BLUE MONDAY® – lavender purple tea-hybrid rose – Tantau
With its cool lavender blooms and elegant hybrid-tea form, BLUE MONDAY® brings a touch of English storybook romance to family gardens while remaining reassuringly easy to look after. Bred for dependable resistance, it stands up well where summers are damp and breezy, even in gardens that often feel the full force of coastal weather. Glossy, dark foliage and a neat, upright habit make border planning refreshingly simple, whether you grow it as a single specimen or repeat it in a mixed cottage border. Planted as a half- to one-year-old own-root shrub, it settles in quickly, then builds up from roots in year one, stronger shoots in year two and full ornamental value by year three, giving a long-lived, regenerating framework of colour and scent with only light annual pruning.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Main view from patio or kitchen window |
The classic high-centred flowers appear repeatedly through the season, drawing the eye with their unusual lavender-purple tones. Planted where you see it every day, BLUE MONDAY® quietly becomes part of your home’s backdrop without demanding constant attention – perfect for the busy homeowner. |
| Cutting corner for home-arranged bouquets |
This variety was bred as a hybrid tea for cutting, so each strong, upright stem carries a single, exhibition-style bloom ideal for vases. Regular picking naturally encourages further flowering and keeps the plant tidy, adding value for the home flower arranger. |
| Low-maintenance cottage-style flowerbed |
Good disease resistance and moderate water needs make it suitable for mixed beds where you do not want the worry of constant spraying or pampering. Combine with simple perennials and herbs for a soft cottage look that suits the relaxed gardener. |
| Romantic focal point near seating or arbour |
The neat, upright structure and medium height create a graceful accent by a bench or arbour without overpowering the space. The sweet, fruity fragrance is best appreciated close up, rewarding the lover of evening tea. |
| Small to medium front garden feature |
Its moderate size and tidy outline suit narrower beds by paths or drives, giving a refined look even in compact plots. The glossy dark foliage stays attractive between flushes, which helps the overall kerb appeal valued by the house-proud owner. |
| Clay or chalky soil family garden borders |
Once established on its own roots, the plant forms a durable framework that copes well in typical British garden soils, provided you improve drainage where necessary and water regularly in hot spells, reassuring the practical family gardener. |
| Large containers on terraces and roof gardens |
In a 40–50 litre or larger pot with good drainage, BLUE MONDAY® offers colour and scent close to seating areas. Own-root growth means it recovers steadily after winter and pruning, giving a longer useful life for the urban balcony owner. |
| Informal rows or low hedging in cottage layouts |
Planted at the recommended spacing, its upright habit and repeat flowering create a gently defined line without looking stiff. The lavender-purple palette pairs beautifully with greys and whites, appealing to the cottage-style enthusiast. |
Styling ideas
- Tea-table border – Edge a seating area with a small group of BLUE MONDAY® underplanted with lavender and soft catmint for a scented tea-time nook – for romantic patio loungers and weekend tea drinkers
- Pastel cutting strip – Combine in a narrow border with pale foxgloves, white cosmos and airy grasses to provide an easy source of elegant stems for vases – for home florists who like effortless cutting gardens
- Evening fragrance corner – Plant beside a garden bench with night-scented stocks and white gaura so dusk visits are filled with gentle perfume and soft colour – for those who unwind outdoors after work
- Cottage walkway – Line a path with repeating BLUE MONDAY® and low silver foliage plants like artemisia to create a neat yet storybook entrance – for families wanting tidy charm without fussy upkeep
- Container parlour – Place one plant each in generous 50 litre tubs with blue sedge and trailing thyme to frame a sunny doorway or balcony – for busy urban gardeners seeking maximum effect in limited space
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose, registered as TANnacht and marketed as BLUE MONDAY® Hybrid tea rose TANnacht; also known in exhibition circles as Blue Moon for show and cut-flower use. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Mathias Tantau Jr. of Rosen Tantau, Uetersen, Germany, from ‘Sterling Silver’ seedling × unknown seedling, introduced and registered in 1964 via NIRP International in France. |
| Awards and recognition |
Holder of the ADR award from 1964 for garden performance and National Rose Society Certificate of Merit the same year, confirming longstanding ornamental and show value. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright, moderately dense bush 85–115 cm high and 75–105 cm wide with glossy dark green foliage and moderate prickliness; spent blooms usually need deadheading as self-cleaning is weak. |
| Flower morphology |
Hybrid-tea style, high-centred, pointed buds opening to medium-sized, double blooms with 26–39 petals, mostly borne singly on stems; strongly remontant, giving an abundant second flush in season. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Closed buds deep crimson-purple with grey sheen; opening to lavender-blue with silvery tint, RHS 75A outer, 75C inner; colour lasts longer in cool weather, may lighten under strong sun. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Medium-strong, sweet fruity scent typical of classic hybrid teas, noticeable near seating areas; very double flowers limit pollen access, so it is primarily ornamental rather than for wildlife support. |
| Hip characteristics |
Due to the full double form, hips are scarce; when present, they are small, globular, orange-red, about 12–18 mm in diameter and mainly of visual rather than wildlife importance. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Rated H7, hardy to approximately –21 to –18 °C (USDA zone 6b, Swedish zone 3); good resistance to powdery mildew, black spot and rust; requires regular watering in prolonged heat or drought. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil; suits beds, specimen planting and cutting gardens; space 55–100 cm depending on use; 2.5–2.9 plants/m² in mass plantings; keep watered in hot spells. |
BLUE MONDAY® Hybrid tea rose TANnacht offers romantic lavender blooms, reliable repeat flowering and durable own-root growth for long garden life; a refined choice if you prefer beauty with minimal fuss.
