Photo: Grace Rose Farm (nursery; Meilland variety, France)

Hybrid Tea; quartered “old-fashioned” formMeilland International, 2000Red

Rouge Royale

Q: Does Rouge Royale need winter protection?

The cultivar’s reference temperature is −20 °C (USDA zone 6-10). Overwintering depends on the conditions. Central/South, without cover.

Raspberry-red with a quartered “old-fashioned” form; Rose Hills International Fragrance Award 2003; 75–80 petals — record fullness; strong fruity fragrance — citrus plus fresh berries; replaced the phantom rhodos (a variety from De Ruiter, bred for cutting but also grown in gardens).

US PP14039 · Rose Hills International Fragrance Award 2003

Variety profile Gardeners' photos

Variety profile

Flowering

Repeat, in flushes

Repeat-flowering from spring to autumn — generous flushes. Months are approximate, for the climate of Ukraine.

Legacy

Rose Hills Fragrance 2003

US PP14039 · Meilland couture line

Winter hardiness

−20 °C

USDA zone 6-10. Central/South, without cover.

Compare reference temperatures

Plant size

120–150 × 60–90 cm

Habit: Upright, bushy
Dimensions: 120–150 cm tall × 60–90 cm wide — a typical HT for borders
Support: Not needed — self-supporting
Shoots: Sturdy, upright
Branching: Well branched with sturdy stems

Flower

≈ 12 cm

75-80 petals.

Bud shape: Deep burgundy, dark — a contrasting base
Open flower: Quartered old-fashioned form: ~12 cm, very double, with curled petals. Classic romantic look
Centre: Tightly packed, with “quartered” curled petals
Fullness: 75–80 petals — record fullness among modern HTs
Flower carriage: Singly or in small clusters

Fragrance

Strong; fruity citrus-berry

Strong fruity — citrus and fresh berries — winner of the Rose Hills International Fragrance Award 2003. One of the most complex scents among modern HTs.

Disease resistance

4 out of 5

Good 4/5: glossy foliage stable in heat and rain; USDA 6–10.

Sun

Good in heat and rain

Thorns

Moderate

thornlessfewmoderatemanyvery many

Moderate number of thorns — typical of modern HTs.

Foliage

Glossy dark green — healthy, good contrast to the dark raspberry.

All characteristics in a table

Group: Hybrid Tea; quartered “old-fashioned” form
Breeder: Meilland International, France, 2000
Bud shape: Deep burgundy, dark — a contrasting base
Open flower: Quartered old-fashioned form: ~12 cm, very double, with curled petals. Classic romantic look
Centre: Tightly packed, with “quartered” curled petals
Colour: Raspberry-red — bright raspberry-red; opens from burgundy buds. Classic romantic colour
Fullness: 75–80 petals — record fullness among modern HTs
Flower carriage: Singly or in small clusters
Flowering: Repeat-flowering from spring to autumn — generous flushes
Fragrance: Strong fruity — citrus and fresh berries — winner of the Rose Hills International Fragrance Award 2003. One of the most complex scents among modern HTs
Hips: Not documented — cut for repeat blooming
Habit: Upright, bushy
Branching: Well branched with sturdy stems
Shoots: Sturdy, upright
Thorns: Moderate number of thorns — typical of modern HTs.
Dimensions: 120–150 cm tall × 60–90 cm wide — a typical HT for borders
Support: Not needed — self-supporting
Foliage: Glossy dark green — healthy, good contrast to the dark raspberry
Resistance: Good 4/5: glossy foliage stable in heat and rain; USDA 6–10
Variations of the variety: Code MEIkarouz. US Plant Patent PP14039. Introduced 2000. Parentage not published (Meilland's trade secret). The entry replaced Rhodos in the catalogue — Rhodos (De Ruiter ~2014) turned out to be a commercial cut-flower variety — bred for cutting, but also grows in open ground

Colour scheme

Raspberry-red — bright raspberry-red; opens from burgundy buds. A classic romantic colour

Rose neighbours

Papa Meillandvelvety dark

Red Leonardo da Vincidark garnet

Notturnodeep garnet

Icebergpure white · contrast

Perennials to plant nearby

Stachys (lamb's ears)silver

Gypsophilawhite

Lavenderlavender

Artemisiasilver

Neighbouring roses

Fragrant deep reds create a 'perfume collection':

Papa Meilland Red Leonardo da Vinci Notturno Iceberg

Perennial companions

Silver-pastel perennials set off the deep red:

Stachys (lamb's ears)gypsophilalavenderartemisia

Availability worldwide

A popular modern Meilland variety:

🇫🇷 France: high · Meilland-Richardier
🇺🇸 USA: high · Edmunds, Star Roses
🇪🇺 Europe: high
🇺🇦 Ukraine: moderate · through Meilland partners

More about the variety

Hips: Not documented — cut for repeat blooming
Variations of the variety: Code MEIkarouz. US Plant Patent PP14039. Introduced 2000. Parentage not published (Meilland's trade secret). The entry replaced Rhodos in the catalogue — Rhodos (De Ruiter ~2014) turned out to be a commercial cut-flower variety — bred for cutting, but also grows in open ground

How to grow

Where to plant. In fragrant borders, along paths, benches and entrances — to enjoy the complex fruity scent; as a cut-flower bush for home bouquets — the quartered form looks stunning in a vase; as a “romantic accent” in a Romantica-style corner.

Climate. Central/South Ukraine without cover (USDA 6–10); good in heat and rain.

Care. Full sun; a well-ventilated spot; moderate disease prevention; feed 3× per season; prune ⅓ in spring.

About the name

Name. “Rouge Royale” = “Royal Red”. A classic French marketing name that conveys the elegance and nobility of the dark raspberry colour. Meilland's tradition of giving top flagship varieties “royal” epithets (Rouge Royale, Pierre de Ronsard, etc.).

Breeding. Bred at Meilland International (France), one of the world's leading rose houses. Code MEIkarouz. US Plant Patent PP14039. Introduced 2000. Parentage not published (Meilland's trade secret). The entry replaced Rhodos in the catalogue: Rhodos (De Ruiter ~2014) turned out to be a commercial cut-flower variety from De Ruiter — bred for cutting, but also grown in open ground.

Significance. Rose Hills International Fragrance Award 2003 (International Rose Trials, California) — a prestigious award for fragrance. Parentage not published, but classified as a top Meilland Hybrid Tea of the 2000s. 75–80 petals in a quartered old-fashioned form — a rare combination of modern awards with a nostalgic form. A strong fruity scent of citrus and berries — a complex composition, rare for red HTs (most have no scent). Glossy foliage that copes well with heat and rain, typical of modern Meilland-type varieties. An excellent choice for gardeners who want a red classic with fragrance, without the problems of old HTs.

Frequently asked questions about Rouge Royale

Does Rouge Royale need winter protection?

The cultivar’s reference temperature is −20 °C (USDA zone 6−10). Overwintering depends on the conditions. Central/South, without cover.

How many times a season does Rouge Royale flower?

Repeat-flowering from spring to autumn — generous flushes.

How big does Rouge Royale grow?

120–150 cm tall, 60–90 cm wide.

Which diseases affect Rouge Royale?

Overall resistance: 4 out of 5. Glossy foliage; good against disease.

How much sun does Rouge Royale need?

Sun; good in heat and rain.

What does Rouge Royale smell like?