BOTTICELLI ® – pink bedding floribunda rose - Richardier
Step out to your front garden after rain and meet balance in soft pink clusters of bloom: BOTTICELLI ® brings a reassuring sense of calm to compact London terraces and family plots, with bushy, even growth that copes well with breezy, wetter spells and heavier soils typical of many British gardens, provided drainage is improved. Its floribunda habit means reliable, repeat flowering from early summer well into autumn, forming generous trusses that refresh beds and low hedges with little input beyond light dead-heading. Own-root plants build strength steadily, giving a dependable, long-lived framework that shrugs off the odd lost shoot and regrows cleanly. Settle it into peat-free compost, mulch, then simply water with saved rain where possible, and in three seasons you typically see roots establishing in year one, fuller top growth in year two and the rose reaching its true ornamental character by year three. Its compact, bushy habit suits 40–50 litre containers on patios and balconies as much as smart front beds, letting you enjoy elegant, porcelain-pink clusters without demanding gardening routines.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Front garden bedding for London terraces |
The compact, bushy floribunda form creates a neat, low pink cloud that sits beautifully behind railings and along short paths, without overwhelming small plots or needing complex pruning – ideal for the time-pressed homeowner. |
| Rainwater-conscious urban planting strip |
Works well in improved clay or urban soils that stay moist yet drained in wet spells, allowing you to pair light earthworks and mulching with saved rainwater for sustainable care – a thoughtful choice for the eco-aware city-dweller. |
| Long-season flower bed focal point |
Remontant clusters keep producing porcelain-pink blooms from early summer to autumn, so even a modest bed gains months of colour, staying attractive between school runs and workdays for the busy family-gardener. |
| Low hedge along paths and drives |
Regular spacing forms a dense, rounded edge that reads as a soft pink border rather than hard fencing, and its own-root structure regrows reliably if a stem is damaged, reassuring the practical planner. |
| Large patio container or balcony tub |
In a 40–50 litre pot with peat-free compost, BOTTICELLI ® keeps a tidy frame and steady flowering, turning small paved spaces into gentle pink retreats without specialist knowledge, suiting the novice container-gardener. |
| Easy-care family play-space border |
Medium maintenance needs and good heat tolerance mean light dead-heading, watering in prolonged dry spells and basic disease checks are usually enough, matching the routines of a relaxed, low-input parent-gardener. |
| Soft “girly” accent with herbs and perennials |
The pastel pink trusses blend harmoniously with lavender, sage or nepeta for a romantic, pollinator-supporting edge, offering seasonal charm without botanical expertise to the style-conscious beginner. |
| Long-lived structural rose in small gardens |
As an own-root rose it matures into a stable, rejuvenating shrub, avoiding graft failures and helping preserve the planting for years, which appeals to those planning a future-proof, sustainable garden-owner. |
Styling ideas
- Romantic Border – Line a short front path with BOTTICELLI ® and lavender for soft pink and purple waves – perfect for terrace owners wanting an inviting, feminine approach.
- Balcony Retreat – Plant one rose in a 50 litre tub with trailing nepeta at the rim – ideal for city dwellers seeking a low-effort, fragrant-feel reading corner.
- Pastel Hedge – Create a low, airy hedge along a drive by repeating plants at 35 cm – suited to families wanting structure without the severity of hard landscaping.
- Rain-Garden Ribbon – Combine with ornamental grasses and permeable gravel paths for soft colour that copes with wet spells – good for sustainability-minded urban gardeners.
- Patio Showcase – Use three plants in a wide bed, underplant with sage and pale nepeta – attractive for beginners wanting a long-flowering, colour-coordinated feature.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Floribunda bedding rose, ARS exhibition floribunda; registered as MEIsylpho, sold as BOTTICELLI ® bedding rose MEIsylpho; name honouring Renaissance painter Sandro Botticelli. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Michèle Meilland Richardier at Meilland International, France; bred and registered in 2003, introduced 2005; parentage undisclosed; selected for bedding and landscaping performance. |
| Awards and recognition |
Highly decorated bedding rose: Gold Medals at The Hague and Paris Bagatelle, Golden Rose of Geneva, plus top prizes at Monza, confirming strong garden and landscape merit. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Compact, bushy shrub 60–80 cm high and 50–70 cm wide, with dense, dark green, slightly glossy foliage and moderate prickles; forms a rounded, even outline in beds or containers. |
| Flower morphology |
Very double, cupped XL blooms, usually in clusters; over 40 petals per flower with medium self-cleaning, so occasional dead-heading recommended for tidiness and sustained display. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Porcelain pink blooms (RHS 65C outer, 65D inner); soft, pure pink buds open to even light pink, paling towards edges and fading to powder-pink with a gentle whitish inner glow. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Subtle, barely perceptible scent with a delicate character; bred primarily for visual bedding impact and continuity of bloom rather than strong perfume or aromatic petal production. |
| Hip characteristics |
Very double flowers set few hips; occasional small, globular orange-red fruits, about 6–10 mm across, may appear late season but are not a dominant ornamental feature. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to about –21 to –18 °C (RHS H7, USDA 6b); good heat tolerance; resistant to powdery mildew, with medium susceptibility to black spot and rust in very humid conditions. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best for beds, edging, low hedges and larger containers; plant 35–65 cm apart, 5.7–6.5 plants/m²; prefers sun or light shade, regular watering in drought and basic preventive care in wet summers. |
BOTTICELLI ® offers compact, long-season pink clusters with award-winning bedding performance, maturing into a durable own-root shrub that suits smaller gardens and containers, making it a reassuring choice if you prefer roses that quietly look after themselves.
