2026 Rose of the Year
'Loves Me, Loves Me Not™'
The Enchanting Loves Me, Loves Me Not™ Rose: A Modern Romantic Classic
The Loves Me, Loves Me Not™ rose (registration name 'MEIcatess') stands out as one of the most romantic and lavish hybrid tea roses available today. Bred by the celebrated French rose breeder Alain Meilland of the renowned Meilland International family, this variety was introduced to the market around 2018–2020. The Meilland lineage has a storied history in rose breeding dating back generations, famous for classics like 'Peace' and many fragrant beauties. With this cultivar, Alain aimed to blend old-world opulence—think massive petal counts and rich perfume—with modern traits like strong disease resistance, heat tolerance, and reliable repeat blooming. The playful name directly references the timeless "he loves me, he loves me not" petal-plucking game, perfectly suiting its extravagant, love-letter-in-bloom appearance. It has quickly become a favorite among gardeners and cut-flower enthusiasts for its ability to deliver drama and delight in equal measure.
The Striking Appearance and Color
What makes this rose truly captivating is its extraordinary look and color. Each flower is a masterpiece: enormous blooms reach 5 to 5.5 inches across, cupped and packed with over 200 velvety petals (some reports even suggest more), creating a lush, almost peony-like fullness that's rare in hybrid teas. The color is a deep, vibrant rose-pink—often described as raspberry or magenta—that holds its intensity beautifully, even under full sun or in warmer climates. The petals have a slightly ruffled edge, adding texture and romance, while the glossy, dark green foliage provides a perfect backdrop and shows good resistance to black spot and powdery mildew. The plant grows upright and compact, typically 4–5 feet tall with a spread of about 3 feet, making it ideal for garden beds, borders, large containers, or even as a focal point on a patio. Flowers are usually borne singly on long, sturdy stems, which makes them exceptional for cutting and arranging.
The Powerful and Irresistible Fragrance
The fragrance is where Loves Me, Loves Me Not truly shines—it's powerful, sweet, and complex. Gardeners rave about its bold scent profile, blending notes of lilac and gardenia with juicy pineapple and other fruity undertones, sometimes evoking tropical vibes mixed with classic floral elegance. The perfume carries well, filling the air around the bush on warm days and perfuming entire rooms when the stems are brought indoors. In Southern California's Mediterranean climate—like your sunny spot in Rancho Santa Margarita—the fragrance often intensifies with the heat, making it even more rewarding during the long growing season.
Best Growing Practices and Care Tips
Growing this rose is straightforward and gratifying, especially in USDA zones 5–10 (perfect for your zone 9–10 area). Plant it in a spot with at least 6–8 hours of direct sunlight daily and well-drained, organically rich soil. Amend with compost at planting time, and space bushes 2–3 feet apart for good airflow. Water deeply but infrequently—once or twice a week depending on weather—keeping the soil evenly moist without sogginess; mulch helps retain moisture and suppress weeds. Feed with a balanced rose fertilizer in early spring, after the first flush, and again in midsummer for continuous blooms from late spring through fall. Prune in late winter or early spring to shape the plant, remove dead wood, and encourage strong new growth by cutting back to outward-facing buds. While it has solid disease resistance, keep an eye out for occasional aphids or Japanese beetles (common in many areas); neem oil or insecticidal soap usually handles them. In your mild climate, winter protection is minimal—just a light mulch if needed.
Why This Rose Is Perfect for Your Garden
Beyond its beauty and scent, this rose offers practical perks for modern gardeners. Its heat and some drought tolerance once established make it low-maintenance in warmer regions, and the long vase life of the blooms means you can enjoy them for days after cutting. Many who grow it report it performs reliably even in its first year, producing impressive flowers quickly. Whether you're planting for romance, fragrance, or simply to add a showy centerpiece to your landscape, Loves Me, Loves Me Not delivers on all fronts. In a place like Southern California, with plenty of sun and mild winters, it should thrive and reward you with wave after wave of those irresistible pink explosions. If you're considering adding one (or a few) to your garden, it's hard to go wrong—this rose truly lives up to its name, making every glance feel like a little declaration of love.