Introduction & History

In the world of landscape roses, few names carry as much quiet, enduring charm as 'Meilove,' better known internationally as 'The Lovely Fairy.' A sport of the legendary 'The Fairy,' discovered and introduced by Meilland in 1989, this rose inherits all of the extraordinary garden qualities that made its parent one of the most widely planted roses on earth, while offering a subtly richer, warmer shade of medium pink that many gardeners find even more appealing than the original. Where 'The Fairy' conquered the world with its effortless cascades of tiny, perfectly formed blooms, 'Meilove' refines the formula with slightly deeper color intensity, creating a rose that glows with warmth from midsummer through hard frost. Like its parent, it asks almost nothing of the gardener yet gives generously in return, smothering its low, spreading mound of glossy foliage in such quantities of bloom that the leaves virtually disappear beneath a pink cloud.

Breeding History

'Meilove' (MEIlassij) was discovered as a sport (natural mutation) of 'The Fairy' by the House of Meilland in southern France and introduced commercially in 1989. 'The Fairy' itself, bred by Ann Bentall in England in 1932, is a polyantha rose descended from 'Paul Crampel' crossed with 'Lady Gay,' and it became one of the most commercially successful landscape roses in history. The sport that became 'Meilove' exhibited a warmer, slightly deeper medium pink coloring while retaining all the exceptional landscape qualities of its parent: extreme floribundity, graceful spreading habit, outstanding disease resistance, and virtually maintenance-free performance. Meilland recognized the commercial potential of this improved color form and introduced it as 'The Lovely Fairy' for the international market.

Flower Form & Fragrance

'Meilove' produces small, fully double blooms with 20-25 petals, opening from tiny, rounded buds into miniature rosette-form flowers approximately 2-3 cm across. The color is a warm medium pink, slightly deeper and richer than the original 'The Fairy,' with excellent color retention through the life of each bloom. Flowers appear in enormous sprays of 10-40 blooms per cluster, creating a spectacular massed display that can completely obscure the foliage at peak bloom. The fragrance is mild, a light, sweet scent detectable only at close range, which is typical of polyantha roses. Blooming begins later than most roses, typically in mid to late June, but continues with notable persistence through the first hard frosts of autumn.

Garden Design & Uses

'Meilove' excels as a groundcover, low border edging, mass planting, and cascading element in raised beds and retaining walls. Plant in sweeping drifts of 5-15 for a spectacular carpet of pink that requires minimal maintenance. It is superb along pathways, in front of taller shrub roses, and as a softening element at the base of walls and fences. The warm pink coloring harmonizes beautifully with silver and gray foliage plants, blue-flowering perennials like lavender, catmint, and ageratum, and white companions for a fresh summer palette. It makes an excellent low hedge at 50-60 cm spacing and is widely used in commercial landscape plantings, roundabouts, and public park settings.

Growth Habit & Hardiness

'Meilove' forms a low, dense, spreading mound reaching 60-80 cm tall with a spread of 80-120 cm, identical in habit to its parent 'The Fairy.' The growth is twiggy, well-branched, and builds a thick, cushion-like structure that suppresses weeds effectively once established. Foliage is small, dark green, and glossy, providing an attractive background for the masses of pink blooms. New growth emerges with a slight bronze tint. Thorn density is light, with small, fine prickles that make the plant relatively easy to handle. The plant grows on its own roots when propagated from cuttings, and root suckering is minimal. Vigor is moderate and self-regulating.

Climate & Hardiness

'Meilove' is hardy in USDA zones 5-9, tolerating winter temperatures down to approximately -28°C (-18°F). In zone 5, it may experience some dieback in severe winters but regenerates reliably from the base. Heat tolerance is excellent, with the rose performing well through zone 9 and tolerating southern heat and humidity. It adapts to a wide range of climatic conditions, from cool maritime regions to hot continental summers. Drought tolerance is moderate once established. The late start to blooming means late spring frosts rarely damage the display.

Seasonal Care Calendar

Planting & Container Growing

Plant in full sun for maximum bloom density, though 'Meilove' tolerates light afternoon shade with slightly reduced flowering. It thrives in any well-drained, moderately fertile soil with a pH of 5.5-7.5, showing notable soil adaptability. Space plants 60-80 cm apart for a continuous groundcover effect, or 80-100 cm for individual specimen mounds. Dig a hole slightly wider than the root ball, amend with compost, and plant at nursery depth. Apply 5-8 cm of organic mulch. Water deeply at planting and maintain regular moisture until established.

Container Growing

'Meilove' is excellent in containers, where its cascading habit creates a beautiful spilling effect over pot edges. Use a minimum 25-litre container with drainage holes. Fill with quality potting soil mixed with 20% perlite and 20% compost. Water when the top 2-3 cm of soil feels dry. Feed every 3-4 weeks with balanced liquid fertilizer during the growing season. The low, spreading habit makes it perfect for wide, shallow containers, window boxes, and raised planters. Overwinter in zones 5-6 by insulating the container or moving it to shelter. Feasibility rating: 4/5.

