CHRYSLER IMPERIAL – dark red hybrid tea rose - Lammerts
For a truly romantic, storybook corner of your garden, this premium own‑root CHRYSLER IMPERIAL brings velvet dark‑red blooms and a fragrance so rich it turns afternoon tea into an occasion. Large, high‑centred flowers on an upright bush are ideal for cutting, while the medium maintenance level keeps care manageable for busy home gardeners. Own‑root plants settle slowly but surely, rewarding you with a naturally long‑lived shrub that regenerates well after pruning and keeps its character year after year. In typical British conditions it copes steadily with damp spells and blustery days near the coast, provided you give it sensible soil preparation and drainage to offset humidity and heavier ground. Over time, you can expect a dependable display of deep crimson flowers in beds, borders or large containers, perfectly in tune with an English cottage‑style garden and relaxed elegance around the family home.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Feature rose near terrace or seating area |
Plant CHRYSLER IMPERIAL where you regularly sit, so its very strong, classic rose scent can be enjoyed at close range on still evenings. Ideal beside a bench or patio table for those who value a richly perfumed garden, especially beginners. |
| Cottage-style mixed border |
Its upright habit and generous, velvety dark-red blooms give reliable vertical accents among perennials and herbs, creating a romantic cottage look with relatively straightforward feeding, watering and pruning for hobby-gardeners. |
| Cutting patch near the kitchen door |
High-centred, exhibition-type flowers on long stems make this rose perfect for vases, offering classic florist-style blooms without specialist techniques, rewarding simple routine care for homeowners. |
| Statement rose in a large container |
Grown in a 40–50 litre pot with quality compost, its upright structure and repeat flowering create a smart focal point on a balcony, terrace or small front garden, suiting time-pressed urbanites. |
| Pairing with hedging or structural shrubs |
The clear, stable dark-red colour stands out beautifully against evergreen hedges or clipped shapes, adding romance without needing intricate pruning plans, which appeals to practically minded families. |
| Sunny bed in regions with heavier soils |
In well-prepared, free-draining ground it establishes a robust root system that anchors the bush, coping with typical British wet spells and breezier, coastal-feeling sites for cautious garden planners. |
| Partial-shade side garden |
This rose tolerates light, dappled shade, so it still flowers well along side paths or between buildings, extending rose colour into spots that miss some sun yet suit many compact plots. |
| Long-term focal point in a family garden |
As an own-root rose it ages gracefully, with the shrub regrowing reliably from its own wood after harder pruning, supporting a simple year-by-year routine and a stable look for forward-thinking buyers. |
Styling ideas
- Tea-time pergola – Train CHRYSLER IMPERIAL as an upright accent near a light rose-covered arch, underplant with low herbs and sedges for scent and softness – for families who enjoy slow weekend tea outdoors.
- Velvet contrast – Combine its dark-red blooms with pale foxgloves, white campanulas and silvery grasses to highlight colour stability and fragrance – ideal for romantic cottage-garden enthusiasts.
- Kitchen cutting row – Line a short path with several bushes at the recommended spacing, giving abundant, easy-to-cut, exhibition-style stems – perfect for home florists who like simple, repeatable routines.
- Patio statement pot – Plant one shrub in a 40–50 litre container with soft blue Carex and low thyme for structure plus scent – suited to busy urban gardeners with limited ground space.
- Countryside frontage – Set a group in front of a clipped hedge or picket fence to showcase upright form, long flowering and own-root resilience – for homeowners wanting a traditional, welcoming approach.
Technical cultivar profile
| Property | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose; registered cultivar name and ARS exhibition name: Chrysler Imperial; commercial type and group: hybrid tea rose for garden and cutting use. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Walter Edward Lammerts at Armstrong Nurseries, California, USA, from ‘Charlotte Armstrong’ × ‘Mirandy’; introduced 1952 via Germain Seed & Plant Co. in the United States. |
| Awards and recognition |
Highly decorated: Portland Gold Medal 1951; AARS winner 1953; ARS National Gold Medal Certificate 1956; ARS John Cook Medal 1964; James Alexander Gamble Fragrance Medal 1965. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright, medium-density shrub reaching about 100–140 cm tall and 70–110 cm wide; densely thorned shoots; self-cleaning is weak, so deadheading of spent blooms is recommended. |
| Flower morphology |
Very double, XL-sized, solitary, high-centred blooms of classic cut-rose type with over 40 petals; remontant, with abundant second flush, suitable for exhibition-style cutting and garden display. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Deep, velvety dark-red flowers with ruby undertones; ARS code DR, RHS 53A/60A; colour holds well, with slight blueing and modest fading in strong sun as blooms age. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very strong, long-lasting perfume with deep, classic rose character; ideal for scented gardens and cutting, though the very double form limits pollen access for insects. |
| Hip characteristics |
Rose hips form only occasionally due to double blooms and regular cutting; when present, small 10–14 mm ellipsoid red hips appear, offering modest additional seasonal interest. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to around −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7, USDA 6b, Swedish zone 3); disease resistance medium to mildew and black spot, resistant to rust; needs irrigation in extended droughts. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Suited to beds, specimen planting, hedged rows and large containers; medium maintenance with occasional plant protection; plant 55–100 cm apart, 2.5–2.9 plants/m² for massed effects. |
CHRYSLER IMPERIAL combines velvety dark-red exhibition blooms, powerful fragrance and steady upright growth with the durability of an own-root shrub, making it a cultured, long-term choice for your garden that is well worth considering.
