Old Tea Roses

'Tea' Rose Information
Old tea roses are the ancestors of the modern hybrid tea.
Teas bloom repeatedly all summer with large full
blossoms. As their name suggests, they have a wonderful tea fragrance.
The 'tea' rose is the backbone of the warm climate gardens, as they are cold tender and should only be grown in
zones 7-11.
They were grown mainly in France at first, since they are unsuited for colder climates. That's why they mostly
have French names.

Duchesse de Brabant 'Tea' Rose
The members of the 'tea' rose class tend to form V-shaped rose bushes that are covered with foilage and flowers,
although there are some really great climbers, such as the gorgeous and mannerly white climbing rose in the picture below.

The flower colors are mostly pastels, with a few good red teas, and have a unique perfume scent that reminds
people of tea, hence their name.
Pruning Tips For Old Teas
These old teas don't like to be pruned to hard, unlike the modern hybrid teas. So don't cut back more than 1/3
of the top growth when pruning these old roses.
Zones 7-11, height 4-5 feet.
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