BLACK VELVET™ – dark red hybrid tea rose – Morey
With its velvety, almost black buds and deep burgundy blooms, BLACK VELVET™ creates an atmosphere of storybook romance in an ordinary family garden, whether you grow it as a border, specimen, or cut-flower favourite. The tall, upright, bushy habit offers reliable structure in small and medium spaces, while its strong, spicy-sweet fragrance brings a luxurious note to relaxed afternoons outdoors. As an own-root rose, it is bred for long, steady performance, quietly rebuilding itself from below ground if winter or pruning are less than perfect, supporting a long-lived, stable display over the years. The generous repeat flowering keeps dark, velvety blooms returning from early summer onwards, even in typical changeable British weather with frequent showers, brisk breezes and heavy soils that benefit from thoughtful drainage. In a large pot or border, the evenly clothed, dark green foliage adds visual depth behind the flowers, while the medium maintenance needs suit gardeners who prefer simple, occasional tasks rather than constant fussing. Over time, this rose settles into its place, its upright stems ideal for cutting and bringing the same moody colour and perfume indoors, making it an indulgent yet manageable choice for everyday enjoyment.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Feature rose near a seating area or terrace |
Planted close to a bench or patio set, BLACK VELVET™ offers a focused pool of dark, velvety colour with strong, spicy-sweet scent that drifts through the space, creating a romantic, afternoon-tea atmosphere without needing intensive care – ideal for the busy urban gardener. |
| Mixed cottage-style border in a family garden |
The upright, bushy habit slots neatly into mixed borders with perennials and herbs, giving dependable mid-height structure that is easy to place among existing shrubs, without overshadowing the rest of a typical family plot – ideal for the traditional cottage lover. |
| Cut-flower bed for home arrangements |
Originally selected as an exhibition-type hybrid tea, its long, straight stems and generous, goblet-shaped blooms make it particularly rewarding as a home cut-flower, offering a steady supply of dramatic stems for vases – ideal for the home flower arranger. |
| Statement specimen in front garden or lawn |
Used singly, its rich, almost black-red flowers and orderly, upright growth give a clear focal point that reads well from the pavement, providing tidy, long-season impact with only periodic deadheading and basic care – ideal for the low-maintenance homeowner. |
| Large container on a sunny patio (50–60 litres) |
In a generous 50–60 litre pot with good drainage, the strong, upright growth forms a vertical accent that anchors small paved spaces, while controlled watering helps the colour stay rich and the plant comfortable through warm, breezy spells – ideal for the courtyard gardener. |
| Own-root planting for long-term, resilient display |
As an own-root plant, BLACK VELVET™ gradually develops a robust root system, then stronger top growth, and finally a mature display of flowers, making it a reassuring long-term choice that copes well with mishaps and rejuvenation pruning – ideal for the patient beginner. |
| Borders on heavier or chalky British soils |
Given a raised or well-drained bed, its medium vigour and upright habit establish steadily in heavier or limey garden soils, rewarding simple care with consistent shape and repeat bloom, even where wind and rain are frequent companions – ideal for the typical UK gardener. |
| Lightly managed, traditional-style rose border |
With medium disease resistance and tidy, uniform growth, this variety fits a classic rose border where you are happy to give occasional spraying and deadheading in exchange for season-long, richly coloured flowers – ideal for the attentive hobbyist. |
Styling ideas
- Velvet-centre border – Place BLACK VELVET™ mid-border with soft pink or apricot roses and airy perennials to emphasise its moody depth of colour – for cottage gardeners seeking contrast.
- Evening perfume corner – Combine near seating with lavender and night-scented stocks so its spicy-sweet fragrance mingles with softer notes – for those who linger outdoors after work.
- Kitchen-garden elegance – Plant beside herbs and small fruit bushes to bring cut-rose luxury and structure into a productive plot – for home growers who like beauty with their harvest.
- Monochrome drama – Pair with white foxgloves, pale campanulas and silver foliage to highlight the dark blooms and upright habit – for admirers of strong, graphic planting schemes.
- Potager patio pot – In a 50–60 litre container, underplant with thyme or low nepeta to soften the base while keeping care straightforward – for balcony and courtyard rose enthusiasts.
Technical cultivar profile
| Property | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose BLACK VELOUR; registered as Black Velvet, also marketed as Black Velvet™ Hybrid tea rose Black Velvet; ARS exhibition name Black Velvet; part of the Hybrid tea rose collection. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred in the United Kingdom by Dr Dennison Harlow Morey; cross of ‘New Yorker’ × ‘Happiness’; introduced in 1960 by Jackson & Perkins Co. USA; unregistered cultivar from that breeding year. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright, bushy shrub reaching about 130–170 cm in height and 70–90 cm spread; moderately dense, slightly glossy dark green foliage; moderately thorny shoots with uniform, tidy overall habit. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, double, solitary hybrid tea blooms with 26–39 petals; cup to goblet shaped flowers, borne mainly singly on stems; remontant, producing a generous second flush after initial summer flowering. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Very dark burgundy-red, ARS dr, RHS 187A outer, 187B inner; buds nearly black, deepening to cherry-maroon; colour may fade in strong heat and sun, but remains richer in cooler conditions. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strong, distinctive scent with a spicy-sweet, classic rose character; fragrance noticeable both on the plant and when cut for the vase; primarily ornamental, not selected for culinary or cosmetic use. |
| Hip characteristics |
Double flowers limit hip production; occasional small ovoid hips 10–14 mm across may form, coloured orange-red (RHS 41A); hips are scattered and of minor ornamental significance in most seasons. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to approximately −21 to −18 °C (USDA 6b, RHS H7, Swedish zone 3); medium resistance to black spot, powdery mildew and rust; benefits from regular watering and simple preventative care. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil; plant 50–55 cm apart in rows or 90 cm as specimens; medium maintenance, including deadheading and occasional pest and disease control when needed. |
BLACK VELVET™ offers richly scented, velvety dark blooms on a tall, tidy shrub that suits borders, cutting and large containers, and in own-root form it builds into a long-lived garden presence; a refined choice if you enjoy classic hybrid teas.
