CENTENNIAL STAR™ – yellow-pink hybrid tea rose – Meilland
In a classic cottage setting, CENTENNIAL STAR™ brings romantic charm to small and medium family gardens, wrapping everyday moments in a gentle, storybook mood. Its large, golden-yellow and pink blooms give a soft glow to seating areas and narrow borders, while the strong, sweetly spicy perfume adds an indulgent afternoon feel around terraces and kitchen gardens. This bushy, well-structured hybrid tea establishes reliably even where you need better drainage on heavier soils and exposed, breezier plots near the coast. As an own-root rose it offers reassuring longevity, regenerating well if cut back and remaining visually stable over many years with only straightforward seasonal care. In a 2-litre pharmaROSA® ORIGINAL pot it is easy to handle, slip into borders, or grow on in larger containers for a welcoming, cosy entrance or patio focal point that matures gracefully from the first planting season onward.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Feature rose for cottage-style front garden |
The bushy, upright habit and large, classic blooms create a clear focal point in modest UK front gardens without overwhelming the space, and its strong perfume greets you at the gate; ideal for those who enjoy a warm welcome, especially homeowners. |
| Summer cutting patch by the kitchen garden |
Long-stemmed, double flowers with a sweetly spicy scent are excellent for vases, giving reliable repeat flushes through summer so you can cut regularly while still leaving colour outside; perfect for relaxed arrangements created by enthusiastic hobby-gardeners. |
| Romantic patio corner in a large container |
Its compact yet substantial framework suits a 40–50 litre pot, where regular watering and feeding are easy to manage, providing scented, golden-yellow to peach-pink flowers close to seating; especially attractive for busy urban-gardeners. |
| Mixed cottage border with perennials |
The warm yellow and pink palette blends effortlessly with penstemon, sedum and grey foliage, offering colour continuity between perennial peaks and rose flushes, useful for a soft, traditional effect sought by lovers of cottage-gardens. |
| Edging along paths and lawn margins |
Medium height and dense, dark green foliage form a neat visual boundary without feeling formal, while repeated flowering keeps paths framed for much of the season, suiting relaxed yet ordered spaces planned by family-gardeners. |
| Informal flowering hedge or row |
Planted at recommended spacings, its bushy, clump-forming growth knits into a low, flowering screen that marks boundaries while still allowing views, a practical choice for those balancing looks and function, typically practical-owners. |
| Partially shaded seating area |
Tolerance of partial shade lets it perform where fences, sheds or neighbouring houses give only part-day sun, maintaining colour and scent in these lived-in corners, which is reassuring for space-limited beginners. |
| Exposed or breezier family plots |
Its sturdy framework and glossy foliage cope well where gardens feel more open, while thoughtful soil preparation ensures good drainage on heavier sites prone to winter wet, appealing to coastal and clay-soil gardeners. |
Styling ideas
- Tea-on-the-lawn – Pair CENTENNIAL STAR™ with low lavender and grey santolina around a small bistro set to echo classic afternoon tea gardens – for homeowners who enjoy relaxed, fragrant summer hosting.
- Kitchen-border – Thread it between herbs and soft fruit with Penstemon ‘Husker Red’ for foliage contrast and cutting stems close to hand – for cottage-garden cooks who like flowers beside the veg.
- Patio-showpiece – Grow one plant in a 40–50 litre terracotta pot with trailing sedum at the base for a golden-pink focal point – for balcony and courtyard gardeners wanting instant romance.
- Storybook-path – Line a curving path with staggered plants and soft grasses, letting the glowing blooms pop from dark green foliage – for families creating a playful, fairy-tale route through the garden.
- Evening-nook – Place near a bench with pale foxgloves and white campanulas so the warm blooms and scent stand out at dusk – for those who unwind outdoors after work with a quiet cup of tea.
Technical cultivar profile
| Property | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea Romantica cultivar MEInerau, marketed as CENTENNIAL STAR™ Romantica®, hybrid tea rose group; ARS exhibition name Centennial Star, commemorating Star Roses’ 100th anniversary. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Alain A. Meilland, Meilland International SA, France, 1996; parentage (‘Sunblest’ × ‘KORresia’) × ‘MEInarval’; registered 1997 with US Plant Patent PP10 668, later introduced via Star® Roses. |
| Awards and recognition |
Recognised in exhibition circles as a quality hybrid tea; notable success includes a Gold Award from the Portland Rose Society, reflecting its value as both a garden and show variety. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy, clump-forming shrub reaching about 90–130 cm high and 70–95 cm wide, with dense, dark green glossy foliage and moderate prickliness, forming a balanced, well-filled framework over time. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, double, cup-shaped blooms with 26–39 petals borne mainly singly on stems, showing a pronounced, medium-tall hybrid tea form and abundant repeat flowering over the main growing season. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Warm golden-yellow base with pink edging (ARS yb, RHS 14B outer, 12B inner), shifting through salmon and peach-pink tones as flowers age, giving a varied, softly blended colour display on the bush. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strong, long-lasting perfume with a sweetly spicy character, noticeable both on the plant and when cut for the house, adding sensory value in seating areas, near doors and along frequently used paths. |
| Hip characteristics |
Occasional ellipsoid hips, about 8–12 mm across, coloured orange-red as they mature; decorative at close range but not produced in heavy quantities, with limited impact on overall garden display. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Rated to around -21 to -18 °C (RHS H7, USDA 6b, Swedish Zone 3) with medium resistance to common fungal diseases, requiring standard monitoring and timely care in humid, high-pressure seasons. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Suited to beds, edging, hedging and containers; plant 50–55 cm apart, 3.2–3.7 plants/m² for massing; prefers full sun to partial shade with regular watering in dry spells and occasional disease control. |
CENTENNIAL STAR™ offers richly scented, repeat-flowering golden-yellow and pink blooms on a durable, own-root shrub that settles reliably into everyday family gardens, making it a thoughtful choice when you wish to plant for long-term enjoyment.
