What do you think most gardeners are looking for when shopping for a new rose? If you thought a specific colour, flower size, or disease resistance then you would be wrong. The number-one criterion for a new rose purchase is simply fragrance, and one sniff can sell a plant faster than I can by extolling its many other attributes. So, when I am choosing roses for the nursery to sell, I take scent seriously. Here are a dozen fragrant cultivars to consider, all of which are award-winning and by sheer coincidence, in stock right now.
Rosa ‘Fragrant Cloud’ (1963)
(📸 Star Roses)
‘Fragrant Cloud’ is a challenging hybrid tea to define, at least as far as colour is concerned, as it ranges from coral to a reddish orange. The strong sweet honey fragrance has made it a favourite for well over 50 years, and the large blooms that are great for cutting also make it quite popular. Grows 3-5’ tall. Hardy to USDA zone 5.
Award(s):
Portland Gold Medal 1966
James Gamble Fragrance Award 1970
World’s Favorite Rose 1981
Rosa ‘White Licorice’ (2011)
(📸 ML Douglas)
The sweet licorice and lemon scent of this floribunda rose, 'White Licorice', accents the relatively large blooms of 4-5” wide. The dark green foliage also sets off the pale yellow to white blossoms perfectly. Grows 4’ tall. Hardy to USDA zone 5.
Award(s):
Rose Hill Gold Medal 2010
Portland Best Floribunda 2013
Portland People’s Choice Most Fragrant 2014
Rosa ‘Rouge Royale’ (2000)
(📸 Star Roses)
'Rouge Royale' is a Meilland rose with quartered English-like blooms of burgundy-red with a cupped form. Expect an enticing fragrance of citrus and fresh berries from this very worthy hybrid tea. Grows 4-5’ tall. Hardy to USDA zone 6.
Award(s):
Rose Hills International Fragrance Award 2003
Rosa ‘Dee-Lish’ (2005)
(📸 Star Roses)
'Dee-Lish' is a tall hybrid tea rose that lives up to its name with non-fading rich pink quartered flowers. Add to this the enticing verbena and citrus scent, as well as excellent disease resistance, and you have a great all-round rose. Grows 6’ tall. Hardy to USDA zone 5.
Award(s):
All Germany Rose Trials
AGRS American Garden Rose Selections
Biltmore International Rose Trials
Rose Hill International Rose Trials
Rosa ‘Valencia’ (1987)
(📸 Star Roses)
The creamy apricot blooms backed with copper overtones make 'Valencia' a great rose for cut flowers. This hybrid tea also features a strong sweet rose scent that will definitely enhance any floral arrangement. Grows 3-4’ tall. Hardy to USDA zone 7.
Award(s):
Henry Edland Fragrance Award 1989
Award of Garden Merit 2001
Rosa ‘Perfume Delight’ (1973)
(📸 Star Roses)
The lurid hot pink double blooms of this hybrid tea rose, 'Perfume Delight', made her an All-America Rose Selection shortly after introduction. Expect a heady damask rose fragrance to match those eye-catching flowers. Grows 3-4’ tall. Hardy to USDA zone 6.
Award(s):
All-America Rose Selections 1974
Rosa ‘Molineux’ (1994)
(📸 David Austin Roses)
'Molineux' is one of my favourite English roses due to its ever-changing quartered flowers which have a tinge of orange as they unfold to a rich yellow, slightly bleaching at the petal tips as they fade. The musky tea scent is also quite alluring. Grows 3’ tall. Hardy to USDA zone 5.
Award(s):
Award of Garden Merit 2001
Henry Edland Fragrance Award
Rosa ‘Intrigue’ (1982)
(📸 Star Roses)
It is hard to find a richer plum-purple bloom on any rose, let alone this AARS winning floribunda, 'Intrigue'. The symmetrical buds open to a powerful perfume of true rose and citrus. Grows 3-5’ tall. Hardy to USDA zone 6.
Award(s):
All-America Rose Selections 1984
Madrid Fragrance Medal
Rosa ‘Zephirine Drouhin’ (1868)
(📸 David Austin Roses)
'Zephirine Drouhin' is an antique climbing rose that is not only thornless but also thrives in a partial shade exposure. The abundant cerise-pink blossoms emit an enticing scent of old-fashioned bourbon roses. Grows 8-10’ tall. Hardy to USDA zone 5.
Award(s):
Long Island Rose Society 2000
Chicagoland Rose Society 2001
Rosa ‘New Zealand’ (1989)
(📸 Weeks Roses)
'New Zealand' is a very popular hybrid tea with pale pink flowers that are tinged deeper along the petal edge. The unique rich honeysuckle fragrance also makes it a great cut flower. Grows 4-6’ tall. Hardy to USDA zone 6.
Award(s):
Auckland Rose of the Year 1990
New Zealand Fragrance Award 1990
Portland Gold Medal 1996
Rosa ‘Michelangelo’ (1997)
(📸 Star Roses)
'Michelangelo' is a vibrant hybrid tea rose that has the charm of English roses with a matching sweet lemon scent. The rich green foliage contrasts the flowers nicely, which also make a beautiful addition to indoor arrangements.
Award(s):
Monza Gold Medal 1997
Lyon Grande Rose 1998
AJJH Prix de la Rose 1999
Rosa ‘Scentimental’ (1997)
(📸 Weeks Roses)
Every bloom is different on this floribunda rose with clusters of marbled cream and red blossoms. 'Scentimental' offers a strong, sweet, spice fragrance, which only adds to the charm of this AARS winner. Grows 4’ tall. Hardy to USDA zone 7.
Award(s):
All-America Rose Selection 1997
