ERIC TABARLY® – dark red climbing rose – Meilland
If You dream of a romantic climber that simply settles in and performs without fuss, ERIC TABARLY® is a beautifully reliable choice for Irish family gardens. This own‑root pharmaROSA® ORIGINAL plant arrives well established in its pot, so You can plant it and let it grow with confidence, even where humidity and mild fungal pressure are part of everyday gardening. Large, richly petalled, rosette blooms in a deep, velvety crimson appear in generous flushes, followed by a plentiful second wave, creating a long season of colour. Its strong, classic damask fragrance turns pergolas, arches and house walls into scented retreats You will enjoy every time You step outside. As an own‑root climber it matures steadily and can regenerate well from pruning or weather damage, supporting a genuinely long garden life. In year one it focuses on rooting, in year two it builds stronger shoots, and by year three it reveals its full ornamental potential with a stable, richly clothed framework that enhances Your home.
Use cases
| Target area |
Reason |
| Front‑garden pergola or arch |
The tall climbing habit and dense foliage quickly create a green, flower‑laden tunnel, perfect for framing a front path and giving instant cottage‑garden charm, even where the wet Atlantic climate often favours lush, leafy growth for beginners |
| House façade or garage wall |
Trained on wires or trellis, it clothes bare walls with dark red rosettes and glossy foliage, adding value to the property and softening hard surfaces over many years thanks to its own‑root, long‑lived character for homeowners |
| Small group of 1–3 climbers as a garden focus |
Planted as a small group on an arbour or free‑standing frame, it forms a striking focal point with repeat flowering, giving reliable summer impact without the need for complicated mixed plantings for busy |
| Cottage‑style boundary fence |
Along a front or side fence, the medium maintenance needs and remontant flowering create a neat yet romantic boundary, ideal for those wanting colour and scent without daily attention for families |
| Partially shaded side passage |
Its tolerance of partial shade lets You use narrower side areas that only get sun for part of the day, turning an overlooked space into a scented walkway with deep red blooms for urban |
| Large container on a sheltered patio (min. 40–50 litres) |
In a generous patio pot with a sturdy obelisk or trellis, it offers vertical colour and fragrance where border space is limited, provided the container is deep, well‑drained and regularly watered for balcony‑owners |
| Cut‑flower corner in a family garden |
The extra‑large, very full blooms and strong perfume are excellent for cutting, so a single trained stem or fan‑shaped plant can supply richly scented stems for the house through the main flowering season for romantics |
| Long‑term feature planting in heavy Irish soils |
Once established, the own‑root system and good winter hardiness provide a secure long‑term framework that copes well with high rainfall and cool spells, rewarding simple pruning and feeding with stable growth for beginners |
Decorating ideas
- Classic cottage arch – Train ERIC TABARLY® over a metal or timber arch, underplant with lavender and catmint to echo its fragrance and soften the base – ideal for lovers of traditional cottage‑garden entrances
- Romantic red‑and‑white scheme – Combine it on a façade with white climbing hydrangea and white foxgloves below for a refined, two‑tone look – perfect for homeowners seeking a calm yet dramatic palette
- Vertical patio retreat – Grow it in a 40–50 litre container with a sturdy obelisk, adding pots of rosemary and thyme at the base for scent and texture – suited to small urban patios and balconies
- Secluded bench corner – Place a garden bench against a fence and fan‑train ERIC TABARLY® behind it, interplanting with shade‑tolerant ferns and hostas – great for those wanting a quiet, scented reading nook
- Romantica® rose walk – Use several plants along an informal path with clematis threaded through the stems and soft grasses at ground level – appealing to gardeners building a long‑term, storybook rose walkway
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Climbing Romantica collection rose; registered as MEIdrason, marketed as Eric Tabarly® Romantica® MEIdrason, ARS exhibition name Eric Tabarly, large‑flowered exhibition climber and cut rose. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Alain Meilland, Meilland International SA, France; cross of ‘Cappa Magna’ × ‘Ulmer Münster’; bred 2002, protected in EU from 2002, US plant patent PP15052 granted 2004, introduced after 2004. |
| Awards and recognitions |
Recognised on the show bench as an exhibition‑quality climber; awarded Los Angeles Rose Society Show – Climber (ARS) Award in 2005, confirming its value for large, high‑impact blooms. |
| Growth and structure |
Vigorous climbing habit 300–500 cm high, 200–300 cm spread; dense, mid‑green, slightly glossy foliage with strong prickliness; best trained on supports, forming a well‑clothed, arching framework over time. |
| Flower morphology |
Very full, rosette‑shaped blooms with 40+ petals; extra‑large flowers on clusters, borne repeatedly with a generous second flush; suitable both for garden display and for cutting when stems are well developed. |
| Colour and phenology |
Deep, velvety dark red with crimson tones; buds dark burgundy, opening rich red then deepening towards muted burgundy, with only slight fading in strong sun; maintains good colour across the flowering season. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strong, classic damask scent that is long lasting on the plant and noticeable in cut stems indoors; primarily ornamental, with very double blooms that largely conceal stamens and offer little to pollinators. |
| Rose hip characteristics |
Occasional spherical hips 12–18 mm wide, red RHS N45A; appear sporadically after flowering if spent blooms are not removed, offering modest late‑season interest without dominating the plant. |
| Resistance and hardiness |
Hardy to about −23 to −21 °C (H7, USDA 6a); medium resistance to black spot, mildew and rust so occasional protection may be needed; tolerates heat well but benefits from regular watering during dry spells. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Ideal for pergolas, fences and façades; spacing 145–270 cm depending on use; plant in fertile, well‑drained soil, water well in dry periods; deadhead and prune to shape; suited to 40–50 litre containers with support. |
ERIC TABARLY® offers rich dark red blooms, strong damask fragrance and dependable repeat flowering on a long‑lived own‑root climber, making it a practical, romantic choice if You would like a lasting focal point in Your garden.
