CHRISTOPHE COLOMB® – orange-red hybrid tea rose – MEIronsse
Premium own-root CHRISTOPHE COLOMB® supports exhibition-grade hybrid tea production where flower form and colour are central to your finished offer. As a remontant, high-centred hybrid tea with an XL bloom profile and mild, fresh-citrus fragrance, it aligns well with premium container programmes targeting retail and reseller channels. The dense, glossy dark foliage and upright habit are advantageous for bush-trained production with 3–5 strong canes, giving uniform structure in 5–7 L pots and larger specimen containers. Own-root propagation provides long-term stability, predictable regrowth and low replacement needs, helping you maintain homogeneous stands for thematic rose collections and commemorative ranges. Over UK cycles this material typically establishes roots in year one, builds framework shoots in year two and expresses full ornamental value by year three, suiting planned roll-out to retail partners. With H7 hardiness down to -21 °C and medium disease resistance, it supports reliable scheduling even for northern nursery networks where winter and wind-exposed sites require dependable rose stock. Remontant flowering and exhibition-capable bloom form make it a strong choice for premium, exclusive finished product lines serving discerning wholesale and reseller demand.
Usage options
Finished-product ideas
- Premium 5–7 L hybrid tea feature – Bush-trained, 3–5 cane plants in 5–7 L pots highlighting XL, high-centred orange-red blooms and dense glossy foliage – target: upscale retail garden centres and specialist resellers
- Exhibition hybrid tea collector’s line – Limited-series SKU emphasising show medals and ARS exhibition name, supplied as uniform own-root bushes for enthusiasts – target: mail-order rose catalogues and collector-focused resellers
- Commemorative container series – Story-led range using the Christophe Colomb name in 12–20 L premium containers, built on own-root stability and strong flower form – target: public-realm suppliers and event-driven retail promotions
- Show-garden specimen in 40–50 L – Large-container specimens displaying upright framework, glossy foliage and vivid colour in repeated events, leveraging own-root regeneration – target: show gardens, display partners and flagship retail sites
- Hybrid tea border highlight – Medium-maintenance border plants produced via premium container route, using remontant flowering and strong colour to anchor feature beds – target: landscape-oriented resellers and institutional project suppliers
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose cultivar MEIronsse, marketed as CHRISTOPHE COLOMB® / Christopher Columbus; hybrid tea group, commercial type hybrid tea rose, registered in 1992 with verified cultivar authenticity. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Alain Meilland (Meilland International, France) from Coppélia ’76 × [Ambassador × MEInaregi]; French breeding and registration year 1992, introduced internationally after 1992 via Meilland and Star Roses. |
| Awards and recognition |
Recognised in multiple rose competitions: Gold Medal Genova 1992, Gold Medal Durbanville 1994, ARS Queen of Show Tropical Rose Society 2000, Court of Show/Honour in Contra Costa and Golden Gate Rose Society 2001. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright hybrid tea bush 80–110 cm high and 40–60 cm spread, moderately thorny, with dense, glossy dark green foliage; most suitable for bush training on 3–5 strong framework canes for premium containers. |
| Flower morphology |
Solitary, high-centred, pointed-budded hybrid tea blooms of XL size (around 3.5 inch and above), double-flowered with 26–39 petals, remontant with abundant second flowering and weak self-cleaning of spent blooms. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Vibrant orange-red tonality with Indian-orange base and delicate red edge, ARS OB; outer petals RHS 34A, inner 34B; colour lightens slightly in strong sun and stays more vivid in cool conditions, with moderate colour retention. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Mild, fresh, citrusy fragrance providing a subtle scent component; double, exhibition-style blooms limit pollen access so the cultivar functions mainly as an ornamental rather than a pollinator resource in plantings. |
| Hip characteristics |
Rose-hip set generally scant because of the double flower form; where present, ovoid, egg-shaped hips form, orange-red in colour, typically around 10–14 mm in diameter, not a primary ornamental feature. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Medium disease resistance across powdery mildew, black spot and rust; hardy to approximately -21 to -18 °C (H7, USDA 6b, Swedish zone 3); moderate heat tolerance but needs regular watering in extended drought. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Suitable for borders, cut flowers and specimen use; medium maintenance with occasional plant protection; recommended as bush-trained own-root stock in a premium container path, 5–7 L target pots, with exclusive finished product focus. |
CHRISTOPHE COLOMB® combines exhibition-grade flower form, dense glossy foliage and award-backed appeal on a predictable own-root platform that supports long-lived, stable production stands; please contact us to align capacity and scheduling for your programmes.