Seasonal Care & Pruning

Spring: Cut back the entire plant to 15-20 cm in early spring before new growth begins. This hard renewal pruning rejuvenates the plant and promotes dense, compact growth covered in fresh flowering wood. Apply balanced granular fertilizer and fresh mulch. Summer: Water deeply once weekly during dry spells. Deadheading individual spent clusters is impractical due to their sheer number; most gardeners let the plant self-clean, which it does reasonably well. Apply a second feeding in midsummer. The plant requires virtually no other maintenance. Autumn: Stop fertilizing by mid-August. Enjoy the long tail of bloom that continues until hard frost. Winter: No special protection in zones 6-9. In zone 5, a light mulch around the crown provides insurance.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Expecting early summer bloom; like 'The Fairy,' 'Meilove' starts flowering later than most roses, typically mid to late June. 2. Planting in deep shade, where bloom production drops dramatically. 3. Over-pruning into formal shapes, which destroys the natural, graceful spreading habit. 4. Planting too closely, creating a dense mass with poor interior air circulation. 5. Confusing it with 'The Fairy' and expecting identical coloring; 'Meilove' is distinctly warmer and deeper pink.

Propagation

'Meilove' propagates easily from softwood cuttings taken in early summer. Select 8-12 cm semi-ripe shoots, remove lower leaves, dip in rooting hormone, and root in a moist perlite/peat mix under humidity cover. Rooting takes 3-5 weeks with high success rates, inheriting the easy propagation character of 'The Fairy' family. Hardwood cuttings in late autumn also succeed at good rates. Division of established mounds is straightforward in early spring. As a Meilland cultivar, commercial propagation requires licensing. Difficulty rating: Very easy.

Diseases & Pests

'Meilove' inherits the excellent disease resistance of 'The Fairy' family. Black spot resistance is very good, with problems arising only in the wettest seasons or the most humid climates. Powdery mildew may appear in late summer where air circulation is poor, particularly in dense mass plantings. Rust is uncommon. Overall, chemical disease management is rarely necessary, making this an excellent choice for low-maintenance and organic gardens. Aphids on new spring growth are the most common pest and are easily managed. Japanese beetles feed on blooms in affected regions. Spider mites may appear in hot, dry conditions. Scale insects occasionally colonize older wood in warm climates.

Cut Flowers & Exhibition

'Meilove' produces charming small-scale cut flower sprays ideal for petite arrangements, bud vases, and as filler in mixed bouquets. Cut entire flower clusters when approximately half the buds in the spray are open. Strip lower foliage, recut stems under water, and condition in warm water with floral preservative. The small, perfectly formed pink rosettes are delightful in miniature arrangements and cottage-style posies. Vase life is 5-7 days, with buds continuing to open in the vase.

Collector & Exhibition Notes

'Meilove' holds collector interest as the most successful sport of the legendary 'The Fairy,' one of the most important landscape roses in history. Collectors of polyantha roses and 'Fairy' family members will want it alongside the original, 'White Fairy,' 'Red Fairy,' and other sports. For exhibition, present dense, well-formed flower clusters with clean glossy foliage. It competes in polyantha and landscape rose classes. Its commercial availability is good through European and North American nurseries specializing in landscape roses.

Comparison with Similar Roses

Compared to its parent 'The Fairy,' 'Meilove' is virtually identical in habit, disease resistance, and bloom form but offers a warmer, deeper medium pink that many gardeners prefer. Against 'Bonica' (Meilland), 'Meilove' is more compact, lower-growing, and more densely floriferous but with smaller individual blooms. Versus 'Flower Carpet Pink,' 'Meilove' has a more graceful, arching habit and more refined flower form, while Flower Carpet may offer slightly better disease resistance. Against 'Swany,' it trades white for pink with a slightly taller habit.

Heritage & Conservation

As a sport of 'The Fairy,' 'Meilove' carries the genetic heritage of one of the most important landscape roses in history. The original 'Fairy' lineage, combining polyantha vigor with miniature charm, represents a unique breeding line that has influenced landscape rose design worldwide. 'Meilove' is commercially available and faces no conservation concern, but its genetic link to the original 1932 'Fairy' makes it part of a living horticultural legacy spanning nearly a century.

Cultural Significance

'Meilove' represents the power of natural mutation in rose improvement, taking one of the most successful landscape roses ever created and refining its color to an even warmer shade. The 'Fairy' family of roses, beginning with Ann Bentall's original 1932 introduction, has collectively planted more square meters of rose groundcover than perhaps any other lineage. 'Meilove' continues this legacy with the added prestige of the Meilland name, the French breeding dynasty responsible for 'Peace' and countless other world-famous roses.

Frequently Asked Questions