BLACKBERRY NIP™ – hybrid tea rose propagation material
Premium own-root pharmaROSA® NEONATAL material of BLACKBERRY NIP™ provides a reliable base for nursery propagation beds and premium container production where flower form and fragrance are central to the finished offer. This remontant, bushy hybrid tea delivers exhibition-grade, high-centred blooms with velvety plum-purple colour and a very strong, long-lasting, sweetly spicy scent suited to exclusive retail / reseller channels. Onward production as bush-trained plants with 3–5 framework canes into 5–7 L pots supports a clear “exclusive finished product” positioning while leaving scope for some growers to step up into 40–50 litre feature specimens. Own-root propagation secures long-term stability, predictable regrowth and homogeneous stands, helping to manage replacement rates and capacity planning. With H7 hardiness and suitability for conditions comparable to Scotland and North England, it offers dependable winter and wind tolerance for UK-wide supply programmes. The development arc typically brings strong root establishment in year one, framework build and commercial shoots in year two, and full ornamental value expression from year three onwards, aligning well with structured nursery cropping cycles. Moderate disease resistance and medium maintenance needs match professional expectations for high-value hybrid teas, while good self-cleaning supports sustained display in premium border and specimen plantings and cut-flower orientated ranges targeting discerning collectors and rose-focused customers.
Usage options
Finished-product ideas
- Premium 5–7 L exhibition hybrid tea – Bush-trained own-root plants on 3–5 canes in 5–7 L containers, highlighting exhibition flower form and fragrance as an exclusive finished product – premium retail / reseller channels
- Fragrance collection feature rose – Curated fragrant assortment where BLACKBERRY NIP™ anchors the range with very strong, long-lasting scent and repeat flowering in border/specimen use – specialist garden centres
- Collector’s award-winner line – Limited series emphasising trial-garden awards, plum-purple colour and authentic own-root propagation for long-term collection beds – rose specialists and mail-order nurseries
- Cut-and-garden dual-purpose SKU – Marketed both for garden borders and home cutting, leveraging solitary, high-centred blooms and premium container presentation – aspirational lifestyle-oriented retailers
- Large patio specimen in 40–50 L – Selected high-grade plants up-potted from 5–7 L into 40–50 litre containers as statement specimens showcasing dense foliage and strong colour and fragrance – landscape-oriented resellers
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Current trade name BLACKBERRY NIP™ hybrid tea rose Somerfield; American Rose Society exhibition name BLACKBERRY NIP; commercial and collection group hybrid tea rose; no separate registered cultivar name provided. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Rob Somerfield, Glenavon Roses Ltd, Tauranga, New Zealand; introduced and registered in 1996 by Glenavon Roses Ltd; parentage not provided; developed as a hybrid tea suited to cut flower and exhibition use. |
| Awards and recognition |
Silver Star of the South Pacific and Certificate of Merit, International Rose Trial Garden Palmerston North (1998); Rose of the Year and Fragrance Award, Auckland Rose of the Year (1999), supporting its exhibition and fragrance credentials. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy hybrid tea rose with dense, slightly glossy grey‑green foliage; height approximately 100–140 cm with 85–115 cm spread; densely thorned shoots; overall structure well suited to bush-trained plants on 3–5 strong framework canes. |
| Flower morphology |
Large-flowered hybrid tea blooms, approximately 2.75–3.95 inches, very double with 40+ petals; high-centred, pointed, cut-rose style form; borne mainly solitary on stems; remontant with a generous second flowering phase under suitable conditions. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Rich crimson to dark plum-purple with magenta overtones; RHS 79A outer and 71B inner; velvety texture and silvery-lilac veiling on petal edges; colour fades to paler violet-pink with silvery sheen, particularly in strong sunlight, with moderate retention. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very strong, long-lasting fragrance with a sweetly spicy character; fully double flower form conceals stamens, so it is primarily ornamental rather than pollinator-focused; suitable where scent is a key selection criterion for finished products. |
| Hip characteristics |
Rarely sets hips; when present, hips are small, around 4–6 mm diameter, red and spherical; ornamental hip display is limited, so the cultivar is chosen primarily for flowers and fragrance rather than fruit effect. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Rated H7 with hardiness to approximately −21 to −18 °C, USDA zone 6b, Swedish zone 3; moderate disease resistance with medium levels of powdery mildew, black spot and rust; thrives in warm conditions but needs irrigation in extended dry periods. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best used as border, cut flower and specimen rose; medium maintenance with occasional pest and disease control; recommended as bush-trained plants with 3–5 canes for premium container production, especially 5–7 L pots in exclusive finished ranges. |
BLACKBERRY NIP™ offers award-backed flower quality, powerful fragrance and resilient own-root longevity for homogeneous, predictable premium crops; we invite you to discuss scheduling and capacity requirements for your next production cycle.
