Rosa x floribunda Tequila Meipomolo - Standard Floribunda Rose

The Tequila Standard Rose Meipomolo forms a small tree with a crown covered in radiant clusters, where roses in shades of pink to orange bloom for weeks. This variety is known for its abundant autumn flowering, as well as its vigorous growth and excellent disease resistance. These qualities have earned it several prestigious awards in rose competitions. With its elegant tree-like habit, this standard rose deserves a prime spot in the garden or even in a large pot on the patio.

Standard roses are obtained by grafting a variety (in this case, the Tequila bush rose) onto a single, upright stem belonging to a different rose species (Rosa canina, R. laxa, or R. multiflora), with the graft being performed at the top. In very cold regions, it may be useful to protect the rootstock during winter.

The Tequila Rose is an excellent French creation by Meilland, dating back to 2004. It won the Golden Rose in Geneva in 2003, was named the Most Beautiful Rose in France, Grand Rose of the Century in Lyon in 2004, and Golden Rose in Orléans in 2005. This variety belongs to the floribunda rose family, which produces flowers in clusters. Grafted as a standard rose, it exhibits a characteristic habit, with a slender, vertical 'trunk' carrying a large, rounded crown. Its thorny stems bear semi-matte light green foliage, divided into small, tough, toothed leaflets. The young shoots are red to bronze in colour. It blooms regularly from June until August-September, with particularly abundant flowering in October, provided that faded flowers are regularly pruned and the plant does not lack water. The double flowers are gathered in clusters of 3 to 5 units, and they are 6-7 cm (2-3in) wide, composed of about twenty slightly undulate petals. The flower colour is a fairly dark yellow, touched with rose-orange on the outer petals. This rose does not have a fragrance. The plant is deciduous in winter.

This Tequila Standard Rose stands out in the garden from a distance. It makes a magnificent focal point, to be placed in the centre of a bed of light perennials, along a pathway, near the patio, as a standalone feature in a well-kept small garden, or in a large pot on the balcony. Its yellow to orange colour pairs well with white, red, blue, or purple flowers. For example, one can plant nepetas, chamomiles, perennial salvias, lavenders, love-in-a-mist, or baby's breath alongside it. A groundcover of silver mound or lady's mantle will showcase it perfectly.