Data specific to Roses (Edit)
Bloom size: Medium: 2-3"
Bloom shape: Cupped
Petal count: very full: 40+ petals
Rose bloom color: Medium red
Extra Bloom Info: Medium to large, very full, in clusters
Rebloom: Good
Class: Floribunda
Other: Romantica
Growth Habit: Short, 2-3 feet, bushy
Fragrance: Mild
Hybridizer & year: Meilland International, 1998
Optimal growing zones: USDA zone 6 and warmer

General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Shrub
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Soil pH Preferences: Moderately acid (5.6 – 6.0)
Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Slightly alkaline (7.4 – 7.8)
Plant Height: 2-3 feet
Plant Spread: 2-3 feet
Leaves: Deciduous
Flowers: Showy
Fragrant
Flower Color: Red
Flower Time: Spring
Summer
Fall
Uses: Cut Flower
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Cuttings: Tip
Miscellaneous: With thorns/spines/prickles/teeth
Parentage: (Tchin-Tchin x Mathias Meilland) x Lilli Marleen

Image
Alternative cultivar names:
  • 'Francois Rabelais'
  • 'MEInusian'
  • 'Rabelais'

Common names
  • Rose
Also sold as:
  • François Rabelais

Photo Gallery
Photo by MargieNY
Photo by MargieNY
Location: Mountains of northern California
Date: September 13, 2012
Location: Mountains of northern California
Date: June 05, 2018
Location: Mountains of northern California
Date: July 25, 2010
Location: Mountains of northern California
Date: August 05, 2011

Date: 2016-11-19
Photo by MargieNY
Location: Mountains of northern California
Date: July 14, 2011
Location: Mountains of northern California
Date: July 17, 2015
Location: Mountains of northern California
Date: 2018-09-25
This is one of my favorite roses ... it is an excellant rose in m
Location: Mountains of northern California
Date: 2018-09-29

Date: 2020-06-17
Location: Mountains of northern California
Date: October 14 2015

Date: 2021-06-10
Location: Mountains of northern California
Date: October 14 2015

Date: 2017-07-07

At Garden Valley Ranch nursery
Location: At a nursery
Date: 2008-06-25

Date: 2019-06-17
Photo by Newyorkrita
Location: Kansas City, MO
Date: 2020-08-04
First year!
Location: Kansas City, MO
Date: 2020-08-11
Photo by Newyorkrita
Location: Mountains of northern California
Date: December 29, 2014

photo credit: Georges Seguin

At Garden Valley Ranch nursery
Location: At a nursery
Date: 2008-06-25
Photo by Newyorkrita
Location: Long Island, NY 
Date: 2013-09-23
Comments:
  • Posted by Newyorkrita (North Shore, Long Island, NY ) on Oct 16, 2011 3:11 PM concerning plant:
    One of the Romantica series of roses and in my opinion one of the prettiest. A small shrub that never tries to grow large for me. Beautiful strongly ruffled full blooms are on the small side and a color that is hard to describe. I have two of Francois Rabelais. One is in the front yard in Floribundaville and I loved it so much I added another in the backyard grouped with America and Ruffled Cloud.

    .

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