Rosa 'Eddy Mitchell' - Shrub Rose

The 'Eddy Mitchell' Rose is undoubtedly the most Rock'n Roll of all the roses from Meilland. Like the artist's lively melodies, its large flower with a completely unprecedented colouring is rhythmic. Bicoloured, the large turbinated roses of this modern tea hybrid display velvety petals of an almost black purple on the front, forming a superb contrast with a yellow reverse. Sometimes difficult to combine in flower beds, this unique, continuously flowering rose will seduce collectors. It deserves its own place in the garden, and its flowers are sensational in bouquets.

'Eddy Mitchell' or 'Meirysett' is a modern bush rose with large flowers obtained by Meilland in 2010. This variety comes, among others, from the excellent Madame A. Meilland. It is a bushy shrub with vigorous and strong vegetation, presenting an upright and bushy habit, and quickly reaches about 70 cm (28in) in height and 50 cm (20in) in width at maturity. It produces strong and thorny branches that bear foliage of a very dark green, resistant to diseases. If faded flowers are removed from May to October, the plant continuously produces large flowers with a diameter of 10-12 cm (4-5in), whose cone shape is typical of tea hybrid roses. They are composed of about 27 petals with a fringed edge. Their surprising colouring is not aggressive: a velvety greyish purple with black reflections, they are doubled with cream yellow suffused with pink and apricot when fully open. The flowers are solitary, borne at the end of long shoots from the current year or emerging on 2-year-old stems. A light fragrance accompanies the continuous flowering.

The 'Eddy Mitchell' rose has an assertive personality and is best planted either alone, in groups of three, or in a monochrome border. To add an airy touch to this bush, delicate and wild flowers like chamomiles, white nigellas, or Cuphea hyssopifolia can be used, as well as certain grasses like crested barley or Sipa pennata. Purple-leaved heucheras, lavender, and catmints also make for a beautiful setting for its roses.