PINK PANTHER™ – pink hybrid tea rose – MEIcapinal
Step into a London front garden after rain and PINK PANTHER™ greets you with fragrance, glossy foliage and well-shaped blooms that cope gracefully with blustery, wet British weather and heavier soils, creating a serene, rainwater-conscious planting. This classic hybrid tea offers reliable flowering all summer, each long-stemmed, coral-pink rose ideal for cutting and bringing indoors. As an own-root plant it builds quiet strength below ground, supporting many years of stable colour and elegant structure. In its first seasons it settles and roots, then extends sturdy shoots, before reaching full ornamental impact by around the third year in your garden.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Front garden feature rose |
Planted as a single specimen by the path or doorway, PINK PANTHER™ gives tall, upright hybrid tea blooms at eye level and a welcoming, medium-strength scent without demanding complex care – perfect for the busy urban gardener |
| Cutting and vase displays |
Large, classic, goblet-shaped flowers on straight stems make this cultivar excellent for cutting; it repeats well through the season, so you can harvest stems regularly while keeping plenty of colour outside – ideal for the home flower arranger |
| Compact flower beds in family gardens |
Its moderate height and dense, dark green foliage allow closer planting in small beds, giving a full, tailored look with clear coral-pink tones that blend with many perennials – suitable for the average-sized family garden |
| Urban pots and large containers |
In 40–50 litre or larger containers, this upright, medium-sized bush provides structure and colour on patios or small front gardens, with enough root space to stay healthy over many seasons – a good option for the balcony and courtyard owner |
| Heat-exposed or paved spots |
With good tolerance to summer warmth and moderate drought, PINK PANTHER™ fits well in sun-trapping front gardens where paving or brickwork reflect heat, provided you water during longer dry spells – reassuring for the low-maintenance gardener |
| Mixed planting with perennials |
Its upright habit and glossy foliage pair attractively with airy companions such as geraniums, lady’s mantle or low groundcovers, creating a soft, layered effect that stays tidy through the season – appealing to the informal cottage-style lover |
| Rain-aware, clay or chalky sites |
Well-drained but heavier clay or chalk soils suit this vigorous, own-root plant once established, fitting neatly into garden plans that slow and use rainfall rather than shed it quickly – especially useful for the sustainable urban gardener |
| Long-term, own-root planting schemes |
As an own-root shrub it can regenerate from its base if cut back hard or weather-damaged, maintaining true-to-type growth and steady flowering over many years with modest intervention – reassuring for the beginner rose owner |
Styling ideas
- Pathway Welcome – Plant a pair in matching pots by a terraced-house front door, underplanted with trailing ivy for year-round structure – ideal for style-conscious city homeowners
- Soft Romance – Combine in a small bed with Alchemilla mollis and pale pink geraniums for a frothy, “girly” look – perfect for those seeking a gentle, feminine entrance
- Coral Focus – Use three plants in a triangle as a central feature in a square lawn or gravel garden, keeping edges clipped for contrast – suited to neat, low-effort front gardens
- Balcony Classic – Grow one plant in a 50 litre container with blue nepeta or lavender for colour contrast and fragrance – great for compact outdoor spaces needing vertical interest
- Summer Cutting Corner – Dedicate a sunny strip near the back door to several bushes for a steady supply of long-stemmed blooms – attractive for home florists who like simple upkeep
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose, registered as MEIcapinal, marketed as PINK PANTHER™ hybrid tea rose MEIcapinal; ARS exhibition name ‘Pink Panther’, hybrid tea collection, own-root 2-litre eleanorROSE® ORIGINAL. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Marie-Louise Meilland (Meilland International) in France from ‘Coppélia 76’ × ‘MEInaregi’; introduced and registered in 1981 by Meilland Richardier as a garden and cut rose. |
| Awards and recognition |
ADR-certified in Germany in 1981; multiple exhibition medals including gold at The Hague and silver at Le Roeulx, Geneva, Monza and Saverne, plus a notable fragrance award at The Hague in 1982. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright, medium-height bush 80–105 cm tall and 50–70 cm wide, with dense, dark green glossy foliage and moderate thorns; forms a well-balanced shrub suitable for beds, hedging and containers. |
| Flower morphology |
Very double, goblet to cup-shaped hybrid tea flowers, typically solitary on stems, with over 40 petals and large 7–10 cm heads; remontant, with an especially abundant second flush in suitable conditions. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Warm coral to salmon-pink flowers with deeper pink edges; RHS 65D outer and 62C inner tones; colour holds reasonably well before softening to powdery pink with creamy or pearly tints toward petal margins. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Medium-strong scent with a classic May rose character, clearly perceptible on still, humid days; primarily ornamental rather than for culinary use, but valued for its traditional hybrid tea perfume in the garden. |
| Hip characteristics |
Forms small, spherical red hips 6–10 mm across only occasionally; hips are decorative but not usually abundant, so they do not significantly affect the main flowering display or garden tidy appearance. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Rated to around −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7; USDA 6b; Swedish zone 3); moderate resistance to black spot, mildew and rust, with stronger performance when well sited, fed and ventilated in humid conditions. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil; spacing 45–90 cm depending on use, 4–4.6 plants/m² for mass planting; medium maintenance, needing routine feeding, pruning and occasional disease control. |
PINK PANTHER™ offers long-stemmed coral-pink blooms, classic fragrance and reliable upright growth, while its own-root form supports lasting structure and easy regeneration; an excellent choice if you want enduring elegance with manageable care.
