Shrub Roses: Teas & Hybrid Tea Roses

Updated November 2008

This group of roses, varying widely in ancestry and description, were created by various breeders who crossed Species and other older roses with various types of modern roses. Freestanding and often recurrent flowering, Shrub Roses are useful in the garden as relatively carefree and vigorous, blooming later than most other roses. Although technically shrub roses too, the English, Rugosa, Explorer and Species Roses have been put in separate categories in our catalogue because they have distinctly different needs and uses.

In this category are the Hybrid Musk roses, Teas and Hybrid Tea roses, Polyanthas, Floribunda roses, Modern Shrub roses, and Pimpinellifolia roses.

Teas and Hybrid Teas

With China ancestry, Tea Roses have been cultivated in the far east for a long time. Those introduced into Europe around 1824 were later crossed with Bourbons and Noisettes to create many new Tea Roses, which were said to have the fragrance of fine black tea. Later crosses of Tea Roses with Hybrid Perpetuals became Hybrid Tea Roses. La France, our favourite, is said to be the first Hybrid Tea rose. Tea roses are often climbers in soft shades of pink, cream or yellow; they have few thorns and are relatively tender. (zone 7)

Hybrid Teas are the common roses of the 20th century. Usually with large flowers and often with little or no fragrance, Hybrid Teas, bred for fine flower form, are generally not as disease resistant as most of the other shrub roses. It is for that reason that our nursery does not carry nor propagate more than one or two of them. As well, Hybrid Tea roses are generally more difficult to root as cuttings. Some, like Royal William and Fragrant Cloud, our favourites [available for spring], are well worth the bit of extra care required (heavier pruning and fertilization).

Roses are available while quantities last. Varieties marked as 'sold out' may be available again next year. Remember to order early.
Our prices may vary from season to season depending on the plant size. See the bottom of this list for Key.

Varieties marked as 'N/A' will not be available for 2008

Min. Zone

Rose	Min. Zone	Price	Year	Colour	Flower	Bloom	Frag.	HxW	Other
Double Delight (2 gal)	(5)	N/A	1977	Cream edged with dark pink	Double	Continuous	fff	3x2
Elina	(5)	N/A	1983	Yellow (light)	Double	Recurrent	f	3x2	Vi
La France		N/A	1865	Pink (silver)	Double	Recurrent	ff	4x3	Vi, Dr
Lady Hillingden		N/A	1917	Apricot/yellow	Double	Recurrent	f	15x10	Vi, Dr
Midas Touch		N/A	1992	Bright yellow	Double	Recurrent	ff	4x3	dr, Vi
Mister Lincoln	(5)	N/A	1965	Dark Red	Double	Recurrent	fff	3x2	Vi
Peace, Shrub		15.50	1945	Pale yellow flowers	Double	Recurrent	f	4x3
Pristine	(5)	N/A	1978	White (w. pink)	Double	Recurrent	f	3.5x2	Dr, Cu
Royal Sunset	(6)	N/A	1960	Apricot (gold)	Double	Recurrent	fff	10x4	Vi, Dr
Royal William	(5)	15.50	1984	Deep velvety red	Double	Recurrent	fff	4x3	Dr, Vi
Sheila's Perfume	(5)	N/A	1985	Yellow, red edges	Double	Recurrent	fff	4x3	Dr, Vi
Swan Lake	(4)	N/A	1989	White with pink flush	Double	Continuous	ff	8x4	Vi, Dr
Touch of Class	(6)	N/A	19--	Orange/pink/cream	Double	Recurrent	f	6x3
Velvet Fragrance		15.50	1998	Deep velvety red	Double	Recurrent	fff	4x3	Dr, Vi
*Key to letters and symbols: S = suitable for growing in the shade; H = suitable for hedges; W = suitable for growing in woodland; Co = suitable for growing in tubs; Cu = suitable for cut flowers; Hi = ornamental hips; Dr = disease resistant; Bs = susceptible to black spot; M = susceptible to mildew; Vi = Vigorous; f, ff, fff = slightly, medium, very fragrant; Frag = fragrance; HxW = height x width in feet; Other = Siting and rose traits, N/A= not availble

Rose Hints: Mulching a new rose bed will reduce maintenance and conserve water.