Plant in full sun and irrigate occasionally to infrequently – surprisingly drought tolerant once established and cold hardy to below 15° F. A very attractive rose that can be used as a hedging rose or as a stiff climber growing to 8 feet or more when supported by a fence or other plants.

This Meilland rose was created in 1957 by crossing the hybrid between Rosa 'Independence' (A 1951 f2 Kordes hybrid between Baby Chateau and Crimson Glory) and 'Orange Triumph' (A medium red floribunda bred in 1937) with Rosa 'Phyllis Bide' (A yellow/pink blend climbing polyantha/ rambler - 1923).

This tough, beautiful and disease resistant rose was once more common in gardens and we thought it ready to make a comeback when we started growing it in 1996 after getting it from the famed California plantsman Ed Carman (Carman's Nursery in Los Gatos, CA), but sadly our customers did not agree and we finally discontinued it in 2008, so no longer have it to sell. We still think of it as one of the most cheery of roses! 

The information displayed on this page about Rosa 'Cocktail' is based on the research we conducted about it in our nursery horticultural library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include some of our own observations made about this plant as it grows in the nursery gardens and other gardens that we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we have received from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information that will aid others to better grow it.