ASTRONOMIA® – pink bedding floribunda rose – Meilland
ASTRONOMIA® brings a touch of storybook romance to everyday family gardens, its star-like single blooms glowing softly above dense, glossy foliage for a light, airy effect. This compact, bushy floribunda forms a neat, structured shrub that slips easily into cottage-style borders and front-of-bed planting, giving the feel of afternoon tea beneath an arbour even in a small town plot. The flowers repeat reliably in generous flushes, keeping beds and low hedges dotted with pretty, pale pink sprays over a long season. As an own-root rose it establishes steadily, building a naturally balanced root system that supports long lifespan, stable shape and good recovery if shoots are cut back hard. In typical British conditions it copes well with exposed spots where breezes and showers move through coastal or open gardens, helping foliage to stay healthier under changeable weather. The pharmaROSA® ORIGINAL 2-litre format gives you a ready-grown young shrub: easy to handle, simple to plant, and well suited to larger containers of 40–50 litres on terraces or by the front door, where its open, flat blooms can be enjoyed up close at eye level. Think of it as a gentle, decorative framework for pastel cottage schemes, building year by year into a reliable presence in the garden picture. The own-root structure supports a calm, predictable development arc, with roots settling in the first year, top growth filling out in the second, and full ornamental value unfolding from the third season onwards.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Cottage-style flower bed in a family back garden |
The compact, bushy habit and airy single blooms give classic cottage character without overwhelming a small to medium border, keeping views open for play space and seating while still feeling abundant and romantic for homeowners. |
| Low, informal hedge along a path or driveway |
Planted at the recommended spacing, ASTRONOMIA® forms a gently undulating, structured line, with dense foliage and repeated sprays of soft pink flowers creating a welcoming, storybook approach for family. |
| Feature planting near seating for afternoon tea corners |
The flat, star-like flowers and pale colouring read beautifully at close range, giving a relaxed tea‑garden atmosphere and a soft backdrop for garden furniture without demanding intensive upkeep from beginners. |
| Urban front gardens and terraces in larger containers |
In a 40–50 litre pot, the upright, tidy framework and continuous flowering provide reliable structure and colour on patios or balconies, suiting busy lifestyles and limited space for urbanites. |
| Mixed border with traditional perennials and herbs |
The open habit and pastel pink palette weave easily between salvias, daisies and cottage perennials, adding long-season floral continuity that ties planting together for cottage lovers. |
| Small family gardens exposed to breezes and showers |
In typical British weather the bushy framework anchors well and tolerates sites where air and rain move through the garden, helping overall planting to feel stable and reliable for coastal gardeners. |
| Long-term planting where shrubs are expected to last |
As an own-root plant it develops from a balanced base, so if frost or pruning cuts stems back, new shoots arise from the rootstock itself, supporting a long-lived, regenerating presence for planners. |
| Family beds where some flexibility in pruning is needed |
The upright floribunda framework responds well to a range of pruning styles, from light shaping to harder cuts, allowing simple seasonal routines that can be adjusted as time allows for busy gardeners. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage Lace Border – Combine ASTRONOMIA® with Mexican daisy and evergreen candytuft for a low, frothy edge to paths or lawns – ideal for families wanting a soft English cottage feel.
- Tea-Arbour Corner – Underplant a pergola or seating nook with ASTRONOMIA® and compact culinary sages to frame an afternoon tea spot – perfect for homeowners who enjoy relaxed, romantic entertaining.
- Front-Garden Welcome – Use a short run of ASTRONOMIA® as a low hedge by the front gate, setting it off with gravel or brick edging – suited to traditionalists who value tidy structure and charm.
- Terrace Feature Pot – Plant one rose in a 40–50 litre container with soft ground covers around the base for a long-flowering terrace focal point – good for urban gardeners short on ground space.
- Pastel Kitchen Plot – Thread ASTRONOMIA® between herbs and vegetables to blur the edge of a kitchen garden – appealing to cottage-garden cooks who like flowers mingling with produce.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
ASTRONOMIA® – MEILLANDECOR® floribunda bed rose; registered as MEIguimov, ARS exhibition name The Charlatan; floribunda spray type for bedding and landscape mass planting. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Alain Meilland (Meilland International, France) from (‘Bonica’ × ‘Playboy’) × ‘Deborah’ (Meinoiral); bred 1997, registered 2005, introduced to commerce internationally from 2006. |
| Awards and recognition |
Highly decorated bedding rose: Rose de l’Année, Paris Bagatelle (2005); multiple gold medals in Buenos Aires, Le Roeulx, The Hague, Baden-Baden; silver in Saverne; mass-planting award in Lyon. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy, upright floribunda, around 90–120 cm high and 60–90 cm wide; dense, glossy dark green foliage with moderate prickles; builds a neat structural framework suited to hedging or bed edges. |
| Flower morphology |
Single, flat blooms with 5–12 petals, large-flowered clusters on sprays; strong repeat flowering with abundant second flush; most spent petals shed naturally, with only occasional deadheading needed. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Soft pastel pink petals, RHS 62D outer with whitish centre (155D); colour holds to full bloom then gently fades towards white, while red stamens remain contrasting for a delicate, star-like effect. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Fragrance is very weak and barely noticeable; chosen primarily for its visual effect, flowering rhythm and bedding performance rather than for scent, making it a discreet neighbour in mixed schemes. |
| Hip characteristics |
Hip set is usually light; small pear-shaped hips around 8–12 mm, brownish-green (RHS 146B), appearing occasionally without significantly affecting the plant’s ornamental value in typical gardens. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to about −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7, Swedish zone 3, USDA 6b); tolerates heat with extra watering in drought; disease resistance to major fungal problems is low, so preventive care is important. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in beds, borders, low hedges and large containers; prefers sunny, well-drained soil; allow 50–95 cm spacing; own-root plants respond well to periodic renewal pruning from the base. |
ASTRONOMIA® offers a compact, structural shrub with long-season flowering, adaptable pruning and a regenerating own-root habit that suits relaxed, romantic family gardens, making it a considered choice for your next planting.
