Hybrid TeaMeilland, 1993Yellow

Toulouse Lautrec

Bright yellow hybrid tea with a saturated sunny colour and a strong lemon verbena fragrance; lush double flowering.

Quartered bloom of an old-fashioned type; named after the painter

Variety profile Gardeners' photos

Variety profile

Flowering

Repeat flowering throughout the season

Awards

Monza 1993

Silver + fragrance prize

Winter hardiness

−20 °C

USDA zone 6–9. Forest-Steppe, Steppe; north — with winter protection.

Compare reference temperatures

Plant size

80–100 × 70 cm

Habit: Upright, sturdy hybrid tea bush
Dimensions: 80–100 cm tall × ~70 cm wide
Support: Not needed — a self-supporting bush. For a flower bed, rose garden or cutting.
Shoots: Sturdy, straight
Branching: Moderate, neat

Flower

10–12 cm

Bud shape: Classic goblet-shaped, bright yellow
Open flower: Double, quartered rosette of old-fashioned type; diameter 10–12 cm
Centre: Dense, divided into segments
Fullness: Double, about 40 petals
Flower carriage: Mostly singly on sturdy stems — good for cutting

Fragrance

Strong

Strong, fresh — the aroma of lemon verbena; awarded a prize for fragrance.

Disease resistance

4 out of 5

Good overall; in a wet summer, prevention of blackspot is recommended.

Sun

6 hours

Full sun; minimum 6 hours of sun; the colour holds steadily.

Thorns

Moderate

thornlessfewmoderatemanyvery many

Moderately prickly — typical for hybrid teas.

Foliage

Dark green, semi-glossy.

Other names

Breeder's code MEIrevolt.

All characteristics in a table

Group: Hybrid Tea
Breeder: Meilland, 1993
Bud shape: Classic goblet-shaped, bright yellow
Open flower: Double, quartered rosette of old-fashioned type; diameter 10–12 cm
Centre: Dense, divided into segments
Colour: Saturated lemon-yellow, even and clean; resistant to fading
Fullness: Double, about 40 petals
Flower carriage: Mostly singly on sturdy stems — good for cutting
Flowering: Repeat flowering throughout the season
Fragrance: Strong, fresh — the aroma of lemon verbena; awarded a prize for fragrance
Habit: Upright, sturdy hybrid tea bush
Branching: Moderate, neat
Shoots: Sturdy, straight
Thorns: Moderately prickly — typical for hybrid teas.
Dimensions: 80–100 cm tall × ~70 cm wide
Support: Not needed — a self-supporting bush. For a flower bed, rose garden or cutting.
Foliage: Dark green, semi-glossy
Resistance: Good overall; in a wet summer, prevention of blackspot is recommended
Series: Meilland Jardin & Parfum line — garden fragrant roses

Colour scheme

Saturated lemon-yellow, even and clean; resistant to fading

Rose neighbours

King Yellowsunny yellow

Saharayellow-orange

Caramellaapricot

Blue for Yousmoky purple · contrast

Perennials to plant nearby

Lavenderlavender

Catmint 'Faassen' (Nepeta)sky blue

Salvia 'Caradonna'purple

Perovskia (Russian sage)lavender-blueDelphiniumDelphinium

Neighbouring roses

To go with the sunny yellow, other yellow and warm apricot tones:

King Yellow Sahara Caramella Blue for You

Perennial companions

Blue-purple tones — the best contrast to yellow:

lavendercatmint 'Faassen' (Nepeta)salvia 'Caradonna'Perovskia (Russian sage)delphinium

Contrasting accents

Deep blue and purple foliage highlight the sunny bloom:

Blue delphiniumsSpiked speedwellPurple heucheraCatmint (Nepeta)

More about the variety

Series: Meilland Jardin & Parfum line — garden fragrant roses

How to grow

Where to plant. A showy flower bed, rose garden, border or container; striking as a cut flower thanks to its strong scent and good form. The sunny-yellow tone lights up a corner of the garden.

Climate. Tolerates frost to about −20 °C, USDA 6–9. Overwinters well in the Forest-Steppe and Steppe; in the north — with protection.

Care. Formative spring pruning to 3–5 buds, removal of spent flowers, prevention of blackspot in wet summers.

About the name

Name. The variety is named after the French post-impressionist painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864–1901), the master of Parisian posters and Montmartre scenes. This is part of Meilland's tradition of naming roses after prominent French figures. Breeder: bred by the French house Meilland; breeding code MEIrevolt. Belongs to the Meilland Jardin & Parfum line. Received a silver medal and a fragrance prize in Monza (Italy, 1993).

Significance. Valued for combining a bright-yellow “sunny” colour, a quartered flower of old-fashioned type and a powerful lemon verbena fragrance — one of the most fragrant yellow hybrid teas from Meilland.

Frequently asked questions about Toulouse Lautrec

Does Toulouse Lautrec need winter protection?

The cultivar’s reference temperature is −20 °C (USDA zone 6–9). Overwintering depends on the conditions. Forest-Steppe, Steppe; north — with winter protection.

How many times a season does Toulouse Lautrec flower?

Repeat flowering throughout the season.

How big does Toulouse Lautrec grow?

80–100 cm tall, about 70 cm wide.

Which diseases affect Toulouse Lautrec?

Overall resistance: 4 out of 5. Good; basic prevention in a wet summer.

How much sun does Toulouse Lautrec need?