MONICA BELLUCCI® – pink-white hybrid tea rose – Meilland
Create a corner of romantic elegance in an everyday family garden with MONICA BELLUCCI®, a hybrid tea rose whose creamy-white petals edged in vivid raspberry-pink bring instant theatre to borders and large containers. Its very strong, far‑reaching perfume adds scented luxury to afternoon tea by an arbour, while the bushy, upright habit keeps the display orderly in small spaces. Supplied as a pharmaROSA® ORIGINAL 2‑litre own‑root plant, it establishes steadily and rewards you with a long‑lived, reliably regal shrub that regenerates well after pruning and copes reassuringly with blustery, rain‑laden coastal weather. Large, exhibition‑quality blooms are ideal for cutting, letting you bring the storybook glamour indoors. From first planting to full effect it matures gracefully, with roots, then shoots, then complete ornamental impact developing over roughly three seasons.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Main feature in a cottage-style flowerbed |
The bushy, upright growth and XL, high‑centred blooms give strong vertical focus without overwhelming a modest border, ideal beside a path or arbour in a cottage-style layout. Suits those seeking romance |
| Cutting patch near the kitchen garden |
Exhibition-type flowers on long stems and a very strong, spicy-sweet fragrance make it perfect for cutting regularly for vases, while the shrub continues to repeat flower through the season. Suits those seeking bouquets |
| Solo specimen in a small front garden |
A single plant at 75–105 cm high forms a compact yet striking focal point, with dense mid‑green foliage and two-tone blooms that read clearly from the pavement, adding kerb appeal without complex care. Suits those seeking impact |
| Formal row or low hedge along a path |
Regular spacing at 50–60 cm creates a neat, structured line; the consistent bushy habit and repeat flowering provide a reliable edge to paths or driveways, especially in traditional, storybook-style gardens. Suits those seeking structure |
| Large container on terrace or patio |
Planted in a substantial 40–50 litre pot with good drainage, its upright form and strong scent work beautifully beside seating, offering colour and perfume where soil is limited in urban or paved spaces. Suits those seeking pots |
| Mixed border with shrubs and perennials |
The two-tone pink‑white flowers blend easily with soft pastels and greens, integrating with cottage staples such as obedient plant and low evergreen shrubs to build a harmonious, long-season planting. Suits those seeking harmony |
| Family garden with changeable, breezy conditions |
Once established on its own roots, the moderately thorny, well-anchored shrub stands up to typical British gusts and showers, offering dependable flowering even where days are often blustery and damp. Suits those seeking resilience |
| Low-input rose area for busy gardeners |
The own-root, pharmaROSA® ORIGINAL start gives a robust, long-lived framework that responds well to simple annual pruning and basic feeding, suiting those wanting lasting beauty without intricate routines. Suits those seeking ease |
Styling ideas
- Arbour retreat – Train nearby climbers on the structure, and plant MONICA BELLUCCI® at the entrance so its scent greets you as you sit for tea – ideal for romantically minded homeowners.
- Kitchen-posy row – Line a sunny vegetable or cutting patch edge with a short row, interplanted with herbs, to pick richly scented blooms with your daily harvest – ideal for cottage-garden cooks.
- Front-door welcome – Position a single large container by the front step, underplanted with low white perennials, for a tidy, fragrant accent – ideal for busy urban families.
- Storybook border – Combine with obedient plant, catmint and soft pink foxgloves to create a layered, pastel border that flowers over many months – ideal for lovers of English-countryside style.
- Patio parlour – Group one or two large pots with this rose and evergreen structure plants to form an outdoor “sitting room” around garden furniture – ideal for small-garden entertainers.
Technical cultivar profile
| Feature |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose; registered as MEImonkeur, marketed as MONICA BELLUCCI® – pink-white hybrid tea rose – Meilland; ARS exhibition name Monica Bellucci; darinaROSE® ORIGINAL 2‑litre own-root. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Alain Meilland, Meilland International, France, from complex parentage including ‘Caroline de Monaco’ and ‘Yves Piaget’; bred 2004, introduced and registered internationally in 2010. |
| Awards and recognition |
Gold medal, Buenos Aires, 2010, highlighting its exhibition quality; awarded the prestigious French Label Rouge certification for consistent garden performance and superior ornamental value over time. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy, upright shrub 75–105 cm high, 60–80 cm spread; moderately thorny stems with dense, slightly glossy mid‑green foliage; own-root form supports steady establishment and long-term framework. |
| Flower morphology |
Very double, XL-sized, high‑centred blooms of exhibition cut-rose type; usually solitary on stems; 40+ petals; remontant habit with a generous second flush given regular deadheading and feeding. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Pink-white bicolour; creamy-white centres with vivid raspberry-pink edges, ARS PB, RHS 62C outer, 155D inner; tones lighten in strong sun and stay richer in cooler spells; colour transition softly blurred. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very strong, far-scented perfume with spicy-sweet character; fragrance noticeable several steps away in still air; primarily ornamental rather than for culinary or cosmetic use due to very double flowers. |
| Hip characteristics |
Hip set is generally poor because of the very double blooms; when present, produces small ellipsoidal hips 10–14 mm across, orange-red at maturity, with limited wildlife and decorative significance. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to about −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7, USDA 6b, Swedish Zone 3); moderate resistance to powdery mildew, black spot and rust; prefers full sun with regular watering and good air circulation. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in sunny positions with fertile, well-drained soil; spacing 50–100 cm depending on use; 2.8–3.2 plants/m² for mass planting; medium maintenance with periodic disease checks and light deadheading. |
MONICA BELLUCCI® – pink-white hybrid tea rose MEImonkeur offers exhibition-quality, fragrant blooms on a compact, easy-care shrub that ages gracefully on its own roots; consider it where you want lasting romance from a single, dependable rose.
