Rosa 'Michelangelo' - Shrub Rose

The 'Michelangelo' Rose is part of a new generation of modern varieties that combine the fragrance and charm of old-fashioned roses with the floribundity of hybrid teas and the natural disease resistance of certain wild roses. This one is endowed with vigorous growth and robust health and bears abundantly large and beautiful double, informal cups, where different shades of mimosa yellow blend together. This flower, awarded for its fragrance in the Netherlands in 2001, exhales a subtle rose fragrance with notes of spices and honey and shows excellent vase life.

'Michelangelo' or 'Meitelov' is a modern shrub rose related to hybrid teas, registered in 1997 by Meilland and belonging to the Romantica series. With a bushy and upright habit, this shrub reaches about 1.20m (4ft) in height and 70 to 80cm (28 to 32in) in width at maturity, with rapid growth. It produces strong branches with dense and original foliage, green veined with dark green, well-filled, and disease-resistant. Throughout the summer, if faded flowers are removed, its large flowers composed of 45 petals, measuring 11 to 13cm (4 to 5in) in diameter, emerge from big conical lemon yellow buds, then open into slightly flattened cups, in a blend of mimosa yellow, pale yellow and cream. They are solitary, carried at the end of long shoots of the year or arising on 2-year-old stems. The very abundant flowering continues from June until the first frost.0

This 'Michelangelo' rose, with its romantic, fragrant and charming flowers, is an excellent hedge and border plant, which can also be planted in groups of 3 subjects as a stand-alone. Of good size and vigorous, it blends well in borders with summer or autumn-flowering shrubs or mixed with light perennials and annuals such as Sea Kale, paniculate phlox or tall foxgloves. White roses such as 'Jardins de Bagatelle' will accompany it perfectly. Its combination with orange roses is elegant: English cultivars 'Bethsheba' or 'The Lady Gardener' will spice up its beautiful mimosa yellow flowering. It will be well showcased in front of a boxwood or yew screen or, on the contrary, surrounded by a miniature hedge or a skilfully organised maze, as in Italian or French gardens. Above all, it is a generous rose, which should be placed near the house to enjoy its fragrance.

Obtained by Meilland in 1997.