LOLITA LEMPICKA ® GPT. – deep pink climbing rose – Meilland
This Romantica® climbing rose offers abundant deep-pink blooms on strong, upright canes that quickly cover arches, fences or walls in an elegant cascade of colour. Extra-large, very double, high-centred flowers combine a refined exhibition look with romantic cottage-garden charm, while the dark green, slightly glossy foliage gives a neat, well-furnished backdrop all season. The fragrance is notably intense and long-lasting, ideal where you pass by daily or open windows to enjoy the scent. As an own-root climber it develops steadily into a durable, well-anchored framework with reliable regrowth from the base, supporting a long planting life with stable ornamental value. On typical British clay or chalk it appreciates good drainage or a lightly raised bed, helping it stay healthy and vigorous over time. Given a sunny spot, basic feeding and deadheading, you can expect strong root formation in the first year, confident vertical growth in the second, and by the third year its full spectacle of colour and perfume will frame your garden with a truly memorable presence.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| House-front climbing accent |
Ideal beside a front door or window, where the XL, exhibition-type flowers and strong scent can be appreciated close up. Own-root growth builds a lasting framework, rewarding simple pruning and regular deadheading for those who enjoy tending their display, especially beginners. |
| Garden arch or arbour |
The tall, climbing habit and dense foliage allow it to clothe an arch or arbour with deep pink, romantic blooms, creating a focal point in small to medium gardens. Sturdy, well-anchored canes cope well with typical British breezes, suiting cottage-garden owners. |
| Fence or trellis screen |
Planted at intervals along a fence, it forms a colourful privacy screen with rich magenta-pink flowers that fade gracefully to softer tones. Own-root plants fill from the base over time, giving a longer-lived, regenerating barrier for family gardens. |
| Sunny wall or garage side |
Thrives on warm, sunny walls where heat intensifies the fragrance and encourages repeat flowering. With irrigation during prolonged dry spells and support wires, it offers reliable vertical colour for busy urban homeowners. |
| Feature in a small rose border |
Used as a vertical accent at the back of a modest border, it lifts the eye above lower shrubs and perennials. The steady repeat flowering and good colour retention support a long season of interest for style-conscious novices. |
| Romantic seating area backdrop |
Positioned behind a bench or terrace, its very strong perfume and large, high-centred blooms create an intimate, luxurious backdrop. Deadheading spent flowers maintains appearance where you sit and relax, suiting fragrance-loving couples. |
| Raised bed on heavier soils |
In heavier clay or chalk, a raised bed or improved drainage helps roots stay vigorous, making it easier to maintain health and flowering. Over time the own-root system forms a robust, balanced plant that suits long-term planning gardeners. |
| Large container on patio (training to support) |
In a 40–50 litre or larger container, it can be trained up an obelisk or trellis to bring colour and scent to patios or small courtyards. Container culture allows closer care and simplified spraying where needed, convenient for meticulous collectors. |
Styling ideas
- Front-door theatre – Train up a trellis beside the entrance and underplant with lavender for a scented welcome and soft contrast – ideal for design-conscious homeowners.
- Cottage arch – Let it scramble over a wooden arch with Gypsophila repens and threadleaf coreopsis below for airy, romantic texture – perfect for classic cottage-garden admirers.
- Evening terrace – Place in a large container by seating, pairing with dusky salvias and ornamental grasses so the strong perfume enriches summer evenings – suited to urban balcony or patio users.
- Rose-and-perennial fence – Space plants along a sunny fence and weave between clumps of geraniums and nepeta to soften the base and extend colour – good for low-fuss family borders.
- Statement wall – Train fans of growth on horizontal wires across a brick wall, highlighting the exhibition-style blooms against masonry with minimal underplanting – appealing to collectors building a showcase.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Romantica® climbing hybrid tea-type rose; registered as MEIzincaro, marketed as Lolita Lempicka ® Gpt. Romantica® MEIzincaro; ARS exhibition name Peter Mayle for show purposes. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Alain Meilland (Meilland International, France) from (‘Maria Callas’ × ‘Susan Hampshire’) × ‘Susan Hampshire’; introduced 2003 in France and USA, registered 2000 under US Plant Patent 11,660. |
| Awards and recognition |
Winner of the Golden Rose at Geneva in 1998 and Silver Medal at Monza in 1998, reflecting its outstanding flower quality and overall garden performance under trial conditions. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Large-flowered climber with 200–320 cm height and 100–160 cm spread; dense, dark green, slightly glossy foliage on moderately thorny canes; weak self-cleaning so deadheading is recommended. |
| Flower morphology |
Very double, XL blooms (over 3.5 in) of classic high-centred, pointed-bud hybrid tea form, borne mainly solitary on stems; remontant with particularly abundant second flush when well maintained. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Rich magenta-pink with purple undertone (RHS 66A outer, 66C inner); opens dark and vibrant, then softens to light pink with a mauve tint; colour retention good, with attractive tonal changes as blooms mature. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very strong, long-lasting fragrance typical of perfumed garden roses; exact scent notes not formally described but well suited for areas near paths, seating or entrances where perfume can be enjoyed frequently. |
| Hip characteristics |
Hip set is sparse due to very double flowers; occasional egg-shaped hips 15–22 mm across, coloured red (RHS N45A), of mainly ornamental interest rather than for significant wildlife or culinary use. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to about –21 to –18 °C (RHS H7, USDA 6b, Swedish Zone 3); disease resistance sensitive, especially to powdery mildew and black spot, so regular monitoring and plant protection are advisable. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in sunny positions on pergolas, walls, fences or as specimens; spacing 140–240 cm depending on use; prefers well-drained soil, irrigation in prolonged drought and consistent deadheading plus spraying where needed. |
LOLITA LEMPICKA ® GPT. offers deeply coloured, XL perfumed blooms, graceful climbing height and long-lived own-root strength; consider it if you want a striking, scented vertical accent that will mature reliably over the years.
