NATIONAL TRUST – scarlet hybrid tea rose – McGredy
Celebrate a quietly romantic corner of your garden with NATIONAL TRUST, a compact hybrid tea rose whose velvety scarlet blooms bring storybook charm to even the smallest family plot. Bred by McGredy, it forms a tidy, bushy structure that slips neatly into cottage borders, front gardens or along a path to the kitchen door. Its very double, high‑centred flowers are classic exhibition form, ideal for cutting to enjoy by your afternoon tea tray indoors. Colour is this variety’s great strength: the petals hold a vivid scarlet red with excellent stability, only mellowing slightly to deep ruby as they age, so beds and containers keep their impact through the season. Own‑root growing gives reassuring longevity, with a plant that knits itself securely into the soil and copes steadily with blustery, rain‑laden weather in typical British family gardens. Maintenance is moderate yet straightforward – mainly deadheading and an occasional health check – making it suitable for keen beginners who prefer a traditional look without fuss. In practical terms, roots establish in the first year, top growth and flowering fill out in the second, and by the third year you can enjoy its full ornamental presence.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Feature rose near the terrace or seating area |
The compact, bushy habit stays around 80–100 cm, so NATIONAL TRUST fits comfortably beside a terrace, bench or arbour without overwhelming the space, while the velvety scarlet blooms give a romantic, afternoon‑tea focus for lovers of cosy cottage corners |
| Cutting patch in a kitchen or cutting garden |
Long‑stemmed, high‑centred, very double flowers in classic hybrid‑tea style make this an excellent cut‑flower candidate, providing plentiful, colour‑fast stems for vases and jugs in the house with simple care for homeowners who enjoy bringing their garden indoors |
| Traditional front garden or path edging |
The bushy, medium‑dense foliage and uniform height create a neat line along drives or front paths, giving a smart yet storybook feel that pairs well with low hedging and lavender for families who prefer an ordered, traditional frontage |
| Small rose bed in an average‑sized family garden |
At 60–80 cm spread, NATIONAL TRUST allows several plants per bed without crowding, creating a bold scarlet display, while own‑root vigour means the bed matures steadily with reliable structure for gardeners planning a long‑term rose feature |
| Raised beds or borders on heavier clay soils |
This own‑root, securely anchoring rose is well suited to raised beds where drainage is improved above heavier clay, helping the plant stabilise and cope with wind and rain in exposed gardens for households managing typical UK soil and weather |
| Statement container on patio or balcony (40–50 L+) |
The compact size and upright structure adapt well to a large 40–50 litre or bigger container, giving an elegant focal point of scarlet blooms with manageable pruning and simple seasonal feeding for busy urban gardeners wanting impact with low complexity |
| Mixed cottage border with perennials and shrubs |
Its vivid, colour‑stable scarlet flowers stand out among soft perennials, herbs and small shrubs, adding a romantic focal point that keeps definition through the season without fading into the background for enthusiasts of richly coloured cottage schemes |
| Long‑term planting in a family garden plan |
As an own‑root rose, NATIONAL TRUST can regenerate from its base after hard pruning or weather setbacks, building a durable framework that responds well over years with moderate, predictable care for planners seeking dependable, long‑lived plantings |
Styling ideas
- Arbour approach – Plant NATIONAL TRUST in pairs flanking a simple timber arch, underplant with catmint and soft grasses to frame a path to your seating area – ideal for families wanting a romantic entrance to the garden
- Kitchen‑garden charm – Slip one or two bushes into a kitchen garden with herbs, beans and obelisks; the rich scarlet blooms add cut flowers without sacrificing vegetable space – suited to home cooks who also love classic roses
- Front‑border focus – Use a short row along the front path with low box or Ilex crenata balls, giving disciplined structure and vivid colour – perfect for homeowners seeking a neat, traditional frontage
- Patio statement – Grow a single plant in a 50‑litre terracotta pot with trailing thyme around the rim to create a bold yet compact focal point by the back door – good for busy urban gardeners with limited ground space
- Cottage tapestry – Combine with Anemone ‘Fantasy Belle’ and soft pink or white perennials to offset the scarlet blooms and weave it into a relaxed cottage border – appealing to those building a soft, storybook planting scheme
Technical cultivar profile
| Characteristic |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose NATIONAL TRUST, registered as ‘National Trust’; ARS exhibition name National Trust; commercial hybrid tea type grown on its own roots in 2‑litre containers for gardens. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Samuel Darragh McGredy IV from ‘Evelyn Fison’ × ‘King of Hearts’; introduced and registered in 1970 by Samuel McGredy & Son, Nurserymen, originally distributed from Northern Ireland. |
| Awards and recognition |
Recognised in major European rose trials: Belfast Certificate of Merit and RNRS Trial Ground Certificate in 1969, plus a Silver Medal at the Kortrijk / Courtrai Rose Trials in 1970. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Compact, bushy shrub 80–100 cm high and 60–80 cm wide, with moderately thorny stems and medium‑dense, glossy dark green foliage; self‑cleaning is weak, so regular deadheading is beneficial. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, exhibition‑style hybrid tea blooms, high‑centred and pointed in bud, borne mainly singly; very double with 40+ petals, repeating well with an abundant second flush in suitable garden conditions. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Scarlet flowers with velvety depth; RHS 53A outer, 46A inner; colour remains vivid as blooms open, later softening slightly to deep ruby red, offering very good colour retention until petals finally age. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
This is a scentless hybrid tea rose with no noticeable fragrance; it is grown predominantly for its intense scarlet colour, formal high‑centred bloom shape and reliable garden and cutting performance. |
| Hip characteristics |
Hip set tends to be sparse because of the very double flowers; where formed, hips are small ovoid fruits about 10–14 mm, coloured orange‑red and of mainly ornamental rather than wildlife value. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to approximately −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7; Swedish Zone 3; USDA 6b); disease resistance is moderate to powdery mildew, black spot and rust, requiring occasional monitoring and timely treatment. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in sunny sites with well‑drained soil; ideal spacing 50–90 cm depending on use; suitable for beds, hedging, containers and cutting; maintenance medium, with seasonal feeding and regular deadheading advised. |
NATIONAL TRUST offers compact structure, vivid scarlet colour and long‑term own‑root resilience, making it a thoughtful choice if you would like a traditionally styled rose that settles in and rewards you steadily over the years.
