Louis De Funes® hybrid tea rose – MEIrestif – pharmaROSA® NEONATAL
Colour and form are central to Louis De Funes® MEIrestif, giving You a premium hybrid tea option whose vivid orange, high-centred, cut-rose style blooms support exhibition-grade quality in UK nursery and wholesale production. As a pharmaROSA® NEONATAL own-root cutting, it offers a predictable base for bush-trained plants with 3–5 cane framework for onward production into 5–7 L premium containers and larger 40–50 L show pieces, aligning with exclusive finished-product ranges where single-specimen impact matters. Its upright, bushy habit, dense dark-green foliage and XL solitary flowers translate reliably into flower-bed, cut-flower and specimen lines, while own-root longevity underpins homogeneous stands and low replacement in collection and thematic rose gardens that must perform across UK regions, including situations with reliable winter and wind tolerance in exposed northern plantings. Development is straightforward on professional timescales, with root establishment in year one, structural shoot build-up in year two and full ornamental expression from year three, supporting stable scheduling and marketable volume. Moderate maintenance and plant protection needs fit within standard rose-care programmes for premium, award-winning cultivars, and the stable, remontant flowering pattern supports continuous bench presence and repeatable output for retail and reseller partners targeting high-value hybrid tea ranges.
Usage options
Finished-product ideas
- Premium 5–7 L hybrid tea feature – Upright, bushy, bush-trained plants with 3–5 strong canes in 5–7 L pots, showcasing vivid orange, high-centred blooms for premium container routes – target: branded retail / reseller benches.
- 40–50 L specimen for show gardens – Large-container specimens using own-root longevity and strong framework to create focal plants with XL orange flowers for thematic rose gardens – target: public-realm and institutional project suppliers.
- Cut-flower bench selection – Lines selected for high-centred, solitary blooms and remontant flowering, grown in 5–7 L containers as a dual-purpose garden and cutting rose – target: specialist retailers promoting “garden cut-flower” ranges.
- Exclusive hybrid tea collector line – Clearly labelled, breeder-credited, award-winning hybrid tea in premium pots, emphasising cultivar story, colour and form – target: nurseries building named-collection and connoisseur ranges.
- Colour-impact flower-bed series – Own-root, upright, dark-foliaged plants offering stable orange display for coordinated bedding or project planting, supplied from 5–7 L containers – target: landscaper and municipal supply via wholesalers.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea group; commercial type and group hybrid tea rose. Registered as MEIrestif, traded as Louis De Funes® hybrid tea rose MEIrestif; ARS exhibition name Louis de Funes. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Marie-Louise Meilland, Meilland International, France, from (‘Ambassador’ × ‘Whiskey Mac’) × (‘Arthur Bell’ × ‘Kabuki’). Bred 1982, introduced and registered 1984 by Meilland International. |
| Awards and recognition |
Monza 1983 Gold medal and Rose of the Year, Geneva 1983 Gold medal and Geneva City Award, Madrid 1983 Bronze medal, Saverne 1983 Certificate of Merit, supporting premium positioning. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright, bushy plants 85–115 cm high, 70–90 cm spread, moderately thorny. Dense, glossy dark-green foliage providing good backdrop to blooms. Spent flowers persist and usually need manual cleaning. |
| Flower morphology |
Large XL, double flowers with 26–39 petals, high-centred, pointed-budded cut-rose style, mainly solitary. Remontant with abundant second flowering, giving strong hybrid tea character for containers and cutting. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Vivid fiery orange base with delicate golden sheen; deep red-orange buds, intense orange on opening, then peach-orange with salmon glow, finally lighter but retaining orange in cooler conditions; ARS ob, RHS 25A, 23B. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Mild, discreet fragrance with a fresh orange-peel character. Strongly double flowers restrict stamen access, making this primarily an ornamental cultivar rather than a pollinator resource in planting designs. |
| Hip characteristics |
Hip set typically limited by double flowers; when present, produces small, ovoid, red-orange hips about 10–14 mm diameter, adding occasional seasonal interest without dominating plant appearance. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Moderate resistance to powdery mildew, black spot and rust; benefits from periodic protection. Winter hardy to around -23 to -21 °C (H7, Swedish zone 3, USDA 6a). Tolerates heat but needs irrigation in prolonged drought. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Suited to flower beds, cut-flower use and specimens. Medium maintenance; occasional plant protection recommended. Best as bush-trained with 3–5 strong framework canes for premium containers and structured displays. |
Louis De Funes® MEIrestif combines vivid award-backed flower quality, robust bushy structure and own-root longevity into a predictable, regenerative stock option; we would welcome a discussion to align volumes and scheduling with your programme.
