WEKEBTIDERE – violet grandiflora bedding rose for professional own‑root production
Fragrance from intensely scented, very double violet‑purple blooms positions WEKebtidere as a distinctive feature cultivar for professional ranges built on own‑root stability and long‑term stand performance. Its upright, medium‑tall growth and compact structure fit the recommended 2–3 L standard container route, with bush‑trained plants delivering reliable, repeat flowering for retail and reseller programmes focused on strong garden performance. Own‑root propagation supports predictable renewal and low replacement in nursery beds serving thematic and collection‑type plantings, while the cultivar’s cold tolerance suits demanding northern UK and exposed sites with reliable winter and wind tolerance. Develop roots in Year 1, framework shoots in Year 2 and full ornamental value in Year 3 for consistent, premium‑gold quality aligned to wholesale‑scale professional production.
Usage options
Finished-product ideas
- 2–3 L violet fragrance highlight – Own-root, bush-trained plants in standard 2–3 L pots showcasing the very strong spicy-lemon scent and deep violet colour; positioned as a reliable garden performance highlight – retail / reseller
- Grandiflora border and cut dual-pack – Uniform 2–3 L container stock promoted for both border and cutting use, leveraging the large very double clusters and upright habit for flexible garden and vase value – retail multiples
- Cold-hardy violet collection line – Batch-selected plants for northern and exposed sites, focusing on hardiness and own-root longevity to support stable, long-lived displays with strong colour retention – public-realm and municipal suppliers
- Themed violet fragrance series – Integrated own-root line within a scented or colour-themed rose series, using WEKebtidere’s premium fragrance and distinctive smoky violet tones to anchor collection plantings – specialist nurseries
- Show-garden demonstrator stock – Uniform, premium-gold quality container plants supplied for show and demo gardens, pairing very strong fragrance with reliable remontant flowering to support in-season promotional events – marketing-led growers
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Grandiflora bedding rose, registered as WEKebtidere, traded as Wekebtidere Bedding rose WEKebtidere, exhibition name Twilight Zone; ARS code m, garden segment cut flower and flower bed. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Tom Carruth (Weeks Roses, USA) from ‘Ebb Tide’ × ‘Della Reese’; bred 2011 in the United States, introduced and registered in 2012 by Weeks Roses for international ornamental use. |
| Awards and recognition |
Recognised at Rose Hills International Rose Trials (USA) as Most Fragrant Rose in 2013 and again in 2017, underlining the cultivar’s consistent, high-level olfactory performance in competitive evaluation settings. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright, bush-trained habit reaching about 100–140 cm high and 80–120 cm spread; moderately dense, slightly glossy dark green foliage; moderately thorny shoots and weak self-cleaning, so spent blooms benefit from manual removal. |
| Flower morphology |
Very double, cup-shaped flowers with 40+ petals, typically produced in clusters; large bloom size around 2.75–3.95 inches supports both border and cutting use, with abundant repeat flowering during the second flush. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Rich, velvety deep violet-purple petals (RHS 79A, 83A) with smoky overtones; newly opened blooms are crimson-purple, fading in heat to smoky mauve, while in cooler conditions colour remains darker with very good overall retention. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very strong, garden-filling fragrance with a complex spicy, lemon-like character; flower form often conceals stamens, so ornamental and sensory value predominate over pollinator support, which remains generally limited in normal cropping. |
| Hip characteristics |
Occasional spherical hips form, around 11–17 mm in diameter, coloured orange-red; typically of minor ornamental significance in production settings but worth noting where seed set or seasonal display is monitored. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Moderate resistance to powdery mildew, black spot and rust, with some protection advisable; hardy to about -26 to -23 °C (H7, USDA 5b, Swedish zone 4), with moderate heat tolerance if irrigation is maintained to avoid stress. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Suited to borders, containers, cut flower and specimen use; standard container route with 2–3 L pots recommended, moderate maintenance and occasional plant protection required, with own-root material enabling durable, renewable plantings. |
WEKebtidere offers very strong violet fragrance, reliable remontant flowering and robust cold hardiness on a predictable own-root base, making it a sound option for planning capacity and discussing future programme alignment.
