VELASQUEZ® – deep pink hybrid tea rose – Meilland
Step out after summer rain and meet VELASQUEZ®, a velvety, deep-pink hybrid tea that brings balance to compact front gardens while coping reliably with cool, damp British seasons and steady coastal winds and showers. Bred by Meilland and grown on its own roots, it offers enduring resilience, regenerating from the base for a long, stable ornamental life with minimal intervention. In an average family garden or small London terrace, a single upright shrub gives generous, XL exhibition-style blooms on long stems, ideal for cutting. The flowers carry a very strong, long-lasting fragrance, turning a simple doorway or balcony into a scented retreat, and the dense, healthy foliage keeps the plant looking “finished” even between flushes. Maintenance is deliberately simple: light pruning, regular deadheading and rainwater-conscious mulching are usually enough. Planted in the ground or in a substantial 40–50 litre container, you can expect roots to establish in year one, confident shoots and structure in year two, and full, showpiece flowering performance from year three onward – a sustainable, long-lived investment in everyday garden pleasure.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Front-garden focal point in a small London terrace |
The upright habit and XL hybrid tea blooms give an instant, classic focal point without needing a large bed, ideal where space is tight and every plant must earn its place for busy urban garden owners. |
| Low-maintenance mixed border in a family garden |
Good disease resistance and modest pruning needs keep care straightforward, while the strong scent and generous repeat flowering add “wow” with little extra effort for time-pressed hobby gardeners. |
| Large 40–50 litre container by the front door |
Performs well in a substantial pot filled with peat-free compost and regular rainwater irrigation, coping calmly with typical British showers and breezy conditions for balcony and courtyard gardeners. |
| Long-stemmed cut-rose corner |
The high-centred, exhibition-style flowers on sturdy stems are excellent for cutting, so one or two plants can supply repeated bunches for the house over the season for home flower arrangers. |
| Single-specimen “statement” planting in lawn or gravel |
Planted alone with a clean surround, its dense foliage and deep-pink blooms create a sculptural, modern look that stays elegant from spring to autumn for design-conscious homeowners. |
| Near-natural, balanced garden scheme |
The tidy, upright shrub integrates well with ornamental grasses and perennials, giving structure without dominating and supporting a calm, harmonious design for gardeners seeking a balanced atmosphere. |
| Long-term, own-root rose investment bed |
As an own-root shrub it can rejuvenate from the base, avoiding graft issues and supporting many years of consistent flowering form for those planning a durable, low-intervention planting. |
| Family-friendly scented seating area |
The very strong, lasting perfume and repeat flushes bring evening scent and colour near benches or patios, turning small spaces into relaxed retreats for families and beginners building confidence. |
Styling ideas
- Terrace-Theatre – plant VELASQUEZ® in a charcoal pot (50 litres+) flanked by lavender for scent layers and easy care – ideal for urban terrace gardeners wanting drama from one key rose.
- Soft-Modern – set it in a gravelled front garden with Stipa tenuissima and low box balls for a clean, architectural look – suited to homeowners favouring structured yet low-maintenance planting.
- Romantic-Border – weave among Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’ and pale coneflowers so the deep pink blooms float above frothy whites – perfect for cottage-style family borders with limited upkeep time.
- Scented-Path – repeat plants at 90 cm along a short path, underplanted with nepeta and sage to soften edges – good for small gardens aiming for fragrance and easy trimming, not complex pruning.
- Showpiece-Cuttings – dedicate a sunny strip to VELASQUEZ® in rows, edged with low herbs, for reliable, long-stemmed cut flowers – for creative home florists wanting a steady supply with simple care.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose; registered as MEImirtylus, marketed as Velasquez® PERFUMELLA® MEImirtylus; exhibition name Velasquez in ARS schedules; deep-pink hybrid tea for garden and cutting use. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Alain Meilland, Meilland International SA, France; breeding completed 2010, registered 2010, introduced 2011; selection originally developed for high-quality, strongly scented large blooms. |
| Awards and recognition |
Grande Rose du Siècle and Prestige de la Rose (Lyon, 2011); Best Large-Flowered Rose in Hradec Králové and Dublin; Silver Medal Tokyo; Audience Prize Avignon; French Label Rouge distinction. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright, bushy habit reaching around 100–140 cm high and 50–70 cm wide; moderately thorny canes with dense, slightly glossy dark-green foliage providing a well-clothed, elegant shrub form. |
| Flower morphology |
Very double, XL flowers with over 40 petals; classic high-centred, pointed hybrid tea form on mostly solitary stems; remontant with a generous second flush under typical garden conditions. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Velvety deep pink with subtle lilac sheen; buds dark crimson-pink, opening to rich cherry-pink; colour lightens gradually to mid-pink with faint lilac edge; ARS DP, RHS 60A outer, 60B inner. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very strong, long-lasting perfume of classic rose type; fragrance persists well when cut for the vase, making it particularly suitable where scent is a primary selection criterion in the garden. |
| Hip characteristics |
Hip set is generally sparse due to very full flowers; where formed, hips are ovoid, 12–18 mm across, orange-red in colour, adding a modest decorative feature late in the season. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Rated resistant to powdery mildew, black spot and rust; suitable for typical UK climates including cooler, exposed sites; hardy to approximately −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7; USDA zone 6b; Sweden zone 3). |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun, fertile well-drained soil; recommended spacings from 50–90 cm depending on use; responds to regular deadheading and balanced feeding; low to moderate maintenance for most gardens. |
VELASQUEZ® offers richly scented, exhibition-quality deep-pink blooms on a healthy, long-lived own-root shrub, ideal for low-maintenance family gardens and generous cutting, and well worth considering as a lasting feature.
