Rosa 'Laeticia Casta' - Shrub Rose

The 'Laetitia Casta' Rose, flourishing and generous, pays a beautiful tribute to the eponymous fashion icon and eternal femininity she embodies magnificently. Its large bicolour roses with voluptuous shapes wear a lovely robe in pastel and changing tones, and they renew themselves from summer until the first cold on a robust and vigorous bush that has a beautiful presence in the garden. Prized numerous times, especially for its subtle tea rose fragrance and disease resistance, this variety also develops long stems, ideal for cut flowers. A reliable choice!

The 'Laetitia Casta' Rose or 'Meilampario', registered by the rose breeder Meilland in 2010, has won numerous awards in international competitions, including the Silver Medal in Monza in 2009, the Silver Medal in Le Roeulx in 2009, the Geneva Certificate in 2009, the Aesthetic Award and the Bronze Medal for Breeders in Baden-Baden in 2009, the Gold Medal in St Albans in 2010, and finally the Most Beautiful Rose in France in Lyon in 2010. This hybrid tea rose is considered Floribunda, with flowers grouped in corymbs or small bouquets.

The plant forms an upright, ramified bush with vigorous and rapid growth. It can reach up to 1.30 m (4ft) in height, with a spread of 90 cm (35in) to 1 m (3ft). From May-June until late in the season, on a foliage composed of large leaflets of a matte green, small bouquets of 11 cm (4in) diameter roses bloom. They consist of 25 to 28 petals edged with frills, arranged in a spiral, with the typical shape of hybrid tea roses. Their colour is a pale pinkish cream with a deeper pink border, and the flower's heart is yellow, fading to ivory. The disease resistance of this rose is excellent. This deciduous, hardy shrub loses its leaves in autumn. Its bronze-coloured young shoots add to its charm in spring and summer throughout the flowering period. It performs best when planted in rich, deep, fresh summer soil.

With its undeniable charm and classic style, this modern rose 'Laetitia Casta' is ideal in the garden in a large rose bed, at the front of a shrub bed, or as a standalone in a small, well-kept garden. The colour of its flowers easily complements all pink or blue blooms, as well as white. Consider planting it near easy-to-grow plants like Chinese peonies, perennial geraniums (Geranium Blue Cloud, Anne Folkard, Nimbus, Orion), bellflowers (lactiflora, rapunculoides), catmints, perennial salvias, foxgloves... Dwarf buddleias also make lovely companions for bush roses. Its flowers allow for the creation of high-class bouquets.