Hybrid tea rose

20-050-1
20-050-2

Papa Meilland®

Hybrid tea rose

MEIcesar – Alain Meilland

Deep, velvety dark red tones with a slight blackish shading on the edges. - hybrid tea rose - very strongly scented, noticeable from a distance rose - classic, damask scented

– Iconic Papa Meilland with dark velvet blooms
– Very strong, classic damask fragrance
– Elegant, upright hybrid tea growth habit
– Excellent disease resistance in garden conditions
– Ideal for premium, long-stemmed cut flowers
– Special feature: Decorated with top awards, including World’s Favourite Rose.
Exclusive finished product
Papa Meilland®
pharmaROSA® NEONATAL rooted rose cutting
29,40 £
Due to courier service regulations – and the introduction of customs clearance – delivery to Ireland is temporarily suspended.
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Papa Meilland® Hybrid tea rose MEIcesar – pharmaROSA® NEONATAL

fragrance and colour make Papa Meilland® a reference hybrid tea for premium, cut-flower orientated ranges, while its reliable disease profile and moderate maintenance needs support predictable scheduling from tray-rooted pharmaROSA® NEONATAL material into 5–7 L bush-trained containers. Own-root production underpins long-term stability in border and specimen applications, enabling nurseries to build exclusive exhibition-grade offers for thematic rose gardens and collection projects, with homogeneous stands and low replacement. Its upright habit and solitary, high-centred blooms suit premium container routes and retail/reseller positioning where flower form is the core value promise, and the stock performs reliably even in cooler, wind-exposed regions typical of Scotland and northern England. Measured development from strong roots in year one through framework canes in year two to full ornamental expression in year three supports long-lived, renewable capacity and professional credibility across nursery networks and public-realm supply chains.


Usage options

Target area Reasoning
Premium 5–7 L container production for retail/reseller programmes The strong, classic fragrance is a primary differentiator in premium container lines, aligning well with an exclusive finished product built on flower quality and form. Using pharmaROSA® NEONATAL own-root material into 5–7 L pots via the premium container route allows efficient bush-training with 3–5 canes and predictable flowering windows. This supports stable, long-term own-root capacity for retail and reseller partners seeking a reliable, high-impact hybrid tea focus on cut flower and exhibition use for the retail/reseller channel.
Exhibition-grade hybrid tea blocks for cut-flower orientated growers The high-centred, solitary blooms with large flower size match the requirements of cut flower and exhibition tea hybrid categories, making it suitable for growers targeting show-standard stems. NEONATAL material integrates easily into propagation beds or containers, then up-potted to 5–7 L for framework development along the premium container path. Own-root, low-maintenance plants with low intervention needs help maintain homogeneous quality and reduce replacement in professional cut-oriented ranges for show-bench/exhibition growers.
Thematic and collection rose gardens focusing on historic cultivars This cultivar’s pedigree, introduction era and awards history give it strong appeal in curated collections and Hall of Fame themed gardens. Using rooted NEONATAL plants as a base simplifies cultivar maintenance and safeguards identity over the long term, with own-root regeneration supporting sustainable, low-turnover stands. Bush-trained 5–7 L units establish quickly as specimen accents or in borders, while its reliable disease resistance reduces ongoing intervention across thematic plantings for public/heritage projects.
Low-intervention borders and edging in high-visibility sites Good resistance to powdery mildew, black spot and rust, combined with generally low maintenance needs, helps reduce chemical input and labour on intensively used retail or institutional sites. NEONATAL own-root stock supports long lifespan and predictable regrowth, so even where deadheading is required, structural renewal remains reliable. Premium container production in 5–7 L pots delivers finished plants ready for border, edging and specimen deployment while maintaining an exclusive positioning for landscape/specifier clients.
Wind- and winter-tolerant planting for UK northern regions With RHS H7 rating, USDA zone 6b and Swedish zone 3 performance, the cultivar offers dependable winter hardiness for Scottish and northern English production, supporting season-long programme planning. Starting from pharmaROSA® NEONATAL trays, growers can build stock that overwinters predictably, then move into premium 5–7 L containers for retail release. This provides a robust own-root base that supports reliable stands and capacity where cooler, wind-exposed conditions are common in the regional/northern supply chain.
Exclusive specimen pieces for high-end retail collections The deep, velvety dark-red flower colour with almost black shading and abundant second flush delivers strong visual drama suited to key-piece specimens. Bush-trained forms in 5–7 L containers align with a premium container route, offering a clear step-up product for retailers wanting exclusive hybrid teas. NEONATAL own-root plants ensure long-term structural stability and regeneration, allowing nurseries to maintain a consistent signature item for extended seasons in the premium/collector segment.
Container-based supply for public-realm and institutional plantings The upright habit and moderate height allow clear, legible planting patterns in public-realm borders, while disease resistance reduces long-term maintenance. Own-root NEONATAL stock provides renewable growth and stable ornamental value, making it suitable for repeated use in institutional schemes seeking reliable dark-red, fragrant roses. 5–7 L containers are straightforward to handle in municipal planting workflows, supporting efficient roll-out across projects where predictable batches are important for public-realm contractors.
Cultivar maintenance blocks and mother-plant collections Verified cultivar authenticity and recognised global awards support its role as a reference clone in mother-plant and gene-bank style stands. Starting from pharmaROSA® NEONATAL tray-rooted cuttings, nurseries can maintain structurally strong, own-root bushes with durable framework canes and reliable re-growth; plants develop from roots in year one through shoot structure in year two to full ornamental expression in year three. This underpins stable, long-term capacity for propagation programmes supplying exclusive dark-red hybrid teas to the nursery/wholesale network.

