La Sevillana Rose
Latin Name: Rosa 'La Sevillana'
Price range: $19.95 through $24.95
- Pot Size: 2 Inch, 4 Inch
- Hardiness Zone: Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9
Rosa ‘La Sevillana’ is a modern shrub rose that fills out into a dense, rounded bush. Its arching canes carry glossy compound leaves that push out bronze-green in spring and deepen to green as they age. From late spring until frost, the plant sets small clusters of semi-double flowers in bright vermillion red. Each bloom holds only about nine to sixteen petals, so the ring of yellow stamens at the center stays open and visible. Bees work these flowers readily. Bred in France by Marie-Louise Meilland, it was selected to perform as a landscape shrub rather than as a florist’s rose.
Plant Details
Quick Information
- Latin Name: Rosa ‘La Sevillana’
- Plant Family: Rosaceae
- Common Names: La Sevillana, Sevillana, Sevillana Meidiland, MEIgekanu
- Origin / Native Range: Garden origin; bred in France by Marie-Louise Meilland and introduced in 1978
- Mature Height × Width: 3–6 ft × 3–5 ft
- Exposure Requirements: Full Sun
- Irrigation Requirements: Moderate
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 5–9
- Cold Hardiness: –15°F– –10°F
- Bloom Time: Late Spring through Fall, with repeat flushes
- Bloom Color: Vermillion Red to Orange-Red
General Information
A young plant looks upright and a little thin, but that changes within two or three seasons. New canes rise from the base each year and branch as they lengthen, and the shrub fills in from the ground up. Mature plants become dense enough to read as a low hedge. The canes carry prickles along their length, which is worth knowing before you plant one beside a walkway. Leaves are pinnately compound, meaning several small leaflets share one leaf stalk, and their edges are finely toothed. This rose is deciduous, so the leaves drop in fall, and the bare cane structure shows through winter. If you leave the last flowers of autumn on the plant, they ripen into small red hips – the fruit of a rose – and they hold the seeds.
Flowering is where this shrub earns its place. Blooms come in waves rather than one big show, starting in late spring and continuing until frost stops growth. The plant does best in full sun, with at least six hours of direct light. Give it soil that drains well but still holds some moisture, and add compost if your ground is sandy or heavy clay. This is not a dry-garden rose. It needs steady water through the growing season, more than most of the desert-adapted plants we carry. Humid climates bring their own trouble, since black spot, powdery mildew, and rust all find roses in muggy weather. Spacing plants for good air movement helps more than any spray. Deer will also browse the canes where they are common.
La Sevillana belongs to the floribunda group, which means it was bred to carry flowers in clusters instead of one bloom per stem. That habit comes from crossing older cluster-flowering roses with large-flowered types. The result is a shrub that keeps producing rather than resting between flushes. It earned Germany’s ADR award in 1979, a rating given after several years of trial garden observation. Removing spent flowers encourages the next round of buds; leaving them in fall trades some late bloom for hips. Prune in late winter or early spring, cutting out old or damaged canes and shortening the rest. One caution: the prickles on the stems are sharp and can scratch skin. Wear gloves and long sleeves when pruning or working nearby.
General Planting & Cultivation Information
Even drought-tolerant plants require regular watering until they are well established, good drainage is essential. If planting in containers, avoid pots without drainage holes.
Irrigate by watering deeply and then allowing the top several inches of soil to dry between waterings. This encourages the plant to send roots deep into the earth in search of moisture, helping it to become established, prevent root rot, build drought tolerance, and resilience to wind, heat, and cold.
The length of time between waterings will vary depending on your growing conditions and environment. Use a moisture meter for precise irrigation.
When planting, set the plant at the same depth as it was in its current container. For trees, ensure the top of the root flare is at soil level.
Young plants are vulnerable to harsh conditions, so consider growing them in larger containers until mature.
When planting in the ground, research the optimal planting season for your climate zone and protect young plants from frost.
To support establishment, consider creating a microclimate with nurse plants, shade, or wind protection. This can reduce stress, conserve soil moisture, and increase long-term success.
Protect the small, immature plants from rabbits and deer.
Check out our FAQ page for more tips on desert gardening.