Catherine Mermet & The Bride

Catherine Mermet was an extremely popular rose in the second half of the 19th century. Especially as a cut flower she had many fans.

Bred by the great Guillot in 1869 Catherine Mermet was a particular nice example of the Tea rose beauty

Soft flesh pink double flowers with a good fragrance appear all summer and Autumn long.

Growth is rather slender and upright and can reach 120X70 cm or 4X3 feet. Very useful for pots. Zone 6b to 10b. She doesn't like rain but she's heat and drought resistant. She is susceptible to powdery mildew.

Guillot said that Catherine was a descendant of Safrano and indeed the rose has a Safrano vibe. 

Be careful when you buy Catherine Mermet as many imposters are on the market. Cream with flesh pink color and perfectly formed Tea shaped flowers. Any other color or shape should ring alarm bells. 

There is however a White sport of Catherine Mermet, The Bride, and she doesn't have imposters so if you can get The Bride you'll know for sure she's a white version of the original Mermet rose.

The Bride was discovered by Taplin in the USA in 1895 and is identical to the original Catherine Mermet except for the color which is snow white although a very light flesh pink blush can appear in the center.

Both roses, mother and daughter, are quintessential examples of the magnificent Tea rose beauty standard. Their later offspring, the HT's, would inherit this beauty standard regarding bloom shape and the high centered buds. Especially the early HT's had the magnificent Tea flower beauty added with a strong fragrance and better cold resistance. Later HT's would go into the wrong direction with plump, oversized flowers in ugly flashy colors and a lack of fragrance. Also the very upright, stalky growth of later HT's would seal their fate as being only suited for beds.

No, better to choose Teas like Catherine Mermet and her white daughter, the Bride...