Finished-product ideas

  • Hall-of-Fame 5–7 L container line – Own-root, bush-trained Papa Meilland® in 5–7 L pots highlighting fragrance and award history; positioned as an exclusive finished product for premium retail benches – target: retail/reseller.
  • Exhibition hybrid tea collection trio – Curated 5–7 L container set anchored by Papa Meilland® as the dark-red, high-centred element, optimised for cut flower and show use – target: specialist rose retailers and exhibition-focused growers.
  • Thematic fragrance border series – Premium container plants of Papa Meilland® offered as a key fragrance anchor for low-intervention borders, using its disease resistance and strong scent – target: landscape suppliers and public-realm specifiers.
  • Collector’s heritage hybrid tea range – NEONATAL-based 5–7 L specimens presented as part of a Hall of Fame / historic cultivar concept, leveraging exclusive positioning and cultivar authenticity – target: mail-order and specialist nurseries.
  • Signature dark-red specimen feature – Individually labelled, bush-trained plants promoted as focal specimens for thematic rose gardens and collection projects, emphasising colour intensity and own-root longevity – target: garden centres and project-based wholesalers.

Technical cultivar profile
Parameter Data
Name and registration Hybrid tea rose cultivar MEIcesar, marketed as Papa Meilland® Hybrid tea rose MEIcesar; American Rose Society exhibition name Papa Meilland, commercial type and group hybrid tea rose.
Origin and breeding Bred by Alain Meilland (Meilland International, France) from ‘Chrysler Imperial’ × ‘Charles Mallerin’; bred before 1962, registered 1962 and introduced 1963 by Meilland International.
Awards and recognition Gold Medal Baden-Baden 1962, American Rose Society Gamble Fragrance Award 1974, World Federation of Rose Societies World’s Favourite Rose and Hall of Fame selection 1988.
Growth and structural characteristics Upright habit with 100–140 cm height and 80–120 cm spread; moderately dense, glossy dark green foliage, moderately thorny shoots, weak self-cleaning so spent blooms generally require deadheading.
Flower morphology Large, double-flowered solitary blooms with 26–39 petals; classic high-centred hybrid tea form with pointed buds, functioning well as a cut-rose type and for show bench use.
Colour data and phenology Deep, velvety dark red with blackish edging; ARS code DR, RHS 187A outer and 187B inner; colour holds in moderate light but can scorch in strong sun, fading to dark ruby-red with purplish-brown tones.
Fragrance and aroma Very strongly scented hybrid tea with classic damask rose character; fragrance is noticeable from a distance and is a key attribute in garden, specimen and cut-flower usage contexts.
Hip characteristics Forms small quantities of red, ellipsoidal hips around 10–14 mm diameter; hips are a minor ornamental feature rather than a primary production or marketing focus.
Resistance and winter hardiness Good resistance to powdery mildew, black spot and rust; hardy to approximately -21 to -18 °C, RHS rating H7, USDA zone 6b, Swedish zone 3, moderate heat and drought tolerance needing regular watering in dry spells.
Horticultural recommendations Recommended for border, edging, cut flower, specimen and container use; low maintenance requirements, generally good disease resistance, best marketed as bush-trained plants with 3–5 canes via a premium container route.

