Hybrid Tea Roses – the Queen of Flowers

Hybrid tea roses – also called hybrid teas – are, for many enthusiasts, the very essence of the rose: a large, elegantly shaped, mostly strongly fragrant bloom, borne singly on a long, sturdy stem.

Hardly any other class of rose is as well suited as a cut rose for the vase. The upright, bushy plants reach 60 to 120 cm in height and flower in several flushes from early summer well into autumn.

• Blooms: large, double, high-centred, from pointed buds – borne singly or in small clusters
• Fragrance: many varieties strongly fragrant, often with the typical tea rose scent
• Growth habit: upright and bushy, 60–120 cm tall
• Flowering period: main flush May–July, repeat flush August/September, often a third flush into early winter
• Use: beds and borders, containers, cut flower for the vase
• Planting time: container-grown all year round, bare-root from October to May when the ground is frost-free

What are hybrid tea roses? And what does hybrid tea mean?

Hybrid tea roses and hybrid teas are two names for the same class of rose. The class arose from crossing a China rose with a Remontant rose – the first hybrid tea is considered to be the variety 'La France', introduced in 1867. The older name "hybrid tea" (short for tea rose hybrid) was in use until the introduction of the famous variety Peace / Gloria Dei; since then "hybrid tea rose" has become established.

If you would like a piece of rose history in your garden, we also offer the early, historic hybrid teas – many of these rarities are now hardly available in the trade any more. The best-known German breeders of modern hybrid tea roses are Kordes and Tantau, and internationally mainly Delbard, Meilland, NIRP and Guillot.

How do hybrid tea roses grow?

A typical hybrid tea forms an upright, bushy plant with sturdy, thorny shoots and large, glossy green foliage. The blooms appear in several flushes: main flush from May to July, repeat flush in August/September, and with many varieties a third or even fourth flush into early winter.

Most varieties are fully hardy and, thanks to modern breeding, not very susceptible to disease – many carry the ADR or AGM designation for easy-care, robust garden roses. Among the hybrid teas there are also climbing sports, which are trained on a rose trellis or rose arch.

Recommended hybrid tea varieties

• A Whiter Shade of Pale ® – elegant blooms in subtle pale pink shades with good fragrance, 90–120 cm.
• Black Baccara ® – very dark, almost black blooms that last exceptionally long; one of the most sought-after dark red roses.
• Blue Girl ® – large, double blooms in blue-mauve, strongly fragrant, compact growth.
• Broceliande ® – spectacular red-and-white striped, very large blooms with a strong fragrance, also good for the vase.
• Chandos Beauty – apricot-coloured, richly and reliably flowering with a very good fragrance, keeps well in the vase.
• Chartreuse de Parme ® – elegant, large blooms with a very strong, intense fragrance.

You will find two-coloured and striped rarities in the list of two-coloured roses, and particularly fragrant varieties among the fragrant roses.

Hybrid tea roses as cut roses for the vase

The long, sturdy stems and the long-lasting, elegant buds make hybrid teas the classic cut rose from your own garden. It is best to cut the blooms early in the morning, just as the bud begins to open, and to put them into water immediately.

Regular cutting of blooms even promotes the repeat flush – the plant invests its energy in new buds instead of rose hips. Densely double, nostalgic fragrant varieties are also sought after by florists for hand-tied bouquets.

Planting and caring for hybrid tea roses

Hybrid tea roses prefer a fully sunny, airy site with deep, nutrient-rich soil free of waterlogging.

• Planting time: container roses all year round, bare-root roses from October to May when the ground is frost-free – instructions under Planting roses.
• Pruning: Unlike shrub roses, hybrid teas are cut back hard in spring – to about 3 to 5 buds. This encourages long, free-flowering new shoots. Details under Pruning roses.
• Feeding: In spring as growth starts and after the first flush – see Fertilising roses.
• Winter: Earth up and protect the graft union, more under Overwintering roses.
• Containers: Compact varieties up to about 80 cm also thrive in a large pot – see Growing roses in containers.

In a bed, hybrid teas look best singly or in small groups with perennials or lower patio roses in front, which hide the lower, flowerless part of the shoots.

Finding the right hybrid tea rose

When choosing a variety, besides our descriptions you are also helped by the more than 1,000 customer reviews that our customers have left on the individual hybrid tea varieties since 2002. Besides the bloom colour, pay particular attention to the fragrance details – especially if the rose is intended as a cut rose for the vase.

Buy hybrid tea roses bare-root or container-grown?

Both forms of supply deliver the same grade A quality from our rose specialist nursery. Bare-root hybrid teas are cheaper and establish reliably during the planting season from October to May – on bare-root roses planted out in the open ground we give an establishment guarantee.

Container roses can be planted all year round, even in bloom in summer. More on this under Sales and supply forms.

Frequently asked questions about hybrid tea roses