PRINCE IGOR™ – orange-red and yellow bedding floribunda rose – Meilland
With its glowing orange‑red and yellow blooms, PRINCE IGOR™ brings instant colour and energy to beds and front gardens, even in Ireland’s changeable weather and humidity-prone conditions. This compact floribunda forms a naturally tidy bush, perfect when You want neat lines and low‑maintenance structure around paths, drives or the front of the house. Clusters of semi‑double flowers appear repeatedly from summer onwards, delivering strong flowering waves that keep the border lively without complicated pruning or dead‑heading routines. The medium, pleasantly soft fragrance is just enough to enjoy as You pass, without overwhelming small spaces. As an own‑root plant it settles in, matures and improves year by year – roots in the first season, bushy top growth in the second, and full ornamental effect by the third – giving You a long‑lived, reliable companion that simply fits into everyday family‑garden life.
Use cases
| Target area |
Reason |
| Front garden bedding along paths or driveways |
Compact, bushy growth and 50–70 cm height create a low, colourful line that does not block windows or views, while the vivid orange‑red and yellow clusters give strong curb appeal with minimal shaping, ideal for a tidy, straightforward front garden for beginners |
| Small groups in ornamental borders near the house |
Planting in groups of 3–5 at 60 cm spacing quickly builds a dense, long‑lived structure, as own‑root plants gradually adapt and regenerate from the base, ensuring the border keeps its shape and flowering impact over many seasons for homeowners |
| Low‑maintenance family beds with limited gardening time |
Good resistance to black spot, powdery mildew and rust means fewer sprays and less worry in wet Irish summers, so You mainly focus on watering and the odd tidy‑up rather than constant treatments, supporting an easy‑care routine for busy |
| Urban front gardens and small town plots |
The moderate 50–70 cm size and compact habit suit tight spaces and narrow beds, combining intense colour with a controlled footprint that fits well beside parking bays, short paths or bin stores without overgrowing, convenient for urban |
| Mixed cottage‑style plantings with perennials |
The fiery, changing colour – from red‑orange buds with yellow reverses to softer coral tones – pairs beautifully with blues and mauves such as catmint or lavender, giving a relaxed, romantic look that still stays structurally neat for cottage |
| Coastal gardens and exposed, windy spots |
A dense, compact framework and sturdy flowering stems cope well with brisk Atlantic winds, holding flowers above the foliage without excessive flopping, so beds stay presentable even in blustery conditions that often challenge taller roses for coastal |
| Patio planters and containers by the front door |
In a 40–50 litre container with good drainage, this compact floribunda forms a rounded, floriferous bush whose medium fragrance and bright clusters greet You at eye level, giving a welcoming focal point that remains easy to water and look after for balcony |
| Decorative hedging or low edging strips |
When planted about 50 cm apart in a row, the bushy habit knits into a low, colourful hedge that repeats flowers strongly through the season, providing both definition and ornamental interest with little more than an annual light trim for families |
Decorating ideas
- COTTAGE RIBBON – Run a curving ribbon of PRINCE IGOR™ along a path, interweaving clumps of low Nepeta for soft blue contrast and a relaxed rural feel – ideal for cottage‑garden lovers who still want a tidy outline
- URBAN WELCOME – Place a single plant in a 40–50 litre terracotta pot by the front door, underplanted with trailing ivy, to create a compact, colourful greeting that is simple to water and maintain – perfect for busy city homeowners
- FAMILY PLAY BORDER – Use a short row along the lawn edge, backed with dwarf boxwood, to give a low, safe and colourful frame around children’s play space without tall thorns – suited to families wanting clear structure
- COASTAL CORNER – Combine PRINCE IGOR™ with hardy sedum and gravel mulch in a sunny, windy corner, where its compact bush form and bold blooms stand out against stones – great for exposed or seaside gardens
- EVENING SCENT STRIP – Plant a small group beneath a favourite seating area window, mixing in white flowering perennials, so the medium, pleasant fragrance and warm colours can be enjoyed on summer evenings – ideal for relaxation zones
Technical cultivar profile
| Property |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Floribunda bedding rose, registered as MEIhigor, marketed as PRINCE IGOR™ Bedding rose MEIhigor; ARS exhibition name Frenzy; name inspired by Prince Igor from Borodin’s opera. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Marie‑Louise Meilland (Meilland International) in France from (Sarabande × Dany Robin) × Zambra; introduced in 1970 in France via URS‑Meilland and later distributed by Roy H. Rumsey Pty. Ltd. in Australia. |
| Growth and structure |
Compact, bushy shrub reaching about 50–70 cm in height and spread, with dense, dark green, matt foliage and moderate prickliness; forms a rounded, bedding‑type plant suitable for mass planting or structured edging. |
| Flower morphology |
Semi‑double, cup‑shaped flowers with around 13–25 petals, produced in clusters of medium size (approximately 1.5–2.75 inches); strongly remontant, with an abundant main flush and a particularly generous second flowering period. |
| Colour and phenology |
Buds deep orange‑red with golden‑yellow underside; freshly opened blooms fiery red‑orange inside, yellowish‑orange outside; full bloom intense vermilion red with faint purple edge; later fading to muted coral red with possible brick‑red mottling. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Pleasant medium‑strength scent of soft character, noticeable at close range without being overpowering; suitable for paths, entrances and seating areas where a gentle background fragrance is preferred. |
| Rose hip characteristics |
Hip set usually minimal due to semi‑double flower form; when present, small rounded hips of about 9–13 mm diameter may develop, but they are not a significant ornamental feature of the plant. |
| Resistance and hardiness |
Good overall disease resistance, with documented resistance to powdery mildew, black spot and rust; hardy to approximately −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7, Swedish zone 3, USDA zone 6b), suitable for most Irish garden conditions. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Low maintenance floribunda for beds, parks and urban plantings; recommended spacing 60 cm for mass planting, 50 cm for hedging, 100 cm as a specimen; works in well‑drained, fertile soil with regular watering, especially in containers. |
PRINCE IGOR™ offers compact, colourful flowering, strong disease resistance and a long‑lived own‑root habit that settles reliably into family gardens, making it an easy, confidence‑building choice if You would like a dependable rose.
