VELVET FRAGRANCE® – crimson-red hybrid tea rose – Fryer
Fragrance and colour define Velvet Fragrance® FRYperdee as a premium own-root propagation option for nurseries aiming at exclusive, exhibition-level hybrid tea output, with high-centred cut-rose type blooms in a rich crimson palette on an upright, bushy framework suited to 5–7 L premium containers and larger 40–50 litre statement specimens. Its very strong, sweet-spicy Damask-style aroma and repeat-flowering habit support a reliable cut-flower and border route, while moderate disease resistance and H7 hardiness enable stable stands for thematic collections and show gardens, even under demanding UK conditions with good winter and wind resilience in northern regions. Own-root production underpins long-term renewal, predictable plant architecture and lower replacement in nursery and wholesale networks, fitting structured premium container programmes and retail/reseller channels that depend on consistent quality and clearly recognisable, award-backed identity over the familiar development arc from strong first-year roots, second-year structural shoots and third-year full ornamental expression.
Usage options
Finished-product ideas
- Velvet Fragrance® Premium 6 L Bush – Upright, bushy, bush-trained plants with 3–5 strong framework canes in 6 L containers, showcasing high-centred, crimson blooms and intense scent for exclusive finished product benches – target retail/reseller premium lines.
- Velvet Fragrance® Fragrant Cut Series – Field or tunnel-grown, own-root blocks optimised for repeat cutting of large, exhibition-type stems with strong colour retention and very strong fragrance – target florist wholesalers and fragrance-led cut-flower buyers.
- Velvet Fragrance® 45 L Feature Rose – Mature, own-root specimens in 40–50 litre containers with developed frameworks and dense foliage, positioned as statement pieces for entrances and hospitality projects – target landscapers and public-realm specifiers.
- Velvet Fragrance® Fragrance Collection Highlight – 5–7 L premium containers grouped as part of a curated fragrance range, emphasising awards and Damask-style aroma with reliable repeat bloom – target garden centres building thematic fragrance bays.
- Velvet Fragrance® Crimson Collection Line – Colour-driven SKU within a crimson-red hybrid tea assortment, using homogeneous own-root batches to ensure consistent velvety colour and form in borders and containers – target multiple retail programmes and branded series.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose, registered as FRYperdee, marketed as Velvet Fragrance® hybrid tea rose FRYperdee; exhibition name Velvet Fragrance in the hybrid tea cut flower and exhibition categories. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Gareth Fryer at Fryer’s Roses Nursery, Cheshire, UK, from ‘Deep Secret’ × ‘Fragrant Cloud’; bred before 1984 and introduced and registered in 1984 by Fryer’s Roses in the United Kingdom. |
| Awards and recognition |
RNRS Trial Ground Certificate (1987), RNRS Edland Medal for fragrance (1987), Genoa International Rose Competition bronze and fragrance award (1989), Baden‑Baden Duftpreis (1990), RHS Award of Garden Merit after UK trials. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright, bushy shrub 130–170 cm high and 75–105 cm wide with dense, slightly glossy copper‑green foliage and moderate prickliness; spent blooms self‑clean weakly, so regular deadheading is beneficial for presentation. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, double, solitary hybrid tea flowers (26–39 petals) with high‑centred, pointed buds typical of cut-rose types; repeats well with abundant second flush, giving a long display window in borders and cutting blocks. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Velvety deep crimson-red overall (ARS DR; RHS 187A outer, 60B inner), buds dark crimson, newly opened petals deep purple, full bloom almost black-edged; colour lightens slightly in strong sun but remains deep in cool conditions. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very strongly scented, long-lasting, sweet-spicy perfume reminiscent of Damask fragrance roses; suitable where fragrance is a primary selection criterion rather than pollinator value or purely visual impact. |
| Hip characteristics |
Rose hips form sparsely due to the double flower form; when present they are small, ovoid, red hips about 12–16 mm in diameter, offering only minor ornamental impact and limited seed collection potential. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to approximately −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7, Swedish zone 3, USDA 6b); disease behaviour moderate overall, with resistance to powdery mildew and rust and moderate susceptibility to black spot, needing occasional treatments. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Own-root bush-trained material with 3–5 strong canes suits borders, specimen roles and cutting; medium maintenance with periodic protection and deadheading; recommended for premium container production, mainly 5–7 L formats. |
Velvet Fragrance® FRYperdee combines exhibition-quality crimson blooms, intense fragrance and upright structure on long-lived, regenerative own-root plants, offering predictable premium output for nurseries and wholesalers interested in aligning capacity and scheduling.
