CHARLES DE GAULLE® – purple tea-hybrid rose – Meilland
If You dream of a refined, classically shaped rose with truly memorable scent, CHARLES DE GAULLE® offers high‑centred, exhibition‑style blooms in an elegant lavender‑lilac shade that stand out beautifully in an average family garden. This hybrid tea rose forms an upright, bushy shrub with dense, mid‑green foliage and almost thornless stems, so it is comfortable to work around in narrow Irish front gardens. Its very strong perfume is garden‑filling, ideal near doors or paths where You pass every day. The colour holds best in cooler spells and gentle light, coping reliably with Ireland’s often humid summers and soft skies while still rewarding sunnier spots. Planted in a good, well‑drained bed or a generous 40–50 litre container, this own‑root plant settles in steadily, giving You a long‑lived, dependable feature. In year one it concentrates on roots, in year two on strong shoots, and by the third year You can expect its full, romantic ornamental effect.
Use cases
| Target area |
Reason |
| Front garden focal point by the entrance |
The upright, bushy shape and dense foliage give a tidy, formal look, while the high‑centred lavender blooms add elegance beside a doorway or path where space is limited and You want maximum impact for minimal plants, ideal for homeowners |
| Cutting patch or dedicated rose bed |
Hybrid tea, exhibition‑type flowers on long, almost thornless stems make this variety particularly comfortable to cut and arrange indoors, giving You fragrant, classic roses for vases without difficult handling, well suited to beginners |
| Patio container on a sheltered terrace |
In a 40–50 litre pot with good drainage, the compact height and upright habit suit small terraces and balconies, providing a vertical accent and strong fragrance close to seating without overwhelming the space, appreciated by apartment‑dwellers |
| Small group of 3 roses in a front bed |
Planting 3 shrubs at the recommended spacing creates a coherent, easy‑to‑manage block of colour; their similar height and bushiness make the bed simple to trim and keep neat, appealing to time‑pressed gardeners |
| Feature rose in a cottage‑style border |
The cool lavender‑mauve toning blends beautifully with soft perennials and traditional cottage favourites, giving a romantic focal flower without needing complex design tricks, attractive for fans of cottage‑gardens |
| Sunny, well‑drained spot in heavy Irish clay |
Placed where excess rain can drain away, this variety appreciates the moisture retentive yet firm clay, coping well with our often wet, mild conditions and changeable summers in areas of frequent rain and Atlantic‑driven humidity, useful for coastal gardeners |
| Scented corner near seating or a path |
The very strong, sweet citrus‑verbena fragrance is noticeable even with only one or two plants, so You can enjoy an evening perfume effect without a large planting area or advanced planning, perfect for relaxed evenings |
| Long‑term specimen rose for a family garden |
As an own‑root plant it gradually forms its natural bush shape, recovering better after winter pruning or accidental damage and giving stable ornamental value over many seasons, an assurance for cautious beginners |
Decorating ideas
- Doorstep Welcome – Plant one CHARLES DE GAULLE® each side of the front step with low lavender or rosemary edging for a smart, fragrant entrance – ideal for busy homeowners
- Romantic Trio Bed – Group three shrubs in a small island bed, underplant with Gypsophila repens and soft pink anemones for a pastel, cloud‑like effect – suited to cottage‑garden lovers
- Elegant Patio Pot – Use a single rose in a 40–50 litre terracotta container, adding trailing thyme and white lobelia for softness – perfect for small patios and balconies
- Scented Seating Nook – Position one or two plants behind a bench, weaving in pale hydrangeas and blue salvias so colour and perfume frame your resting spot – great for evening relaxers
- Classic Cutting Row – Line a sunny border with evenly spaced shrubs and interplant coreopsis for contrast, giving a steady supply of lavender blooms for indoor vases – appealing to home florists
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose from the PERFUMELLA® collection. Registered as MEIlanein, marketed as Charles de Gaulle® PERFUMELLA® MEIlanein; ARS exhibition name Charles de Gaulle, premium bronze merit rating. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred in France by Marie‑Louise Meilland, Meilland International. Complex parentage from Sissi, Prélude, Sondermeldung and Caprice lines. Breeding year 1974, registration year 1976, introduced after 1976. |
| Awards and recognitions |
Highly decorated scented rose: Coupe du Parfum, Couronne de la Reine Théodolinde and Certificat at Monza 1974; Certificats in Rome and Geneva 1974; Prix du Parfum Madrid 1974; Coupe du Parfum Belfast 1978. |
| Growth and structure |
Upright, bushy shrub 80–110 cm high and 50–70 cm wide with dense, mid‑green, slightly glossy foliage. Almost thornless canes ease maintenance and cutting. Poor self‑cleaning, so spent blooms benefit from regular deadheading. |
| Flower morphology |
Double, high‑centred, pointed buds in classic hybrid tea form. Solitary flowers, medium sized at 1.5–2.75 inches, with 26–39 petals. Remontant habit with abundant first and second flushes under suitable care. |
| Colour and phenology |
Cool lavender‑lilac blooms with silvery tints and rich lilac‑mauve at full opening. Buds show crimson‑purple tones, then fade gradually towards pastel lavender‑grey, with stronger fading in heat and full sun than in cool weather. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very strong, garden‑filling perfume with a sweet, citrusy verbena character. Best appreciated near paths, doors and seating areas. Primarily ornamental; double flowers limit access for pollinators compared with simple, open varieties. |
| Rose hip characteristics |
Hip set is usually sparse due to double flowers; where present, produces small, ovoid hips around 11–15 mm in diameter, coloured orange‑red (RHS 40A), adding modest seasonal interest late in the year. |
| Resistance and hardiness |
Hardy to approximately −15 to −12 °C (RHS H6, Swedish zone 2, USDA 7b). Disease resistance moderate to sensitive: powdery mildew and black spot moderate, rust very sensitive, so regular monitoring and timely treatments are advised. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with fertile, well‑drained soil and regular watering in dry spells. Recommended spacing 60 cm in beds, 50 cm in hedging, 90 cm as a specimen. Suitable for beds, cutting gardens and as a solitary feature plant. |
CHARLES DE GAULLE® gives You classic, fragrant blooms, a compact, easy‑to‑place shrub and the steady reliability of an own‑root rose that can grow with your garden for years, making it a thoughtful choice if You value long‑term beauty.
