Large-Flowered Climber 'Handel': McGredy's 1965 Artistic Masterpiece

Introduced in 1965 by McGredy, 'Handel' (also known as MACha, Haendel) is a large-flowered climber that paints its petals like an artist's canvas. Its blooms are cream to white, each petal distinctly edged and streaked with rose-pink—no two flowers identical.

Botanical Profile

The flowers are double, cupped, 3-4 inches across, borne in clusters on strong, flexible canes reaching 10-15 feet. The color pattern—cream ground with rose-pink edges and streaks—is remarkably stable, a genetic achievement. The fragrance is light, sweet. The foliage is glossy, dark green, disease-resistant. McGredy's breeding program, based in Northern Ireland, was famous for color breaks and patterns. 'Handel' is their climber masterpiece—a rose that turns a wall into a gallery. Each bloom a unique watercolor; the whole plant, an exhibition.