FREDERIC MISTRAL ® – pink hybrid tea rose – Meilland
For nurseries and wholesale growers seeking exclusive own-root material, Frederic Mistral® offers a highly stable hybrid tea platform for premium container output and exhibition-level cut flowers. The pharmaROSA® NEONATAL format delivers uniformly vital 3–6‑month rooted cuttings that integrate cleanly into propagation beds and 5–7 L premium container programmes, while supporting larger 40–50 L statement stock where needed. Its very strong fragrance, XL flower size and refined rosette form underpin high-end, flower-quality driven ranges, particularly where individual specimen plants and cut stems justify a differentiated price point. As an own-root line, it supports long-term longevity, reliable regeneration and predictable capacity, helping to maintain homogeneous stands with minimal replacement in thematic rose gardens and curated collections. Dense, dark green foliage and an upright, cane-structured habit simplify bush training into the recommended 3–5 framework canes, providing a clear architecture for both border and container production. Strong all-round disease resistance and H7 winter hardiness support scheduling for UK nursery networks, even in Scottish and northern sites where reliable cold performance in exposed locations is essential. With low routine intervention needs and a remontant flowering pattern delivering repeated impact, Frederic Mistral® fits professional production systems that prioritise consistent quality, reduced risk and a full-market, own-root hybrid tea offer.
Usage options
Finished-product ideas
- Perfumed 5–7 L hybrid tea feature – Own-root bush-trained plants in 5–7 L containers, showcasing XL pastel-pink blooms and very strong fragrance as a premium container SKU – target audience/channel: fragrance-led retail and garden-centre assortments.
- Named exhibition hybrid tea line – Uniform NEONATAL batches grown on for exhibition-category stems and solitary blooms, positioned as an exclusive, name-recognised hybrid tea within a cut and show range – target audience/channel: specialist cut rose and show-bench suppliers.
- Thematic fragrance garden specimen – Step-up production into 40–50 L containers to deliver mature, upright specimens with dense foliage and strong scent for instant-impact planting in themed rose gardens – target audience/channel: public-realm and estate projects via wholesale nurseries.
- Low-maintenance premium border rose – 5–7 L plants trained on 3–5 framework canes, selected for resistance and winter hardiness, marketed as a low-intervention but exclusive border solution – target audience/channel: landscapers and maintenance contractors buying through resellers.
- Collection-grade own-root stock – NEONATAL material maintained in propagation beds as authenticated, long-lived own-root mother stock for ongoing container and cut-flower production – target audience/channel: nurseries curating Perfumella® and heritage-style collections.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose, registered as MEItebros, traded as Frederic Mistral ® Perfumella® MEItebros, ARS exhibition name Frédéric Mistral; part of the Perfumella® collection. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Alain Meilland, Meilland International SA, France, from (Perfume Delight × Prima Ballerina) × The McCartney Rose; bred 1994, registered 1998, introduced after 1998. |
| Awards and recognition |
Holder of multiple fragrance distinctions: Baden-Baden Fragrance Award 1993, Monza Fragrance Award 1994, Le Roeulx Fragrance Award 1994, Belfast Most Fragrant Rose Award 1996. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright habit, 130–170 cm high with 100–140 cm spread; dense, slightly glossy dark green foliage; sparsely thorned shoots; self-cleaning performance not documented in trials. |
| Flower morphology |
Very double, rosette-shaped hybrid tea flowers with 40+ petals; XL size from approximately 3.5 inches, predominantly solitary on stems; remontant with an abundant second flush. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Soft pastel pink with pearlescent effect, ARS LPe, RHS 65C outer, 65D inner; buds pale pink, opening to near-white pink, then fading through off-white to delicate cream at full maturity. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very strong, intoxicating perfume with garden-filling intensity; optimised for ornamental and sensory value rather than pollinator support due to fully double form limiting nectar and pollen access. |
| Hip characteristics |
Occasional ornamental hips, 10–14 mm, ovoid and red; add discreet seasonal interest without being a primary feature, useful where fruit set is acceptable within design aims. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Rated resistant to powdery mildew, black spot and rust; hardy to approximately −26 to −23 °C, RHS H7, Swedish Zone 4, USDA 5b; performs well in heat with moderate drought tolerance once established. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Suitable for borders, containers, specimen use and cutting; recommended as a low-maintenance, disease-resistant cultivar; released bush-trained with 3–5 strong framework canes for premium container production. |
FREDERIC MISTRAL ® combines fragrance-led flower quality, strong disease and winter performance, and long-lived own-root reliability, making it a sound choice for nurseries wishing to align capacity and scheduling on an exclusive hybrid tea line.
