Rosa Jean de la Fontaine ('Meiffable') | Hybrid Tea Rose
Rose Jean de la Fontaine (hybrid tea)
Old-fashioned flower form meets a fresh apricot-pink colour palette in this richly scented Hybrid Tea. The very double blooms open into broad cups around 10-12cm (4-5in) across, with roughly 50 petals creating a full, rounded shape more often associated with traditional 'old-English' roses.
Soft pink outer petals deepen towards a warmer salmon-apricot centre, giving Rosa ‘Jean de la Fontaine’ plenty of depth as each flower opens. The blooms appear repeatedly from June through to September, bringing fresh colour over a long summer season.
Fragrance is a major feature, with an intense fruity-floral perfume that gives the flowers just as much presence by scent as by appearance. Their substantial size and good form also make them well suited to cutting, so a few stems can be enjoyed indoors without losing the overall effect in the garden.
With its combination of repeat flowering, strong fragrance and large, cup-shaped blooms, ‘Jean de la Fontaine’ is a good choice for gardeners who like the look of an old rose but want the flowering performance of a modern Hybrid Tea.
All our roses are grown in an open field and then dug up when the weather conditions are right in October or November. Some suppliers send out their roses as 'bare root' plants (i.e. without pots or compost), but we pot ours up as it helps to keep the roots hydrated and in good condition. As they are dormant throughout the winter, they will not produce any new roots until spring, so don't be surprised if the compost falls away from the roots when you take them out of their pots.
The roses can be kept in their pots throughout the winter provided they are kept well fed and watered, however ideally they should be planted out as soon as possible. They will already have been cut back so no further pruning will be required, apart from snipping off any tips that have died back. Routine pruning can begin in late winter the year after planting.
Soft pink outer petals deepen towards a warmer salmon-apricot centre, giving Rosa ‘Jean de la Fontaine’ plenty of depth as each flower opens. The blooms appear repeatedly from June through to September, bringing fresh colour over a long summer season.
Fragrance is a major feature, with an intense fruity-floral perfume that gives the flowers just as much presence by scent as by appearance. Their substantial size and good form also make them well suited to cutting, so a few stems can be enjoyed indoors without losing the overall effect in the garden.
With its combination of repeat flowering, strong fragrance and large, cup-shaped blooms, ‘Jean de la Fontaine’ is a good choice for gardeners who like the look of an old rose but want the flowering performance of a modern Hybrid Tea.
All our roses are grown in an open field and then dug up when the weather conditions are right in October or November. Some suppliers send out their roses as 'bare root' plants (i.e. without pots or compost), but we pot ours up as it helps to keep the roots hydrated and in good condition. As they are dormant throughout the winter, they will not produce any new roots until spring, so don't be surprised if the compost falls away from the roots when you take them out of their pots.
The roses can be kept in their pots throughout the winter provided they are kept well fed and watered, however ideally they should be planted out as soon as possible. They will already have been cut back so no further pruning will be required, apart from snipping off any tips that have died back. Routine pruning can begin in late winter the year after planting.
How to care for Rosa Jean de la Fontaine ('Meiffable') (HT):
If planting in winter, choose a frost-free spell when the soil is not frozen. Roses are quite deep-rooted plants so dig a deep hole roughly twice as wide as the plant's roots and mix in a generous amount of composted organic matter. A top-dressing of a general purpose fertiliser can be worked into the surrounding soil and we also recommend using Rose Rootgrow at this stage to encourage better root development. This is particularly important when planting into a bed where roses have previously been grown as Rose Rootgrow is said to combat rose sickness (aka replant disease).
Remove the plants from their pots and gently spread out the roots before placing them in the centre of the hole. Try to ensure that the 'bud union' (the point where the cultivated rose has been grafted onto the rootstock, and from where the shoots emerge) is at soil level. You can judge this quite easily by laying something flat, like a spade handle or bamboo cane, across the top of the hole. When they are at the right height, back-fill the hole, firming the soil down gently before watering the plant well.
Water generously until well established, and apply a specialist rose fertiliser (following the manufacturer's instructions) each spring. They will also benefit from a generous mulch of composted farmyard manure in spring, but make sure this is kept away from the stems.
While wearing tough gloves, prune in late winter or early spring, removing any dead, damaged or weak-looking stems completely. The younger stems tend to produce the best flowers, so if the plant is becoming congested, cut one or two of the older stems right back to their base, which will also help open up the centre of the plant. Then cut back the most vigorous stems to within 25-30cm (10-12in) from the base, and the thinner stems back a little harder.
Remove the plants from their pots and gently spread out the roots before placing them in the centre of the hole. Try to ensure that the 'bud union' (the point where the cultivated rose has been grafted onto the rootstock, and from where the shoots emerge) is at soil level. You can judge this quite easily by laying something flat, like a spade handle or bamboo cane, across the top of the hole. When they are at the right height, back-fill the hole, firming the soil down gently before watering the plant well.
Water generously until well established, and apply a specialist rose fertiliser (following the manufacturer's instructions) each spring. They will also benefit from a generous mulch of composted farmyard manure in spring, but make sure this is kept away from the stems.
While wearing tough gloves, prune in late winter or early spring, removing any dead, damaged or weak-looking stems completely. The younger stems tend to produce the best flowers, so if the plant is becoming congested, cut one or two of the older stems right back to their base, which will also help open up the centre of the plant. Then cut back the most vigorous stems to within 25-30cm (10-12in) from the base, and the thinner stems back a little harder.
Flowering period:
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Eventual height:
1m
Eventual spread:
1m
Position:
Full sun
Rate of growth:
Average
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness:
Fully hardy
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This rose is deciduous so it will lose all its leaves in autumn, then fresh new foliage appears again each spring.
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Humans/Pets: Fruit are ornamental - not to be eaten
