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'François Rabelais' rose Description
'Rabelais ® (floribunda, Meilland, 1998)' rose photo
Photo courtesy of Brigitta's garden in Pécel
Availability:
Commercially available
HMF Ratings:
58 favorite votes.  
Average rating: EXCELLENT.  
ARS:
Medium red Floribunda.
Registration name: MEInusian
Exhibition name: François Rabelais
Origin:
Bred by Alain Meilland (1940-....) (France, before 1996).
Introduced in United States by Conard-Pyle (Star Roses) in 1996 as 'François Rabelais'.
Class:
Floribunda.  
Bloom:
Red.  Mild fragrance.  41 to 60 petals.  Average diameter 3.25".  Medium to large, very full (41+ petals), cluster-flowered, in small clusters, old-fashioned bloom form.  Blooms in flushes throughout the season.  
Habit:
Medium, bushy.  Medium, glossy, dark green foliage.  

Height: 28" to 35" (70 to 90cm).  Width: 3' (90cm).
Growing:
USDA zone 6b and warmer.  Can be used for beds and borders, container rose, cut flower or garden.  Disease susceptibility: very mildew resistant.  Spring Pruning: Remove old canes and dead or diseased wood and cut back canes that cross. In warmer climates, cut back the remaining canes by about one-third. In colder areas, you'll probably find you'll have to prune a little more than that.  
Patents:
Australia - Patent No: AU4410P  on  5 Apr 2012
Application No: 2000/159  on  19 May 2000   VIEW PBR PATENT
(‘Meichanso’ x ‘Meifolio’) with pollen parent ‘Korlima’ ....Breeder: Alain Meiland, France
 
Canada - Application No: 00-2397  on  29 Sep 2000
Applicaton withdrawn on July 8, 2004.
Breeder: Alain Meilland, Meilland International, Le Luc en Provence, France
 
United States - Application No: 11/353,183  on  14 Feb 2006
The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) of the new variety was the product of the cross of the ‘Meichanso’ variety (non-patented in the United States) and the ‘Meifolio’ variety (non-patented in the United States). The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the ‘Korlima’ variety (non-patented in the United States). The ‘Meichanso’ variety sometimes is known as the ‘Parador’ variety. The ‘Korlima’ variety sometimes is known as the ‘Lilli Marleen’ variety.
[an earlier application with PP 11'714 in 2000 was withdrawn]
 
United States - Patent No: PP 11,714   VIEW USPTO PATENT
Errata published January 2, 2001: All reference to Patent No. PP 11,714 to Alain A. Meiiland of Escondido of Antibes, France for FLORIBUNDA ROSE PLANT NAMED MEINUSIAN appearing in the Official Gazette of December 19, 2000 should be deleted since no patent was granted.
Notes:
Steve in Iowa reports: This rose was the best of the two dozen new varieties I planted last spring. I planted three together in the same hole, a la David Austin roses. Wonderful. A brilliant garnet red in constant bloom that is untroubled by pests.
Errata published 2001: "All reference to Patent No. PP 11,714 to Alain A. Meilland of Antibes, France for FLORIBUNDA ROSE PLANT NAMED MEINUSIAN appearing in the Official Gazette of December 19, 2000 should be deleted since no patent was granted."