Papa Meilland® Hybrid tea rose MEIcesar combines very strong fragrance, award-backed flower quality and reliable disease resistance in a long-lived own-root form that supports predictable, renewable stands; please contact us to align capacities and scheduling.

Detailed product attributes

Product Identification Data

Product Name: PAPA MEILLAND® – dark red hybrid tea rose - Meilland
Product Type: pharmaROSA® NEONATAL - rooted rose cutting
Cultivar Authenticity: Verified:26.10.2025
Cultivar Quality Rating: premium silver
Item Number: [418] 20-050 (14.02.2026) pharmarosaneonatal.co.uk

Name and Registration

Meaning of Cultivar Name: The name "Papa Meilland" honours Alain Meilland's father, Francis Meilland.
Original Trade Name: Papa Meilland
Current Trade Name: Papa Meilland® Hybrid tea rose MEIcesar
Rose Group: Hybrid Tea
Commercial Type: hybrid tea rose
Commercial Group: Hybrid tea rose
Exhibition Category: cut flower; exhibition tea hybrid
Collection: Hybrid tea rose

Origin and Breeding

Initial Distributor: Meilland International (France)
Breeder: Alain Meilland
Breeding Company / Institution: Meilland International (Meilland-Richardier)
Breeding Year: France, before 1962
Parentage: 'Chrysler Imperial' × 'Charles Mallerin'

Awards and Honours

Global and Lifetime Awards: World Federation of Rose Societies – World’s Favourite Rose; Hall of Fame (1988)
Competition and Show Awards: Baden-Baden Gold Medal (1962); American Rose Society – Gamble Fragrance Award (1974); World Federation of Rose Societies – World’s Favourite Rose / Hall of Fame (1988)

Growth and Structural Characteristics

Height: 3.3-4.6ft (100-140 cm)
Spread: 2.6-3.9ft (80-120 cm)
Growth Habit: upright
Foliage: The cultivar's foliage is moderately dense. The leaves are glossy and dark green.
Prickliness: moderately thorny
Self-Cleaning Description: Spent flowers mostly remain on the plant; subsequent deadheading is required.
Self-Cleaning Intensity: Self-cleaning: weak

Flower Morphology

Petal Count: 26-39
Flower Fullness: double-flowered
Flower Shape: high-centred, pointed bud (cut-rose type)
Flower Size: L (2,75-3,95 in)
Inflorescence Type: solitary
Colour Code: ARS code: DR RHS code: 187A (outer), 187B (inner)
Repeat Flowering: Remontant, with a plentiful second flush of blooms.

Colour Data and Phenology

Colour: dark-red
Flower Colour Description: Deep, velvety dark red tones with a slight blackish shading on the edges.
Closed Bud: Black-tinged, burgundy-red surface with a subtle velvety sheen.
Newly Opened Flower: Velvety deep-red petals, darker at the outer edges with an almost black hue.
Full Bloom: Evenly rich dark red with a slightly lighter burgundy sheen towards the centre.
Before Fading: It fades to a dark ruby-red shade, with purplish-brown tones in places.
Colour Fading Description: In strong sunlight the dark petals may scorch; in moderate light the colour holds well.

Fragrance and Aroma

Fragrance Strength: very strongly scented, noticeable from a distance rose
Fragrance Character: classic, damask scented
Pollinator Attraction: Flowers moderately attract pollinators; flower form (simple, semi-double or double) and the accessibility of the stamens affect this, with simple and semi-double blooms with exposed stamens being more accessible to insects and fully double flowers with co
Pollinator-Friendly Rating: Its double flowers moderately attract pollinators, so it is at most partially pollinator-friendly.

