VELVET FRAGRANCE® – crimson-red hybrid tea rose – Fryer
Sink into the romantic mood of VELVET FRAGRANCE®, a classically shaped hybrid tea rose whose velvety, crimson blooms and intense Damask scent bring a cosy, afternoon-tea atmosphere to even the smallest family garden. This tall, upright bush produces long-stemmed, high‑centred flowers ideal for cutting, while its copper‑green foliage adds structure to cottage-style borders in changeable British weather with brisk winds and frequent rain. As an own‑root plant it offers reassuring longevity, regenerating steadily after pruning and maintaining stable ornamental value without complicated routines. The richly perfumed flowers repeat well from summer into autumn, giving reliable colour and fragrance for years, whether you grow it as a specimen or within a mixed hedge. A 2‑litre pharmaROSA® ORIGINAL pot is easy to handle and plant throughout the season, settling quickly into clay or chalk soils when drainage is improved, and rewarding even time‑pressed gardeners with impact that builds naturally – roots in the first year, stronger shoots in the second, and a full, storybook display by the third, perfect for relaxed garden evenings.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Feature rose by the terrace |
The tall, upright habit and long-stemmed, exhibition-style blooms create a refined focal point near seating, where the intense, sweet-spicy fragrance can be fully appreciated in sheltered evening spots; ideal for the fragrance-loving homeowner. |
| Cottage-style mixed border |
Velvety crimson flowers and copper-green foliage weave beautifully among perennials like cranesbill and lavender, giving classic cottage charm with reliable repeat flowering from summer into autumn for the traditional-border gardener. |
| Cutting garden row |
High-centred, pointed buds on strong stems are excellent for vases and arrangements, offering a steady supply of richly scented blooms so you can bring that afternoon-tea atmosphere indoors; perfect for the home-cut-flowers enthusiast. |
| Specimen in a large container |
In a 40–50 litre pot with good drainage, its vertical, bushy habit and dense foliage provide a romantic accent on patios or balconies, while own-root vigour helps long-term performance for the space-conscious city gardener. |
| Small front garden statement |
Planted as a single specimen near the front path, the combination of deep crimson colour, classic hybrid tea form and award-winning fragrance offers strong visual and sensory impact with just one rose for the busy front-garden owner. |
| Traditional rose hedge line |
At 55 cm spacing, its upright habit and repeat flowering form a loose, romantic hedge that guides views and scents garden paths, while own-root endurance supports a long-lived planting for the structure-seeking family planner. |
| Border anchor in exposed gardens |
The robust bushy frame and dense foliage anchor planting in breezier sites, coping with typical British rain and wind when soil is improved for drainage, supporting long-term shape and colour for the coastal-edge gardener. |
| Kitchen-garden companion row |
Grown beside herbs and vegetables, its strong Damask fragrance and repeat crimson blooms add romance to productive plots, with own-root plants steadily filling out over successive seasons for the relaxed kitchen-garden keeper. |
Styling ideas
- Victorian-terrace – Position VELVET FRAGRANCE® by a small bistro set, underplanted with lavender and scented cranesbill for a front-garden parlour feel – suited to period-home owners wanting everyday romance.
- Cottage-ribbon – Run a loose line of plants along a path, interspersed with catmint and foxgloves to soften edges and highlight its tall cut-flower form – for lovers of informal English-country style.
- Patio-centrepiece – Grow a single plant in a 50 litre clay pot, with trailing thyme at the rim, to enjoy fragrance and colour close to the back door – ideal for balcony or courtyard gardeners.
- Kitchen-companion – Place a short row at the boundary of the vegetable patch, flanked by rosemary and chives, to link productive beds with ornamental charm – aimed at kitchen-garden enthusiasts.
- Evening-arbour – Set one or two bushes near a bench or light pergola, paired with honeysuckle and soft grasses, to create a scented retreat for dusk tea – perfect for families seeking a cosy retreat.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
VELVET FRAGRANCE® – crimson-red hybrid tea rose; registered as FRYperdee, ARS exhibition name Velvet Fragrance; hybrid tea group, commercial type hybrid tea rose. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Gareth Fryer, Fryer’s Roses Nursery, Cheshire, UK, before 1984; parentage ‘Deep Secret’ × ‘Fragrant Cloud’; introduced and registered in 1984 in the United Kingdom. |
| Awards and recognition |
RNRS Trial Ground Certificate (1987); RNRS Edland Medal for fragrance (1987); Genoa International Rose Competition Bronze medal and fragrance award (1989); Baden‑Baden Duftpreis (1990); RHS Award of Garden Merit. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright, bushy hybrid tea reaching 130–170 cm in height and 75–105 cm spread; dense, slightly glossy copper-green foliage; moderately thorny stems; self-cleaning weak, so deadheading is recommended. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, double, high-centred, pointed-budded blooms with 26–39 petals; classic exhibition hybrid tea form; solitary flowers ideal for cutting; repeats well with an abundant second flush after the main early-summer flowering. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Velvety deep crimson-red overall; buds dark crimson; newly opened blooms deep purple-toned; dark ruby-red before fading; almost black petal edges; lightens slightly in strong sun, remaining deepest in cooler conditions. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very strongly scented variety with long-lasting, sweet and spicy Damask character; flowers are semi- to fully double and primarily ornamental, moderately attractive to pollinating insects due to only partly accessible stamens. |
| Hip characteristics |
Rose hips form only sparsely because of the filled blooms; when present they are small, 12–16 mm, egg-shaped, red hips, adding occasional late-season interest without strongly affecting overall garden performance. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to about −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7, Swedish zone 3, USDA 6b); good resistance to powdery mildew and rust, moderate against black spot; tolerates summer heat with regular watering in drier periods. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in sunny sites with well-drained clay or chalk soils; plant 65 cm apart in masses, 55 cm in hedges, 100 cm as specimen; medium maintenance, with routine feeding, watering and occasional plant-protection treatments. |
VELVET FRAGRANCE® offers award-winning scent, romantic crimson blooms and dependable repeat flowering on a long-lived own-root plant, making it a refined yet practical choice for your garden enjoyment.
