Rose BushesA Grower's Guide to Roses
Hybrid Tea Rose

Papa Meilland

One of the most fragrant dark-red roses ever bred.

A dark red member of the hybrid tea roses group, Papa Meilland is grown for its long succession of blooms and its fragrance. Below you'll find a full profile of Papa Meilland — its characteristics, how to grow it, where to use it in the garden, and answers to the questions gardeners ask most.

About Papa Meilland

As one of the hybrid tea roses, Papa Meilland carries the traits gardeners look for in the group — large, high-centered double blooms, usually one to a long stem. The hybrid tea is grown above all for the individual flower — long-stemmed, shapely, and ideal for cutting — rather than for mass color in the landscape.

In flower, Papa Meilland is dark red and fills the plant with bloom in wave after wave, carrying a strong, carrying fragrance. It is hardy across USDA zones 6-9, so it suits a wide range of gardens with the right seasonal care.

Characteristics and form

Papa Meilland makes upright, fairly narrow bush, typically around 3 to 5 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. The blooms are large, high-centered double blooms, usually one to a long stem, large (4 to 5 inches) in size, set against semi-glossy green foliage. Knowing a rose's habit and mature size is the key to placing it well: give Papa Meilland room to reach its full spread without crowding its neighbors, which also keeps air moving through the plant and disease at bay.

How to grow Papa Meilland

Plant Papa Meilland where it will get at least six hours of direct sun a day in fertile, well-drained soil with good air movement around it. In cold climates, set the graft union — the swollen knob where the variety joins the rootstock — at or just below the soil line; in mild climates, keep it at soil level. Once planted, water deeply and less often to encourage deep, drought-resistant roots.

  • Light: Full sun, six hours or more; morning sun is best because it dries dew early and limits disease.
  • Soil: Rich and well-drained, slightly acidic at about pH 6.0–6.5. Improve heavy or sandy soil with plenty of compost before planting.
  • Water: Deep, infrequent soakings at the base rather than frequent light sprinkling; more in heat, sandy soil, or containers.
  • Feeding: A balanced rose fertilizer in early spring, repeated after the first flush to fuel the next.
  • Pruning: Prune it in late winter to an open, outward-facing framework, then deadhead through the season.
Bloom habit: Repeat (recurrent). Papa Meilland blooms in repeated flushes from late spring until the first frost. Deadhead spent flowers to bring on the next wave.

Where to use Papa Meilland in the garden

Papa Meilland suits cutting gardens, formal rose beds, and specimen planting. Underplant it with low perennials such as catmint or lady's mantle to disguise the bare lower stems. For more ideas, see our guide to companion plants for roses.

Common problems and care

Hybrid teas can be prone to black spot in humid regions, so air flow and autumn clean-up matter. Watch for the usual rose troubles — black spot, powdery mildew, and aphids — and head them off with good air flow, base watering, and a tidy autumn clean-up. See our full guide to rose diseases and pests for identification and treatment.

Papa Meilland — frequently asked questions

How big does Papa Meilland get?

Papa Meilland typically grows about 3 to 5 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide, forming a upright, fairly narrow bush. Its final size depends on your climate and how you prune it.

Is Papa Meilland fragrant?

Yes — Papa Meilland has a strong, carrying fragrance, and scent is one of the reasons to grow it.

Does Papa Meilland bloom more than once a season?

Yes. Papa Meilland is a repeat-blooming rose that blooms in repeated flushes from late spring until the first frost, especially if it is deadheaded and fed through the summer.

What hardiness zones does Papa Meilland grow in?

Papa Meilland is hardy in USDA zones 6-9. That range describes the winter cold it can survive; gardeners colder than zone 6 should give it winter protection or grow it in a movable container.

Is Papa Meilland easy to grow?

Hybrid teas can be prone to black spot in humid regions, so air flow and autumn clean-up matter. Give Papa Meilland full sun, well-drained soil, and the ordinary seasonal care any rose appreciates, and it is a straightforward rose to grow.

How and when should I prune Papa Meilland?

Prune Papa Meilland in late winter to an open, outward-facing framework, then deadhead through the season — see our step-by-step guide to pruning roses for the full method.

More hybrid tea roses