LOUIS DE FUNES® – orange hybrid tea rose - Meilland
If You love colour and classic hybrid tea blooms but want a rose that simply fits into everyday Irish garden life, LOUIS DE FUNES® is a reliable choice. Its vivid orange flowers glow even on grey days, bringing instant impact to front gardens and beds. The upright, bushy habit stays pleasantly compact, so it works well in modest borders and near paths without outgrowing its space. Planted in a sunny, well-drained spot it copes steadily with our rain and heavier soils while still rewarding You with repeat flowering. As an own-root plant it develops into a stable, long-lived bush that regenerates well and gives lasting ornamental value with modest care. Over time You will see an easy rhythm: year one concentrating on roots, year two on extra shoots, and by year three You enjoy its full display of abundant, exhibition-style blooms.
Use cases
| Target area |
Reason |
| Sunny front garden feature |
The upright, bushy habit and XL, high-centred blooms give a standout focal point near your front door or driveway, providing elegant structure and rich orange colour with straightforward seasonal care for busy home gardeners |
| Small flower bed near the terrace |
Its compact spread and dense dark green foliage make it easy to place in smaller beds by a patio or seating area, where the vivid orange flowers and neat outline create a tidy, show-garden look that remains manageable for beginners |
| Cutting patch for home bouquets |
Large, solitary, high-centred flowers on strong stems are ideal for cutting, so one or two bushes can supply regular indoor arrangements, letting You enjoy classic hybrid tea roses in vases without needing a complicated rose garden layout for creative homeowners |
| Specimen rose in a cottage-style border |
Planted singly at about 90 cm spacing, its vivid orange tones weave beautifully among perennials and cottage-garden plants, adding structure and a long flowering season while its own-root vigour supports a stable, long-lived planting for romantic gardeners |
| Mixed border with shrubs and perennials |
The medium height, bushy framework and repeat flowering suit mixed borders alongside hydrangeas or herbaceous plants, contributing colour through summer without demanding complex pruning routines, ideal where You want harmony with low effort for family gardens |
| Coastal or windswept suburban gardens |
When planted in a sunny, reasonably drained spot it copes reliably with moist, breezy Irish conditions and heavier soils, giving dependable flowers even where weather is changeable and gardening time is limited for Atlantic-climate gardeners |
| Large patio container planting |
In a 40–50 litre or larger container with good drainage, it forms a compact, upright bush that decorates balconies or paved areas, letting You enjoy classic orange hybrid tea blooms close to the house without redesigning existing beds for urban residents |
| Small group planting of 3–5 roses |
Planted at 60 cm spacing, groups of LOUIS DE FUNES® create a vibrant block of colour, and over the years the own-root plants develop balanced bushes that recover well from pruning, giving a long-lived, cohesive display for low-maintenance gardeners |
Decorating ideas
- Sunset Welcome – Plant one LOUIS DE FUNES® by your front path with lavender edging to frame a warm, welcoming entrance – for homeowners who enjoy simple, tidy front gardens
- Cottage Glow – Combine with creamy hydrangeas and soft pink perennials in a mixed border to add fiery contrast within a romantic cottage look – for fans of traditional, flower-filled borders
- Patio Centrepiece – Grow it in a 40–50 litre terracotta pot with trailing thyme around the base for a striking yet easy-care terrace feature – for balcony and patio gardeners
- Cutting Corner – Dedicate a small bed to 3–5 bushes with low-growing catmint at the edges, giving a steady supply of cut flowers and a neat garden outline – for those who like home-grown bouquets
- Family-Friendly Border – Mix this bushy rose with hardy geraniums and dwarf grasses along a lawn edge for colour and structure that fit around children’s play space – for busy family households
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
LOUIS DE FUNES® hybrid tea rose, registered as MEIrestif; trade name Louis De Funes® Hybrid tea rose MEIrestif; ARS exhibition name Louis de Funes; hybrid tea group, exhibition-type cut-flower rose. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Marie-Louise Meilland, Meilland International, France, from (‘Ambassador’ × ‘Whiskey Mac’) × (‘Arthur Bell’ × ‘Kabuki’); bred 1982 in France, introduced and registered in 1984 by Meilland International. |
| Awards and recognitions |
Highly decorated exhibition hybrid tea: Monza, Italy – Gold medal and Rose of the Year (1983); Geneva, Switzerland – Gold medal and Geneva City Award (1983); Madrid, Spain – Bronze medal (1983); Saverne, France – Certificate of Merit (1983). |
| Growth and structure |
Upright, bushy habit with dense, glossy dark green foliage; moderately thorny stems; height about 85–115 cm, spread 70–90 cm; forms a well-shaped bush, suitable for beds, borders and specimen planting in average family gardens. |
| Flower morphology |
Classic high-centred, pointed-budded hybrid tea form with XL, double flowers bearing 26–39 petals; mainly solitary on stems, remontant with abundant second flush; ideal as a show rose and for cutting, with weak natural self-cleaning of spent blooms. |
| Colour and phenology |
Vivid fiery orange base colour with a delicate golden sheen; buds deep red-orange, opening to intense orange with golden inner petals; later fading to peach-orange with a subtle salmon glow; colour lightens in strong sun, richer orange in cooler weather. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Mild, fresh scent with an orange-peel character; fragrance is discreet rather than overpowering, adding a pleasant note near paths or seating areas without dominating; primarily valued for colour and flower form rather than strong perfume. |
| Rose hip characteristics |
Rose hips form only occasionally because of the double flower structure; when present they are small, egg-shaped, red-orange hips around 10–14 mm in diameter, offering a modest decorative effect in late season. |
| Resistance and hardiness |
Hardy to about −23 to −21 °C (RHS H7, USDA 6a, Swedish zone 3); disease resistance moderate to powdery mildew, black spot and rust; tolerates heat reasonably but needs watering in extended dry spells, especially in containers or light soils. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Prefers full sun and well-drained soil; spacing about 60 cm for beds, 50 cm for hedging, 90 cm as specimen; plant 2.8–3.2 plants/m² for mass effect; medium maintenance with occasional deadheading and plant protection; suitable for beds, cut flowers and show use. |
LOUIS DE FUNES® offers vivid orange exhibition-style blooms, a compact upright habit and dependable repeat flowering on a long-lived own-root bush, making it a confident choice if You want a standout yet manageable rose for your garden.
