The Maurice Utrillo rose is a captivating hybrid tea rose named in tribute to the French painter Maurice Utrillo. Known for its striking striped petals blending red, white and yellow, this rose also called DELstavo’ or Arista Panarose’ offers gardeners an artistic floral display that mirrors Impressionist brushstroke aesthetics. With repeat blooms through the growing season and notable disease resistance, it has become a favorite for both garden collectors and floral arrangers seeking visual drama coupled with reliable performance.
Origin and Background of Maurice Utrillo Rose
This cultivar was bred by the Delbard nursery in France in 2003 as part of their Painters Collection, which includes varieties named after celebrated artists such as Monet, Matisse, Degas and Pissarro. The Maurice Utrillo rose was introduced to the public shortly thereafter and has received acclaim including a Gold Medal at the Rose Hills International Rose Trials in 2005.
Gardens and rosariums globally now feature it as a standout variety often grown in garden beds, borders, and even as cut-flower specimens thanks to its remarkable coloration and form.
Appearance and Fragrance
Flower Characteristics
- Flower size: approximately 79 cm (2.53.5 inches) in diameter
- Petal count: 1725 curved petals forming semi-double blooms
- Color pattern: bold red base striped with creamy white and yellow, showing significant variation from bloom to bloom
Each blossom of the Maurice Utrillo rose is unique, displaying a painterly effect that evokes the impressionistic art style of its namesake. Some flowers are more red-dominant; others feature more yellow or pastel tones.
Foliage and Habit
- Plant form: compact, bushy shrub typically reaching 50120 cm tall and 5060 cm wide
- Foliage: dark to medium green, robust and glossy leaves
Scent
This cultivar carries a light, fruity fragrance often compared to raspberries or subtle herbal notes. The scent enhances its garden appeal though it is not overpowering.
Growth, Hardiness, and Blooming Pattern
The Maurice Utrillo rose thrives in USDA hardiness zones 6b through 9b, demonstrating reliable performance in a range of climates. The plant is noted for its excellent disease resistance and ability to rebloom from late spring until autumn without much fuss.
In favorable climates it may produce blossoms in flushes every 46 weeks. While each bloom may last only a day or two, its high frequency of flowering ensures continuous visual impact throughout the season.
Planting and Care Tips
Ideal Conditions
- Full sun exposure for at least six hours per day
- Well-draining, fertile soil enriched with organic matter
- Consistent watering keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged
Planting in spring or fall ensures strong establishment. Use loamy soil blended with compost or aged manure. Apply mulch around the base to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
Pruning and Maintenance
- Prune in early spring: remove dead or crossing canes to promote airflow
- Deadhead spent blooms regularly to encourage repeat flowering
- Fertilize in early season and mid-summer with a balanced rose fertilizer for continued health and bloom production
This rose’s compact growth habit makes it suitable for beds, containers, or mixed borders. It can also be trained as a rose standard or small focal tree for added visual interest.
Landscape Uses and Floral Applications
Gardeners often use the Maurice Utrillo rose to add striking color contrast in borders, especially when paired with solid-colored shrubs or perennials. Its artistic stripe patterns draw the eye and enliven mixed plantings. The blooms are also popular in floral arrangements due to their unique appearance and moderate longevity as cut flowers.
The cultivar is versatile in garden settings from cottage gardens to formal beds and works well in mass plantings or as specimen shrubs.
Common Questions and Enthusiast Observations
Rose enthusiasts on forums such as Reddit note that while each individual bloom may fade within one or two days, the plant continuously produces new flowers, resulting in a long season of color. As one gardener remarked: My blooms are spectacular like this and only last about 24 hours.
In shared discussions, users also compare it favorably with other painterseries roses like Claude Monet and Camille Pissarro, often using photos to distinguish varieties based on stripe patterns and bloom lifespan.
Why Choose Maurice Utrillo Rose?
- Unique and vivid striped blooms that resemble a living painting
- Reliable repeat flowering from late spring through autumn
- Hardiness across multiple climates (USDA zones 6b9b)
- Excellent disease resistance, making it easier for home gardeners
- Moderate fragrance that complements its visual appeal
For anyone seeking a rose that combines artistic impact with robust performance, the Maurice Utrillo rose represents a compelling choice.
The Maurice Utrillo rose is more than a garden plant it is a floral work of art that pays homage to its namesake painter through vivid stripes and expressive blooms. Its hardy nature, repeat flowering habit, and disease resistance make it well-suited to a variety of garden settings. Whether grown as a specimen shrub, in borders, or used in flower arrangements, it offers consistent color and charm season after season. Named after one of Montmartre’s most iconic artists, this rose continues to captivate gardeners who appreciate beauty informed by history, creativity, and horticultural excellence.