Traviata

Where to plant. A compact, upright hybrid tea 90–120 cm tall, good at the front or middle of a border, in groups of 3, and near seating areas where the quartered form and light fragrance can be appreciated. The dense dark-green foliage makes the bush a neat backdrop all season.

Climate. USDA 7b+ (about −15…−12 °C). Protection against sunscald is advisable in spring. In Ukraine winter cover is essential; the variety is not the hardiest of the Hybrid Teas. No support needed.

Care. Excellent disease resistance (including to black spot) makes this variety undemanding; repeat flowering in flushes through summer and autumn is maintained by regular deadheading and feeding.

Name. After Giuseppe Verdi's opera La traviata (1853); the name suits the romantic, retro character of the Romantica series.

Breeding. Bred by Alain Meilland at Meilland International (France), introduced 1997/1998. Code MEIlavio (not MEIsylpho, a common error), patent PP10845; synonyms MEIviola, Travita, Xaviere Tiberi. Parentage: (seedling Porta Nigra × Paola) × William Shakespeare (Austin), which gives the quartered 'Austin-style' flower form. Belongs to the Romantica series, Meilland's line in the retro style of old garden roses.

Significance. One of the recognisable red Romantica roses, a modern, sturdy hybrid tea with the form of an old quartered rosette. Won the Silver Medal at Monza in 1997. Not to be confused with the older 'Traviata' Meilland 1962 (a red-striped variety); this one is 'Traviata' Romantica 1997.