ANDRE LE NOTRE ® – pink hybrid tea rose – Meilland
ANDRE LE NOTRE ® brings a feeling of storybook romance to an everyday family garden, combining large, pastel-pink blooms with a strong, sweet-fruity fragrance that feels made for slow afternoons and informal tea-time gatherings. As an own-root rose in the pharmaROSA® ORIGINAL 2-litre size, it offers reassuring long-term stability and the ability to regenerate from the base after harsher winters or pruning experiments, supporting a natural arc of establishment from roots in the first year, to stronger shoots in the second, and full ornamental value by the third. In typical British conditions, from softer southern plots to breezier spots where you may need to think about good drainage in heavier soils and raised beds, this upright hybrid tea will reward regular care with exhibition-style flowers you can cut freely for the house. Over time, its glossy foliage and statuesque habit allow you to build a quietly luxurious, cottage-style ambience in borders, against low hedging, or in generous containers of at least 40–50 litres, where the combination of height, perfume and pastel petals creates an instantly recognisable focal point. Even in smaller gardens, a single well-placed plant can deliver a sense of gentle theatre, while a short run of shrubs along a path or seating area turns everyday views into a private rose gallery.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Feature rose beside a seating area or garden bench |
The strong, sweet-fruity scent and XL, pastel-pink hybrid tea blooms make this cultivar ideal where you sit and linger, so you can enjoy both perfume and the refined, cupped flower form at close quarters; particularly suited to the fragrance-loving garden connoisseur. |
| Cutting section in a kitchen garden or allotment |
The long, straight stems and solitary exhibition-type flowers are bred for cutting, allowing you to harvest armfuls of pastel-pink, very double blooms for vases while the shrub reliably remontants through the season; ideal for the home-arranging kitchen-gardener. |
| Romantic focal point in a small front garden |
Its upright habit and moderate spread mean it fits neatly beside a doorway or bay window, giving a classic, welcoming look without overwhelming the space, while own-root growth offers long-term structure in a traditional setting; perfect for the house-proud homeowner. |
| Single or paired specimen in a 40–50 litre container |
Grown in a large pot, this rose becomes a movable statement piece for terraces or patios, with glossy foliage and large, cupped flowers that benefit from the controlled watering and feeding a container allows; ideal for the space-conscious urban-gardener. |
| Short rose border along a path or lawn edge |
Planting at recommended spacing creates a loose, formal row where repeated pastel flowers and similar height give rhythm and structure, while own-root resilience supports long-lived planting schemes with minimal replanting; suited to the planning-focused border-designer. |
| Accent within a mixed cottage-style bed |
The warm pastel pink harmonises easily with traditional perennials and soft grasses, while the large flowers stand out enough to act as a vertical accent among looser planting, keeping the cottage style romantic yet ordered; attractive to the nostalgic cottage-lover. |
| Sheltered, sunny spot in wind-prone or exposed gardens |
Choosing a position with some shelter and reliable drainage helps the blooms hold their shape and reduces stress on the moderately thorny canes, supporting stable growth even where coastal winds or open aspects can be challenging; helpful for the weather-aware coastal-gardener. |
| Formal pair framing steps, an arbour or pergola entrance |
Two evenly grown plants give a balanced, ceremonial feel, with repeating, scented flowers marking the transition between house and garden, while own-root plants recover evenly after harder pruning to maintain symmetry over the years; ideal for the symmetry-seeking designer-owner. |
Styling ideas
- Tea-Table Welcome – Place a single specimen near a bistro set with pale blue cushions and a terracotta pot of thyme to echo the soft pink blooms – for homeowners who enjoy relaxed afternoon tea outdoors.
- Cottage Ribbon – Run a short line of plants along a brick path, underplant with lavender and catmint for haze and scent layers – for lovers of traditional English cottage borders.
- Pastel Courtyard – Grow in two 50-litre clay containers by French doors, with trailing ivy and seasonal violas – for urban gardeners creating a refined yet easy-care patio focus.
- Kitchen Cutting Nook – Combine with dahlias and herbs in a productive corner, using its long stems for regular cutting – for hobby gardeners who like home-grown bouquets on the table.
- Romantic Vista – Position as a focal shrub beyond a lawn, backed by dark yew or holly to make the pastel flowers glow – for detail-conscious planners shaping classic garden views.
Technical cultivar profile
| Property |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose, registered as MEIceppus; marketed as ANDRE LE NOTRE ® Romantica® MEIceppus, with ARS exhibition name Betty White™, belonging to the Romantica® collection. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Alain Meilland (Meilland International) in France from Pink Panther × Charleston ’88 × Yakimour; introduced and registered in 2001, with breeding completed around 2000. |
| Awards and recognition |
Highly decorated exhibition rose with multiple 2000 honours, including gold medals at Rome and Kortrijk, fragrance awards and crowns at Monza, and a Geneva fragrance award, plus a Madrid certificate. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright, medium-tall shrub reaching about 100–140 cm high and 65–95 cm wide, with moderately dense, glossy dark green foliage and a moderately thorny framework suited to feature planting. |
| Flower morphology |
Very double, cupped hybrid tea blooms with over 40 petals and a medium, raised centre, borne mainly singly on stems, in XL size from around 3.5 inches, repeating generously through the season. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Soft, warm pastel pink with subtle peach tones at the petal base, outer petals lighter; colour fades as the flower opens to a very pale, almost ivory pink, especially towards the end of each bloom. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strongly scented hybrid tea with a sweet, fruity rose fragrance, bred as an ornamental and cut-flower variety; very double blooms limit pollen access, so it is chosen primarily for human perfume appeal. |
| Hip characteristics |
Hip production is generally sparse due to the heavy petal count; when present, hips are small, spherical, about 10–14 mm in diameter, and red, adding only modest late-season decorative interest. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to around –21 to –18 °C (RHS H7, USDA 6b, Swedish zone 3) but with moderate to weak disease resistance, showing sensitivity to black spot, powdery mildew and especially rust in humid summers. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in sunny, well-drained positions with regular watering and a fungicide programme; spacing around 50–55 cm in rows or 90 cm as a specimen, at roughly 3.3–3.8 plants per square metre for massing. |
ANDRE LE NOTRE ® offers large, scented pastel blooms, elegant upright growth and dependable own-root longevity for classic cottage-style borders and containers; a thoughtful choice if you want lasting romance with every new season of flowers.
