LOLITA LEMPICKA ® GPT. – deep pink climbing rose – Meilland
Step out after rain and meet the Romantica magic of LOLITA LEMPICKA ® GPT., a deep-pink climber bred for generous height, velvety petals and an enveloping, very strong fragrance. In a typical London front garden it can frame a doorway, soften a brick wall or dress a narrow terrace, while its dense dark foliage and large blooms bring instant drama. Planted into improved heavy clay with reliable drainage, it settles well and responds to regular rainwater and a sunny aspect. Grown on its own roots, it is designed for long-term resilience and recovery after pruning, rewarding patient gardeners as it moves from root establishment to fuller top growth and then to full ornamental value over three steady seasons in your family garden.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Front garden arch or porch entrance |
Use to frame a gate or doorway, where its tall, climbing habit and very large, high-centred blooms create a welcoming focal point that feels both romantic and ordered for visitors and passers-by who appreciate impact. |
| Sunny house wall or terrace façade |
Trained flat against warm brick or fencing, its dense dark foliage and repeat flowering create a long vertical curtain of colour, ideal where you want to soften hard lines and enjoy scented summer evenings as a homeowner. |
| Pergola or narrow side passage |
Guided over a pergola or along a path, the tall canes carry strongly scented, double flowers at head height, enhancing the feeling of walking a narrow, perfume-filled tunnel for those who value immersive experience. |
| Feature container (40–50+ litres) on patio |
In a large, deep container with a sturdy obelisk, it becomes a dramatic patio feature, its repeat flushes of deep-pink bloom and fragrance close to seating areas appealing to balcony and terrace gardeners seeking luxury. |
| Specimen rose in a mixed flower border |
Planted as a single statement within perennials, its strong colour and traditional, very double flowers echo a classic cut-rose look, drawing the eye upwards while underplanting helps disguise bare lower stems for design-conscious beginners. |
| Screening for neighbouring views |
On fences or trellis, its 2–3 m growth provides soft visual screening; dense foliage and regular repeat flowering offer privacy with romance, particularly valued in compact urban plots where space is shared by busy families. |
| Cutting and perfumed vase flowers |
Bred from exhibition hybrid tea parentage, the long, straight stems and XL, high-centred blooms lend themselves to cutting, giving scented indoor arrangements that suit those who like to bring their gardening efforts inside. |
| Rainwater-conscious, improved-clay urban planting |
In small front gardens with heavier soils, thorough soil improvement and good drainage help this climber cope with UK rain and wind, while deep planting and own-root stamina support its long-term structure for eco-aware gardeners. |
Styling ideas
- Parisian-porch – Train over a black metal arch by the front door, underplant with lavender and nepeta to echo its perfume – ideal for style-led city homeowners.
- Soft-screen – Cover a shared fence with its deep-pink blooms, weaving through evergreen honeysuckle for year-round presence – suited to families seeking gentle privacy.
- Romantic-border – Use as a tall back-of-border feature with gypsophila and threadleaf coreopsis to lighten the rich flowers – perfect for cottage-style enthusiasts.
- Balcony-showpiece – Grow in a 50-litre container with a slim obelisk, pairing with trailing thyme for scent and ground cover – appealing to balcony and terrace gardeners.
- Evening-walk – Lead it along a side path pergola, with low sage and catmint at the base to brush your legs – designed for those who enjoy post-rain strolls.
Technical cultivar profile
| Characteristic | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Climbing hybrid tea-type rose from the Romantica® collection; registered as MEIzincaro, marketed as Lolita Lempicka ® Gpt. Romantica® MEIzincaro; also exhibited as ‘Peter Mayle’ in show contexts. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Alain Meilland (Meilland International, France) from (‘Maria Callas’ × ‘Susan Hampshire’) × ‘Susan Hampshire’; bred before 2000 and introduced in 2003 in France and the USA, with US plant patent PP 11 660. |
| Awards and recognition |
Recognised on the show circuit, including Geneva Golden Rose 1998 and Monza Silver Medal 1998, confirming exhibition-level flower form and overall ornamental quality in international rose trials. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Large-flowered climbing habit, typically 200–320 cm high with a 100–160 cm spread; moderately thorny, with dense, slightly glossy dark green foliage forming a substantial vertical framework when trained. |
| Flower morphology |
Very double, XL high-centred flowers with more than 40 petals, produced mainly singly on stems; remontant habit gives strong initial flowering followed by a similarly abundant second flush in suitable conditions. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Deep magenta-pink with a purple undertone, RHS 66A outer, 66C inner; buds open in vibrant cyclamen-pink, then soften to light pink with a mauve tint as blooms age, while overall colour retention remains good in sun. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Classed as a very strong, long-lasting scented rose; detailed fragrance notes are not recorded, but intensity is high enough for use near seating areas or paths where repeated close-up appreciation is desired. |
| Hip characteristics |
Hip set is generally sparse due to strongly double blooms; where formed, expect occasional egg-shaped, 15–22 mm red hips (RHS N45A), more a minor seasonal curiosity than a principal ornamental feature. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Rated H7, hardy to approximately -21 to -18 °C and USDA zone 6b; disease resistance is weak, with notable sensitivity to powdery mildew and black spot, plus moderate susceptibility to rust in humid seasons. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best on sunny walls, fences or pergolas; prefers well-drained soil with regular watering in drought; needs routine deadheading and plant protection due to disease sensitivity, especially in damp, maritime climates. |
LOLITA LEMPICKA ® GPT. combines exhibition-style deep-pink blooms, a powerful long-lasting scent and impressive climbing height with the regenerative reliability of an own-root plant, making it a refined choice for long-term garden structure and pleasure.
