BLACK VELVET™ – dark red hybrid tea rose – pharmaROSA® NEONATAL
Exhibition quality, velvety colour and strong fragrance make BLACK VELVET™ an attractive choice where premium hybrid tea flower presentation matters in UK nursery and retail channels, while its upright, bushy habit and consistent stem length support predictable border and specimen production in 5–7 L premium containers. As own‑root pharmaROSA® NEONATAL material, it builds long-term, regenerating stands with reduced replacement and stable grading in propagation beds; roots establish in the first year, framework develops in the second year, and full ornamental value reliably peaks from the third year onward. In cooler British conditions the colour remains particularly intense, echoing the needs of public‑realm and collection gardens that demand high-impact focal plants in thematic rose gardens, and aligning with integrator systems that require scalable, reliably uniform quality and dependable scheduling for exclusive finished product lines and retail‑oriented ranges in the premium cut-flower and garden rose segment.
Usage options
Finished-product ideas
- Premium 5–7 L exhibition hybrid tea – Finished from bush-trained NEONATAL plants into 5–7 L containers, highlighting upright habit and goblet bloom form for single-plant display – premium garden-rose benches in retail / reseller.
- Fragrance focus feature rose – Position as a strongly scented, dark-flowered hybrid tea with clear border and specimen labelling, using uniform own-root crops for consistent quality – fragrance-led promotional tables in garden centres.
- Cut-and-display garden hybrid tea – Market remontant flowering and solitary large blooms as a dual-purpose border and cutting rose, supplied in premium containers for quick sell-through – lifestyle and patio-focused retail programmes.
- Collection-grade dark velvet series – Integrate BLACK VELVET™ into curated dark-flower or heritage hybrid tea collections using own-root stands for long-term continuity – specialist nurseries and mail-order catalogues.
- Show-garden specimen line – Produce selected, high-grade specimens with strong framework canes and intense colour expression in cooler conditions, aligned to exclusive finished product themes – public-realm and show-garden supply partners.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose cultivar BLACK VELVET, commercial type and group hybrid tea, ARS exhibition name Black Velvet, current trade name Black Velvet™ hybrid tea rose, unregistered but widely recognised in commerce. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred in the United Kingdom by Dr Dennison Harlow Morey, introduced 1960 via Jackson & Perkins Co. (USA), with parentage ‘New Yorker’ × ‘Happiness’, representing classic mid-twentieth-century hybrid tea breeding. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright, bushy growth reaching around 130–170 cm high and 70–90 cm spread, with moderately dense, dark green, slightly glossy foliage and moderate thorniness, forming a clearly structured bush suitable for premium containers. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, double, solitary flowers (26–39 petals) of cup to goblet form, sized approximately 2.75–3.95 inches, carried mainly singly on stems, with repeat flowering and a generous second flush under appropriate cultural conditions. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Deep, velvety dark burgundy to dark red blooms, ARS code dr, RHS 187A–187B; buds almost black with purple tones, deepening to cherry-maroon before fading, with colour moderating in heat but holding best in cooler conditions. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strong, distinctive spicy-sweet rose fragrance, primarily ornamental rather than pollinator-oriented due to the double flower form; valued where scent is a selection criterion alongside bloom form in premium hybrid tea assortments. |
| Hip characteristics |
Hip set generally low because of the full, double flowers, but occasional small ovoid hips 10–14 mm may form, coloured orange-red (RHS 41A), of limited ornamental or production significance in most commercial contexts. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Medium disease resistance with moderate susceptibility to mildew, black spot and rust, requiring occasional control; hardy to approximately −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7, Swedish zone 3, USDA 6b), with moderate heat and drought tolerance. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Recommended for border, cut-flower and specimen use with medium maintenance inputs, favouring regular watering and care; supplied bush-trained with 3–5 framework canes, ideal for premium container production and retail presentation. |
BLACK VELVET™ offers exhibition-style blooms, strong fragrance and stable, regenerating own-root stands, providing predictable, premium hybrid tea crops for exclusive ranges; we invite you to discuss capacity, timing and integration into your production.
