Pierre de Ronsard is easily the most popular rose planted in the Touraine Loire Valley. For good reason too. It's beautiful, hardy and known by everyone. In 2006 it was voted the World's Favourite Rose. The name is in honour of the famously rose loving French Renaissance poet who lived at the Prieuré de St Cosme near Tours.
Unsurprisingly, it was bred by the great French rose nursery Meilland Richardier, in 1987. More surprisingly though, they apparently passed it over for commercialisation, and it was only when a German nurseryman asked to trial it that it took off. Commercially it is also known as Eden Rose 85, and its officially registered rose varietal 'pedigree' name is Meiviolin.
Pierre de Ronsard is a climbing rose with large globose flowers in groups of two or three blooms. The flower centre is carmine pink, fading to the faintest delicate pink wash on the outer. It will flower from April to October. Supposedly it is delicately scented, but in my experience so delicately as to be undetectable. That is it sole fault in my opinion.
It is a vigorous rose, growing to three metres in height, resistant to disease and cold, but can be susceptible to mites.
Along with several other Meilland roses, Pierre de Ronsard is one of the most sold in the world. It is also one of the most 'faked' roses in the world. Meilland estimate that a third of all sold are unlicenced copies and produced illegally. The Meilland nurseries are best known for their rose Peace.
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