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Hybrid Tea Roses were first bred by crossing hybrid perpetuals with Tea Roses. The hybrid teas are considered to be the oldest of the Modern Roses which we see today.
They are hardier than the tea roses, but not as hardy as the hybrid perpetuals, however, they are more likely to flower often even if not quite as often as the tea roses do. So they are a mixture of both worlds. A blend of toughness and repeat flowering.
To sum it up: the hybrid perpetuals are tough but do not bloom often enough, and the tea roses are more fragile but bloom more often. The Hybrid Teas combine both qualities.
This rose was developed in 1900 by Joseph Pernet. It was certainly a real breakthrough. It combined the hardiness of the Hybrid Perpetuals with the repeat-blooming habit and colours of the Tea Roses. When he married Marie Ducher, who was the daughter of another famous rose breeder, he combined the two surnames, to Pernet-Ducher, in honour of both the families.
'Madame Caroline Testout'. A hybrid Tea. Pernet. 1890.
Pernet-Ducher lost both of his sons in World War 1, and developed a rose for each of them: 'Souvenir de Claudius Pernet', a hybrid tea, in 1920, and 'Souvenir de Georges Pernet' - (Pernetiana rose) in 1921.
'Souvenir de Claudius Pernet', Joseph Pernet-Ducher (France, 1920).
'Angele Pernet'. A glorious specimen. 1924.
But it was the hybrid 'Peace' Rose ('Madame A. Meilland') which was the first rose to really put the hybrid teas on the map. Developed by Francis Meilland between 1935 and 1939, it was named the 'Peace Rose' at the end of the Second World War. It is a descendant of 'Soleil d'Or'.
'Peace'. It still remains the most popular rose ever. It has flowers the size of a saucer. (About 6"). For advice and care of Hybrid Tea Roses, you will find this site excellent:
Caring for your Hybrid Tea Rose.
'Ballet' (Also known as the 'Prima Ballerina'). Kordes 1958.
'Ballet' was introduced in 1957. This beautiful rose is a parent of the 'Peace' Rose and is just as easy to grow as are a lot of the hybrid teas. It has beautifully formed petals in dark pink, and is highly fragrant. It will grow to about 3 feet and is a repeat flowering rose. Perfect.
'Athena', Kordes 1982.
Large flowers, cream with beautiful pink tipped edges. Strong fragrance. Repeat flowering. Tolerates warmer weather. Will grow up to 3 feet tall. Once again, I love the ragged edges. The perfect rose.
'Claude Monet', Jackson & Perkins 1992 (United States). See other roses named after famous people.
'Double Delight', Swim & Ellis 1977. Highly fragrant. One of the best known roses in the world. (Rose Hall of Fame).
'Golden Medallion', W. Kordes & Sons (Germany, 1991). This is a vigorous grower with a mild fragrance. Highly dependable and a great exhibition rose.
'Lady Huntingfield', Alister Clark (Australia, 1937). Vigorous and highly fragrant. And of course a repeat bloomer.
'Lowell Thomas', Charles Mallerin 1943 (France). Vigorous grower and fragrant . Photo credit: Stan Shebs.
WOW. What a rose! 'Rio Samba', William A. Warriner (United States, 1991). This rose has mild to strong fragrance. It is susceptible to some rose diseases, but all of these can be controlled by taking good care of it. Obviously worth an effort.
'Sonia Meilland', Meilland 1970. This rose looks just like silk. It has a medium fragrance.
'Papa Meilland' hybrid tea rose. In the Rose Hall of Fame. Rich velvet. Highly fragrant, repeat-flowering. Still at the top after decades of world popularity.
Rosa 'Esmeralda' (Reimer Kordes, 1981). Not to be confused with the Floribunda Rose 'Esmerelda' 1957 by Riethmuller.
'Abbaye de Cluny', Alain Meilland 1993 (France).
Awards:
Belfast Gold Medal 1995
Lyon Gold Medal 1994
Monza Gold Medal 1993
'Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles today,
Tomorrow will be dying'. Robert Herrick. 1592 - 1674.