Commercially available

• MEIhelvet
• Sonia Meilland ®
• Sonja
• Sweet Promise (hybrid tea, Meilland 1970)

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Average rating: EXCELLENT-.  

Pink blend Grandiflora.
Registration name: MEIhelvet
Exhibition name: Sonia

Bred by Marie-Louise (Louisette) Meilland (Paolino) (1920-1987) (France, before 1970).
Introduced in France by Meilland et Cie in 1973 as 'Sonia'.
Introduced in United States by Conard-Pyle (Star Roses) in 1974 as 'Sweet Promise'.
Introduced in Australia by Ross Roses in 1975 as 'Sonia'.

Florists Rose, Grandiflora, Hybrid Tea.  

Salmon-pink, seashell-pink shading.  Mild, fruity fragrance.  25 to 30 petals.  Average diameter 4.25".  Large, very double, high-centered bloom form.  Blooms in flushes throughout the season.  Long buds.  

Well-branched.  Glossy, dark green, leathery foliage.  

Height: 30" to 4¼' (75 to 130cm).  Width: 2' (60cm).

USDA zone 7b and warmer.  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.  Requires spring freeze protection (see glossary - Spring freeze protection) .  Can be grown in the ground or in a container (container requires winter protection).  

United States - Patent No: PP 3,095  on  4 Apr 1972   VIEW USPTO PATENT
Application  on  25 Feb 1970

Tetraploid

Named for Alain Meilland's daughter...

'Sonia' is the rose which has been the biggest commercial success in the world with about 40 million plants sold.