GINA LOLLOBRIGIDA ® – golden yellow hybrid tea rose – Meilland
This golden hybrid tea has been bred for elegance and impact, bringing exhibition-style blooms into everyday gardens with a warm, enduring golden-yellow that keeps its colour even in sun. Large, very full flowers are carried on upright, well‑branched stems, perfect both for the border and for cutting, while the strong, fresh, citrusy fragrance makes every flush memorable around paths and seating areas. As an own‑root shrub it develops a stable, long‑lived framework that regenerates well after pruning, settling securely even where brisk coastal breezes and heavier soils call for reliable anchoring. Over time you can expect a natural progression from root-building in the first year, through stronger shoots in the second, to full, showy ornamental value by the third. With remontant flowering and generous second flushes, its medium maintenance needs remain manageable, especially when you keep up with simple deadheading and watering in dry spells, making floral success realistic for busy gardeners who still want a refined centrepiece of character in a classic British-style front garden.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Front garden focal point |
The tall, upright habit and uniform, golden-yellow blooms create an immediate focal point by a front door or bay window, giving a smart, classical look with relatively simple care tasks, ideal for a visually minded beginner. |
| Cutting patch or cutting row |
Long, straight stems with very full, XL flowers and strong, citrusy scent make this variety excellent for cutting, so a short row in a sunny corner can keep vases filled for much of the season, pleasing the home-focused gardener. |
| Sunny specimen in a small lawn or gravel bed |
Planted alone at about 1 m spacing, it forms a shapely, upright bush whose stable own-root framework matures year by year, rewarding patient care with reliable structure and bloom for the long term, suiting the planning-conscious owner. |
| Mixed cottage-style border |
The warm golden-yellow flowers pair beautifully with mauve, purple, and white perennials, and the remontant flowering keeps colour coming back among cottage favourites, supporting a relaxed, low‑complexity scheme for the style-led householder. |
| Small group planting in beds |
Groups of 3–5 bushes at the recommended distances quickly read as a coherent block of colour; remontant flowering and reasonably manageable maintenance provide a tidy, high‑impact feature bed that suits the practical family. |
| Large patio container (40–50 litres) |
An upright, moderately dense bush responds well in a sizeable container of at least 40–50 litres, giving terrace scent and colour close to seating, while own‑root resilience supports long use for the space-conscious urbanite. |
| Sheltered coastal or exposed suburban sites |
The reasonably robust framework and own-root anchoring help it stand securely where wind can be an issue, provided drainage is adequate, giving confidence in more open plots that still belong to the cautious newcomer. |
| Formal rose bed with deadheading routine |
Where a simple deadheading and seasonal feeding regime is acceptable, the consistent flower form and colour retention deliver a groomed, exhibition-style look over repeated flushes, satisfying the detail‑oriented garden enthusiast. |
Styling ideas
- Doorway Focus – Place a single plant near the front door, underplanted with low geraniums, to create a welcoming golden accent – ideal for homeowners who want instant classical structure with little complexity.
- Sunlit Trio – Plant three bushes in a small triangular bed with dwarf asters to echo the yellow with soft lilac – suited to those seeking a neat yet romantic spot of reliable colour.
- Cottage Mix – Combine with coneflowers and cranesbills in a loose border so the rose’s formal blooms contrast with airy perennials – perfect for fans of traditional cottage gardens who prefer easy-care layers.
- Patio Statement – Grow one plant in a 50-litre terracotta pot beside seating, where scent and colour can be enjoyed up close – a good choice for busy urban gardeners with limited ground space.
- Cutting Corner – Dedicate a sunny strip along a fence to several plants in a row for regular cutting material – attractive for practical gardeners who like their flowers both outdoors and in the vase.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose, registered as MEIlivar, marketed as Gina Lollobrigida ® Classics MEIlivar; ARS exhibition name Gina Lollobrigida; premium gold, authenticity verified 05.11.2025. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Alain Meilland in France (1986) from ‘Laura’ × ‘Parador’®, introduced after 1990 by Meilland International and Star Roses, registered 1990 under US Plant Patent 7 541. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright hybrid tea, 110–150 cm tall, 75–105 cm spread, moderately thorny with mid‑green, slightly glossy foliage; blooms borne singly on stems, forming a structured, vertical garden presence. |
| Flower morphology |
Very full, XL cup-shaped blooms with more than 40 petals, pronounced medium rise, borne singly; remontant, with a particularly abundant second flush when deadheaded and given adequate nutrition and moisture. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Warm golden-yellow flowers, RHS 12A–12B, with paler reverse; colour holds well in sun, fading moderately yet staying clean yellow without pink or brown; buds deep yellow‑green to gold, flowering steadily in flushes. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strong, fresh, citrusy scent typical of scented hybrid teas; bloom form encloses stamens, giving mainly ornamental value rather than pollinator support, but offering notable fragrance impact near paths and seating areas. |
| Hip characteristics |
Rose hip set tends to be sparse because of very double flowers; when present, produces small, ellipsoid orange-red hips about 10–14 mm in diameter, with limited ornamental effect in most planting schemes. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to about -15 to -12 °C (RHS H6, Swedish Zon 2, USDA 7b); black spot shows resistance, powdery mildew and rust moderate; appreciates watering in dry spells and benefits from standard preventive care. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with well-drained soil; medium maintenance with regular deadheading advisable; spacing 65 cm for mass, 55 cm for hedging, 100 cm solitary; suitable for beds, specimens, containers and cutting gardens. |
GINA LOLLOBRIGIDA ® offers long-lasting golden-yellow blooms, strong citrus fragrance and dependable, own-root structure for many seasons of enjoyment, making it a refined choice if you value reliable, elegant colour in your garden.
