All about Tea Rose – History, Meaning, Facts, Care & More

The first man on earth was Adam and the first Tea Rose was named after him. Tea Rose or Adam was given a unique and separate botanical name. It was Tea Scented China Rose with the scent of a newly opened choicest tea from China. As time passed by, the name was shortened into Tea Rose.

Modern Tea Rose is a product of hybrid procedures and Adam, the first Tea Rose, was the grandfather. The cross-breed between China Rose (R. chinensis) and wild Tea Rose (R. gigantean) is the Tea Rose. The botanical name is Rosa X Hybrida. Belonging to the group of Old Garden Roses, hybrid Tea Roses are beautiful in its well-formed large buds and upright stem. This type of Rose makes a wonderful cut flower for floral arrangements and bouquets. It is the most popular type of Rose among the old garden group, and this is because it has the most magnificent form and colors.

• History of Tea Rose

The name Tea Rose and Hybrid Tea Rose have been always used interchangeably but the truth is, they are two different plants with only a slight difference. True Tea Rose was from China and it was in the early 19th Century when it arrived west. It had that faint fragrance. Tea Roses are no longer common today. What the market has now is the Hybrid Tea Roses.

The first Hybrid Tea Rose that was cultivated was done in 1867 by Jean Baptiste Andre Guillot. He cross-bred two types of Tea Rose, the original Tea Rose and the hybrid perpetual rose. The result was the Hybrid Tea Rose and it is widely available all throughout the world.

Other famous hybrid species are Lady Mary Fitzwilliam cultivated by Bennett in 1883, Souvenir of Wootton by John Cook in 1888, and Madame Caroline Testout by Pernet-Ducher in 1890. The Madame A Meilland by Francis Meilland in the 20th Century was called Peace, and it became the most popular hybrid since then. Other hybrids introduced over the years are Fragrant Cloud, Double Delight, Chrysler Imperial, Precious Platinum, and more.

• Tea Rose Meaning

Roses are a meaningful flower that is associated with different sentiments, emotions, and symbolism. It has been used ever since the ancient times to symbolize a sentiment or to express a message. Red Roses are always referred to as love, romance, emotions, and passion while white roses refer to purity, innocence, and peace. Pink roses speak of charm and grace and yellow roses are meant for joy, friendship, jealousy, sorrow, and hope. Dark pink roses symbolize gratitude and light pink Roses are meant to express perfect happiness. There are Roses in two or three colors, and some have colors on the tip of the petals. Other colors are also available. Most of them are dyed to achieve the desired color.

• Tea Rose Facts

Tea Roses are in various types. The Gloria de Dijon in the US and Marie van Houtte are among the common types of Tea Roses. The hybrid types are also plenty and developers and hybridizers continue to new species.

Hybrid Tea Roses are among the most popular types of Roses and they make most of the modern garden roses of this generation. These Roses have all the qualities and characteristics that everyone wants from a Rose. They are repeat bloomers, too, which give gardeners the best flowers all year round.

Not all Tea Roses and Hybrid Tea Roses are the same. Some are developed with the ability to resist mildew while some can tolerate heat. Some are ideal for various hardiness zones while some have fewer thorns.

• How to Care for Tea Rose

Tea Rose, just like all Roses, thrives in abundant sunshine, at least six hours daily. Full sunshine helps improve the development of the plant so that it can bloom more and abundantly. Most hybrid Tea Roses may thrive with slightly less sunshine. Although most of the original species can grow in a sheltered location protected from extreme weather and winds, the hybrid species are hardier but they also need protection. Tea Roses and its hybrid species are heat tolerant but not cold tolerant. Mulching the soil can help protect the roots and conserve soil moisture. Mulch also prevents weeds from growing or from infesting the plant.

Hybrid Tea roses prefer a slightly acidic type of soil, most commonly a soil that has 6.0 to 6.5 pH acid. Soil should have an organic matter to reach the acid level that is best for this type of plant. Water should also be given regularly, at least 1 or 2 inches of water each week or more when needed depending on the weather and location. To prevent the leaves from diseases, it is better to water the soil deeply.

True Tea roses and Hybrid Tea Roses benefit from fertilizers. In fact, they are the type of plants that are heavy feeders. Fertilizing can be started in early spring or at least a month before the new growth comes out. This should be followed once a week feeding or after every other week depending on the food plant or fertilizers used for the plant. A balanced fertilizer for Roses is the right blend according to our florist in Singapore. On the other hand, fertilizers should not be given before winter to prevent new growth from coming out in the winter season.

Growing and caring for the Tea Roses or hybrid Tea Roses may require considerable efforts, but doing so will assure you of a strikingly beautiful and magnificent reward or full blooming Tea Roses.