on buds, a faint pale-pink blush and a greenish tint in the centre; opens in sun to almost pure white
Fullness
Very double, about 100 petals (very full)
Flower carriage
Singly and in small clusters
Flowering
Repeat-flowering (remontant), in flushes from May–June until the frosts; very good for a climber
Fragrance
Barely noticeable to light (1–2/5), as in its parent Eden; a weak point
Hips
Usually does not set hips (very double)
Habit
A powerful climber with sturdy canes; establishes slowly, like Eden, and needs about 3 years to get going
Branching
Strong main canes, growth about 1 m per year
Shoots
Thick, stiff, upright; better trained horizontally for abundant flowering
Thorns
Average number of thorns, as in its parent Eden.
Dimensions
2–3 m tall × 1.5–2 m wide; a large climber for an arch, pergola, pillar or wall
Support
Needs: arch, pergola, pillar, wall
Foliage
Green, semi-glossy, dense
Resistance
Good (4/5): according to nurseries, 'very good disease resistance'
Variations of the variety
Code MEIviowit, Romantica series. Synonyms: White Eden, Eden Blanc, Blanc Pierre de Ronsard. Sport (bud mutation) of Eden = Eden Rose 85 = Pierre de Ronsard. US patent PP16,739

Colour scheme

Milky to pure white; in cool weather and on buds, a faint pale-pink blush and a greenish tint in the centre; opens in sun to almost pure white

Rose neighbours

Pierre de Ronsardcream-pinkSchneewalzerpure whiteNew Dawnpearl-pinkMunstead Wooddark raspberry · contrast

Perennials to plant nearby

LavenderlavenderCatmint (Nepeta)blue-lilacWoodland sageblue-violetLady's mantle (Alchemilla)lime greenWoodland sage

Rose neighbours

⭐ The 'Eden trinity' together — white, pink and deep-pink forms of one variety:

Pierre de RonsardSchneewalzerNew DawnMunstead Wood

Perennial companions

Blue and lavender perennials at the base set off the white flower:

lavendercatmint (Nepeta)woodland sagelady's mantle (Alchemilla)

Availability worldwide

The white form of the world-famous Eden:

🇫🇷 France: Meilland · 'Eden Blanc'🇺🇸 USA: Star Roses · 'White Eden'🇪🇺 Europe: Romantica romantic climbers🇺🇦 Ukraine: to order from nurseries

More about the variety

Hips
Usually does not set hips (very double)
Variations of the variety
Code MEIviowit, Romantica series. Synonyms: White Eden, Eden Blanc, Blanc Pierre de Ronsard. Sport (bud mutation) of Eden = Eden Rose 85 = Pierre de Ronsard. US patent PP16,739

How to grow

Where to plant. By an arch, pergola, pillar or light wall; striking next to the pink Pierre de Ronsard and the deep-coloured Cyclamen, forming the 'Eden trio' of three shades of one variety; ideal for stately, 'wedding' white corners of the garden.

Climate. USDA 6b–9b (down to −23 °C); in Ukraine's coldest zones light winter protection of the base is advisable.

Care. Full sun (or light partial shade); be patient, it takes 2–3 years to get going fully; tie shoots horizontally for abundant flowering; spring feeding; prevention against black spot; keep repeat flowering going by removing spent flowers.

About the name

Name. 'Palais Royal', after the Palais-Royal, a historic royal palace and garden in central Paris (built for Cardinal Richelieu, later a royal residence). The name stresses the royal, aristocratic white and stately elegance of the variety; the French house Meilland often gives its roses historical and cultural Parisian names.

Breeding. A sport (bud mutation) of Eden = Pierre de Ronsard = Eden Rose 85 (Meilland, 1985). Found as a sport in 1999 at Le Cannet-des-Maures (Var). Code MEIviowit, Romantica series. Introduction: USA 2004 (Star Roses), Europe and Australia by 2009. Synonyms: White Eden, Eden Blanc, Blanc Pierre de Ronsard.

Significance. The white form of 'the most beloved rose in the world'. The parent, Pierre de Ronsard, was inducted into the WFRS Rose Hall of Fame in 2006. Palais Royal inherits all of its fame: the lush 'Eden-type' form, the hardiness and the repeat flowering, but in a stately milky-white dress. Together with the pink original and the deep-coloured Cyclamen, it forms a striking trio of one variety in three shades.

Frequently asked questions about Palais Royal

Does Palais Royal need winter protection?

The cultivar’s reference temperature is −23 °C (USDA zone 6b–9b). Overwintering depends on the conditions. Light winter protection in the coldest zones.

How many times a season does Palais Royal flower?

Repeat-flowering (remontant), in flushes from May–June until the frosts; very good for a climber.

How big does Palais Royal grow?

200–300 cm tall, 150–200 cm wide.

Which diseases affect Palais Royal?

Overall resistance: 4 out of 5. Good resistance (according to nurseries).

How much sun does Palais Royal need?

Sun and partial shade; full sun for abundant flowering.

What does Palais Royal smell like?

Barely noticeable to light (1–2/5), as in its parent Eden; a weak point.

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.