METROPOLITAN ® – white hybrid tea rose – Meilland
If You would like a rose that feels both classically elegant and reassuringly reliable, METROPOLITAN ® is a refined white hybrid tea that settles well into ordinary Irish gardens without fuss. Its long, straight stems and high‑centred blooms make it a natural choice if You dream of cutting perfect flowers for the house, while in the bed it forms a neat, upright structure that suits front gardens and smaller borders. The creamy‑white buds open into snow‑white, XL blooms with a silky sheen and a pleasantly fruity fragrance, giving Your garden a quietly luxurious look from late spring to autumn. As a well‑rooted, 6–12 month own‑root plant in the pharmaROSA® ORIGINAL 2‑litre pot, it is ready to establish steadily in typical Irish conditions, coping well even where heavy soil needs attention to drainage and winter wet. Year by year the own‑root system matures, supporting consistent flowering, renewed growth after harder pruning and a long garden lifespan, so You can plant it once and enjoy its presence for seasons to come.
Use cases
| Target area |
Reason |
| Front garden specimen by the entrance |
The tall, upright habit and pure white, perfectly formed blooms create an immediate sense of order and welcome beside a doorway or along a short path; place it where the medium, sweet fragrance can be enjoyed as You pass, ideal for the style‑conscious homeowner |
| Small group of 3 in a mixed flower bed |
Planting three METROPOLITAN ® together gives a compact, repeated rhythm of white that ties mixed borders together and makes summer flowering feel more intentional without needing complex design, suiting the busy but enthusiastic gardener |
| Cutting corner for indoor arrangements |
Its long, straight stems and exhibition‑quality, high‑centred flowers make it excellent for vases and bouquets, allowing You to cut regularly in season while the remontant habit keeps the bush refilling with buds, rewarding the practical, flower‑loving user |
| Formal bed with box, lavender or rosemary edging |
The clean white flowers stand out beautifully against dark evergreen edging and aromatic herbs, helping You achieve a classic, tidy look that works well in small Irish front gardens and cottage‑style plots, attractive for tradition‑minded owners |
| Feature rose in a large container (40–50 litres) |
In a generous pot with quality compost and good drainage, its upright growth remains compact enough for balconies, paved front areas or patios, providing refined blooms close to the house, a good option for space‑limited urban gardeners |
| Paired with airy perennials in cottage‑style borders |
Combining METROPOLITAN ® with plants like Coreopsis or light grasses softens its formal shape so the bed looks romantic rather than rigid, while the long flowering season keeps white accents going through summer, perfect for cottage‑inspired beginners |
| Sunny, well‑drained rose bed in heavier Irish soils |
Placed in a spot where heavy clay has been improved for better run‑off, its own‑root system can settle and perform over many years, giving confidence that the rose will cope with our wet Atlantic spells and winter soak, reassuring for cautious planters |
| Protected, sunny spot for fragrance enjoyment |
In a warm, sheltered place near a seating area, the medium‑strong, sweet fruity scent is more noticeable, and the repeat flowering means there are often buds and open blooms at nose level, rewarding relaxed evening‑time visitors |
Decorating ideas
- White entrance duo – Plant a pair of METROPOLITAN ® flanking your front path, underplanted with low lavender for scent and structure – ideal for homeowners who like a crisp, formal welcome.
- Cottage contrast border – Mix this upright white rose with Coreopsis and airy grasses to soften its lines and add movement – suited to beginners seeking a romantic, easy‑going cottage feel.
- Patio feature pot – Grow one plant in a 40–50 litre container with trailing thyme and seasonal bedding around the base – perfect for balcony or paved‑courtyard gardeners wanting a focal point.
- Cutting‑garden strip – Line a sunny fence with a row of METROPOLITAN ® and interplant with simple annuals for extra vase fillers – great for those who love bringing freshly cut flowers indoors.
- Evening fragrance corner – Combine this rose with white flowering perennials near a bench or terrace so the pale blooms and gentle scent stand out at dusk – appealing to relaxation‑focused garden users.
Technical cultivar profile
| Property |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose, registered as MEIfaissel, marketed as METROPOLITAN ® – white hybrid tea rose – Meilland; ARS exhibition name Metropolitan, premium gold cultivar authenticity verified 13 October 2025. |
| Origin and breeding |
Raised by Alain A. Meilland, Meilland International SA, France, from cross ‘White Knight’ × (‘Karen Blixen’ × ‘Lady Sylvia’); bred and registered in 2004, introduced commercially after 2004. |
| Awards and recognitions |
Highly regarded exhibition hybrid tea; in Rome, Italy (2003) it received a Gold Medal, a Fragrance Award and the Journalists’ Prize, underlining both its bloom quality and notable scent. |
| Growth and structure |
Upright, bushy hybrid tea, around 100–140 cm tall and 55–85 cm wide, with dense, dark green, slightly glossy foliage and moderate thorns; blooms borne mainly singly on strong, straight stems. |
| Flower morphology |
Very large, double, high‑centred, pointed buds in classic cut‑rose form; roughly 26–39 petals, produced mainly as solitary flowers; remontant habit with a second flush that is also abundant. |
| Colour and phenology |
Flowers open from creamy white buds with faint green tips to bright snow‑white blooms with a silky sheen; colour stays predominantly white, only gently warming to creamy or ivory tones as blooms mature. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Pleasantly sweet, fruity fragrance of medium strength, noticeable both in the garden and in cut stems indoors; double blooms are moderately attractive to pollinating insects compared with simpler flower forms. |
| Rose hip characteristics |
Produces rose hips in moderate quantities after flowering; hips are tiny, around 0–5 mm in diameter, and are not typically a strong ornamental feature of this cultivar in the garden. |
| Resistance and hardiness |
Fully hardy to about −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7, Swedish Zone 3, USDA 6b); foliage is very sensitive to powdery mildew and black spot and moderately to rust, so regular plant‑health care is recommended. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with good air movement and fertile, well‑drained soil; allow about 50 cm in beds or 75 cm as a specimen; maintain regular feeding, watering and protective spraying to support foliage health. |
METROPOLITAN ® offers tall, elegant white blooms with a sweet fruity scent and excellent cutting quality on a long‑lived own‑root plant that re‑sprouts well after pruning, making it a refined choice if You would like a dependable garden feature.
