GUINÉE – dark red climbing rose – Mallerin & Meilland
Exclusive own-root pharmaROSA® NEONATAL material of GUINÉE gives nurseries a stable base for trained climber production where a space-defining, vertical accent is required in thematic or collection plantings. This historic Meilland climber combines very strong fragrance, dark velvety blooms and reliable disease resistance with the practical advantages of 3–6‑month, tray-rooted cuttings that integrate cleanly into UK propagation and container workflows. With H7 hardiness down to ‑21 °C and suitability for conditions comparable to Scotland and Northern England, it supports exposed, long-term collection sites in public and private projects. Own-root production offers long lifespan, regeneration after pruning and low replacement in wall, fence and pergola lines, with Year 1 root establishment, Year 2 structural shoot development and Year 3 delivering full ornamental value. Delivered as uniform young material for onward training to 3–5 canes in 5–7 L, GUINÉE underpins premium climbing lines for retail and reseller channels seeking impact and distinctive colour in vertical garden features.
Usage options
Finished-product ideas
- Historic 5–7 L trained climber – Own-root GUINÉE trained to 3–5 canes in 5–7 L, positioned as a heritage Meilland climber with Lyon-awarded fragrance and dark colour for vertical garden features – specialist retail / collector-focused reseller
- Fragrance highlight pergola climber – Strongly scented, disease-resistant plants pre-shaped for pergolas and arches, using NEONATAL material for uniform cane structure and low-intervention performance – premium garden centre and lifestyle retailer
- Cut-flower capable wall climber – Medium, velvety dark red blooms on well-structured canes marketed as dual-purpose for wall training and garden cutting, grown on from NEONATAL stock for predictable quality – independent nurseries and floristry-linked outlets
- Dark-red collection series – GUINÉE as the deep dark-red pillar within a themed colour range of climbers, leveraging own-root longevity and disease resistance for reliable, repeatable ranges – curated retail and mail-order assortments
- Institutional archway feature – Robust, low-maintenance, disease-resistant climbers supplied in 5–7 L as ready-to-train plants for municipal and institutional arches and entrances, with long-lived own-root stands – public-realm and integrator channels
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Guinée Rambling rose Mallerin & Meilland; American Rose Society exhibition name Guinée; commercial climbing rose type; collection classification rambling rose and large-flowered climber; own-root NEONATAL propagation form. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred in France in 1937 by Charles Mallerin and Francis Meilland, with complex hybrid parentage involving ‘Souvenir de Claudius Denoyel’, ‘Ami Quinard’, ‘Rome Glory’, ‘Congo’ and ‘Tassin’; introduced by Guillot and Meilland. |
| Awards and recognition |
Recognised early for quality and scent: Lyon Certificate of Merit 1938 and Lyon Fragrance Award 1938; US Plant Patent PP 933 granted in 1950, supporting its status in historic and collector markets. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Vigorous climbing habit reaching around 3.75–6.25 m high with 2.25–3.75 m spread, densely thorned canes and moderately dense, glossy dark green foliage; weak self-cleaning so spent blooms benefit from periodic manual removal. |
| Flower morphology |
Double, cup-shaped blooms with 26–39 petals and medium flower size around 1.5–2.75 inches, typically borne solitary; remontant with a plentiful second flush, allowing a long decorative season when managed correctly. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Dark-red ARS colour code DR, RHS 187A–187B; buds blackish dark red, newly opened flowers silky deep dark red with almost black edging, ageing towards burgundy; in strong sun petals may brown slightly, in moderate light colour holds acceptably. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very strong, garden-filling fragrance with a full-bodied, spicy, fruity character; suitable for fragrance-led garden concepts and cut use, though flowers are only limitedly attractive to pollinators owing to the double form and restricted stamen access. |
| Hip characteristics |
Occasional ovoid red hips, around 15–25 mm in diameter, egg-shaped and decorative where formed; hip set is not the primary ornamental feature but can add seasonal interest in low-maintenance plantings. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Good overall disease resistance, with documented resistance to powdery mildew, black spot and rust; hardy to approximately −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7, Swedish Zone 3, USDA 6b), coping with cold winters but preferring moderately moist soils in heat. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best used on walls, fences, pergolas, arches and as specimen climbers or garden cut-flower sources; moderate drought tolerance only, so avoid prolonged dryness; ideal as trained climber finished products in 5–7 L from staked, pre-trained NEONATAL starts. |
GUINÉE Rambling rose Mallerin & Meilland offers disease-resistant, strongly fragrant, dark-red vertical impact on long-lived own-root stands, giving predictable, regenerating stock for trained climber ranges; we would be pleased to discuss scheduling and capacity with you.
