If you have a red rose in mind, you usually think of a hybrid tea rose. We present the variety of Hybrid Tea varieties that have more to offer than just red.
Roses (Rosa) are always a very special eye-catcher in the garden. And specimens of the hybrid tea group in particular usually have large and particularly beautifully shaped flowers in bright colors. They are the result of crossing repeat-blooming tea roses and remontant roses. Unfortunately, in the meantime, plant breeders have probably forgotten that appearance and continuous flowering are not everything. The first crossing attempts were therefore sometimes extremely susceptible to disease and they lacked winter hardiness. Nowadays, however, there are countless hybrid tea rose varieties that are both pretty to look at and shine with other properties, such as good leaf he alth.
In this article we have compiled the most important properties of hybrid tea roses for you and then we will introduce you to some of the most popular hybrid tea rose varieties.
Hybrid Tea Roses: Characteristics and growth habit
Hybrid varieties are the oldest class of modern roses. They were created in the 19th century by crossing Chinese tea roses and European remontant roses, which is why they are often referred to as hybrid teas. In addition to positive properties such as an extended color range, new fragrances and longer flowering periods, the introduction of Chinese roses also brought negative properties such as increased susceptibility to rose diseases - for example blackspot (Diplocarpon rosae) or powdery mildew (Erysiphales) - and the lack of winter hardiness in the breeding line of modern varieties. All rose varieties that existed before hybrid teas were introduced are therefore now referred to as "Old Roses".
In the decades that followed, the efforts of plant breeders also resulted in some wonderful varieties with mostly positive characteristics. These hybrid hybrids carry their double and often fragrant blooms one at a timelong stems. In addition, the large flowers are usually characterized by a particularly elegant shape. Hybrid teas look most beautiful when they are planted in groups in the garden or combined with delicate summer flowers, grasses or perennials.
The 20 most beautiful hybrid tea varieties
If you still have space in your garden, you should think about buying your own tea rose now. The selection of beautiful varieties is huge. Perhaps the following overview can serve as inspiration.
- 'Admiral'
Nostalgic Hybrid Tea; large, black buds; later double, velvety flowers in ruby red; strong scent of pear; blooming often; upright growth; grows about 80 to 120 cm high; high leaf he alth
- 'Ambiente'
Creamy white flowers with a yellowish centre; blooming often; delicate fragrance; good durability of the flowers; suitable as a cut flower; bushy growth; reaches heights of up to 80 cm; excellent leaf he alth; can also be planted in tubs
- ‘Augusta Luise’
Robust and vigorous variety; large, peach-colored flowers; fruity sweet fragrance; exudes nostalgic charm; blooming often; upright growth; reaches heights of growth of up to 120 cm; good leaf he alth; hardy
- 'Blue River'
Robust variety; medium-sized, full, magenta-purple flowers with darker margins; powdered white towards the middle; grows in loose umbels; wonderful fragrance; dense, glossy foliage; bushy, branched growth; reaches growth heights of up to 70 cm
- 'Candlelight'
Nostalgic, nostalgically shaped rose; full flowers in golden yellow from June to September; strong fragrance; very vigorous; grows about 70 to 100 cm high; good leaf he alth; Winter protection is recommended
- 'Chandos Beauty'
Convinces with elegantly shaped buds and salmon pink flowers; blooming often; fruity-spicy scent; upright growth; reaches heights of up to 120 cm; good leaf he alth; hardy
- 'Cherry Brandy 85'
Double, coppery flowers; intense fruity fragrance; blooms from June to November; strong, bushy growth; reaches heights of 70-100 cm; tolerates semi-shade; medium leaf he alth
- 'Cherry Lady'
Big, double pink flowers; excellent leaf he alth; blooming often; uniform, upright, bushy growth; becomes up to 90 cmhigh; suitable as a cut flower; only conditionally hardy
- 'Fragrance Cloud'
Double, coral red flowers; very strong hybrid tea scent; early flowering; leathery, glossy foliage; bushy growth; reaches heights of 50 to 80 cm; is also offered as a standard rose
- ‘Eddy Mitchell’
Dedicated to the French singer; dark carmine flowers tinged with black, golden yellow on the outside; light fragrance; good leaf he alth; hardy
- 'Florence on the Elbe'
Also known as 'Line Renaud'; got its name in honor of the city of Dresden; Sturdy rose with medium-sized, dusky pink flowers; smells intensely of lemon; blooming often; upright growth; grows up to 100 cm; recognized ADR rose; good leaf he alth
- 'Erotica'
Good cut flower; very large, velvety dark red flowers on long stalks; plentiful; strong fragrance; strong, upright growth; grows up to 80 cm high; rainproof; heat tolerant; high leaf he alth; frost hardy
- 'Gloria Dei'
Also known as 'Madame A. Meilland' or 'Peace'; most popular hybrid tea variety; loosely filled, light yellow flowers with a pink edge; pleasant smell; blooming often; bushy growth; grows up to 100 cm high; weatherproof
- 'Countess Diana'
Named after Countess Diana Bernadotte; medium-sized, purplish-purple flowers; gives off an intense fragrance; long-lasting flowers; upright, bushy growth; reaches heights of growth of up to 120 cm; recognized ADR rose; conditionally hardy
- 'Grande Amore'
Double flowers in a romantic bright red; delicate fragrance; blooming often; recognized ADR rose; medium leaf he alth; heat tolerant
- ‘Ingrid Bergmann’
Was awarded the World Rose in 2000; large, dark red flowers; delicate fragrance; blooming often; upright bushy growth; well branched; reaches heights of growth of up to 100 cm; good cut rose; long flowering period; medium leaf he alth
- 'Pascali'
Was awarded the World Rose in 1991; medium-sized, pure white flowers in a noble form; lightly scented; profuse; bushy, vigorous growth; grows up to 70 cm high; good leaf he alth
- ‘Sutter’s Gold’
Tea hybrid with noble bud; loosely filled flowers in light orange to yellow with a reddish tingeshimmer in the edge; strong fragrance; blooms into October; glossy, dark green foliage; reaches heights of growth of up to 100 cm; medium leaf he alth
- 'Valencia'
Double, copper-yellow flowers; intense fragrance; blooming often; upright bushy growth; grows about 60 to 80 cm high; medium leaf he alth; can be used as a cut rose; rainproof and heat-resistant
- ‘Whisky’
Hybrid tea that blooms until autumn; double, amber-yellow flowers; strong fragrance; dark green foliage; bushy growth; strong trailing; grows up to 90 cm high; good cut rose; conditionally hardy
You can find the most beautiful varieties of bed roses, climbing roses & Co in our overview article on the subject of rose types.
Would you like to learn more about tea rose care? In our special article, we explain how to properly cut your hybrid tea roses so that they stay in shape and produce lots of flowers.