Hip Characteristics

Hip Shape: ellipsoidal
Hip Colour: red
Hip Comment: Occurring in small quantities, the rose hips are red, ellipsoid and 10–14 mm in diameter.

Resistance and Hardiness

Hardiness (°C): -21–-18 °C
Heat and Drought Tolerance Description: Average performance in heat; requires regular watering during prolonged drought.
Disease Resistance: resistant
  • powdery mildew – resistant
  • black spot – resistant
  • rust – resistant

Horticultural Recommendations

Recommended product path: Premium container
Release form: Bush-trained, with 3–5 strong framework canes
Recommended use: Maintenance requirement low; good disease resistance, generally requires little intervention.
Primary Uses: border, edging, cut flower, specimen, container

Comments

Positioning: Exclusive finished product
Target customer/channel: Retail / reseller
Main value proposition: Flower quality, form
PAPA MEILLAND® – dark red hybrid tea rose - Meilland
Deep, velvety dark red tones with a slight blackish shading on the edges. - hybrid tea rose - very strongly scented, noticeable from a distance rose - classic, damask scented
Online rose purchase - dark-red - very strongly scented, noticeable from a distance rose - Papa Meilland® - hybrid tea rose - (3.3-4.6ft (100-140 cm))
Inflorescence: solitary Height: 3.3-4.6ft (100-140 cm) Flower shape: high-centred, pointed bud (cut-rose type) Winter hardiness: 5b dark-red - Meilland International (France) hybrid tea rose - Flower size: L (2,75-3,95 in) Flower size: L (2,75-3,95 in) - Height: 3.3-4.6ft (100-140 cm) Height: 3.3-4.6ft (100-140 cm) - Flower fullness: double-flowered Papa Meilland® - Roses in the garden | pharmaROSA® Neonatal - premium silver Alain Meilland

We showcase the external appearance of the roses available for online purchase from our webshop.


Which product type is right for you?


PharmaRosa® NEONATAL is the cost‑effective starting point for rose product production.

As a uniform, own‑rooted propagation material, it provides a stable basis for further growing-on and can be integrated flexibly into different finished product production technologies.
Rooted in trays (rooted), 3–6‑month‑old, own‑rooted rose cutting.
Uniform developmental stage, with a root system that has thoroughly penetrated the plug.
For professional growing‑on.
Tray packaging: 10 pcs/tray.
Quality and varietal identity: production supported by a dedicated identification and traceability logic.
Can be transplanted during frost‑free periods, designed for finished product production.

PharmaRosa® NEONATAL provides a controlled, uniform starting stock for planned growing‑on that can be integrated into your own technology – especially where scheduling and varietal identity are paramount.


PharmaRosa® NEONATAL own-rooted rose propagation material in a plug, with a root system penetrating the plug (semi-finished product / semi-finished rose). PharmaRosa® NEONATAL rose propagation material size: 3–6‑month‑old, own-rooted cutting with a uniform developmental stage. PharmaRosa® NEONATAL rose propagation material root system: plug densely penetrated by well-developed white roots (root system detail). PharmaRosa® NEONATAL tray stock: own-rooted rose propagation material in trays, uniform developmental stage (10 pcs/tray).

Captions (from left to right): Semi-finished product (NEONATAL own-rooted rose propagation material in a plug with a fully developed root system) • Size demonstration (3–6‑month‑old, uniform cutting) • Root system detail (plug penetrated by the root system) • Tray stock (10 pcs/tray, uniform developmental stage)

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Which product type is right for you?

Pages for private customers
Garden roses for the family garden, with minimal care  → ORIGINAL®
Premium garden roses – instant impact, a truly showpiece garden  → EXTRA®
Pages for professionals and private customers
Roses for public spaces – large areas, sustainable maintenance  → NATURAL®
Roses for projects – hedge and row planting, fast implementation  → RAPID®
For professional partners only
Production – propagation material for garden roses, wholesale  → NEONATAL®

Company details

PharmaRosa Ltd.
Company registration number: 01-09-717479
VAT number: 13075314-2-43
Plant health registration no.: HU130721
Bank account (IBAN):
HU85117631891388688400000000
BIC (SWIFT): OTPVHUHB
Bank name: OTP Bank Nyrt.