ALEC'S RED™ – red hybrid tea rose – Cocker
Step outside after a shower and let ALEC'S RED™ wrap your garden in fragrance and soft, velvety colour, its very strong, classic rose scent lingering in the mild Irish air while the large, high‑centred blooms bring a sense of luxury to even the smallest front garden. This hybrid tea is bred to be reliably hardy in our cool, damp climate, coping well where summers are short and repeat flowering really matters on grey days. As an own‑root rose it offers reassuring longevity, rebuilding itself from the base after setbacks so You enjoy stable beauty year after year, and the simple planting routine suits beginners who prefer easy care over complicated pruning plans. In a cottage‑style border or a neat Dublin terrace, it settles steadily: roots in the first year, stronger shoots in the second, then full ornamental impact by the third, rewarding light deadheading with waves of XL blooms that make superb cut flowers for your home and a quietly romantic welcome at the garden gate.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Feature rose by the front door |
XL, high‑centred cherry‑red blooms and a garden‑filling scent create a welcoming focal point by your entrance, especially in small urban spaces where one strong specimen must do most of the work for those who like a gently impressive garden, busy urban gardeners |
| Cut‑flower bed near the patio |
The long‑stemmed, solitary blooms are bred for exhibition quality cutting, holding their shape and colour well in the vase so You can harvest armfuls of classic red roses without needing a specialist cutting garden, home flower arrangers |
| Romantic cottage‑garden border |
Its velvety red flowers and very strong old‑rose fragrance add a traditional, “girly” cottage feel among perennials, suiting Heuchera and airy clematis while providing repeat flushes through a short Irish summer, cottage‑garden lovers |
| Small hedge or row along a path |
An upright habit and medium height allow regular spacing for a low rose hedge; with planned deadheading this creates a rhythm of colour and scent along paths or drives without demanding complicated pruning, low‑maintenance planners |
| Statement container on a terrace |
In a 40–50 litre pot with good drainage, its upright growth and large flowers deliver high impact on balconies or paved courtyards where soil is limited, while own‑root resilience keeps the plant productive for years, balcony and terrace owners |
| Mixed border in partial shade |
It tolerates light shade, so can be sited where walls or neighbouring houses limit direct sun; blooms still develop good size and colour, allowing roses in those trickier corners of Irish family gardens, shade‑challenged gardeners |
| Long‑term feature in a family garden |
As an own‑root rose it reshoots from the base if damaged and keeps a stable shape over time, giving a long‑lived, reliable presence with ordinary care in typical Irish conditions of cool summers and frequent rainfall, future‑minded homeowners |
| Showpiece rose for enthusiasts |
With a pedigree from ‘Fragrant Cloud’ and ‘Dame de Cœur’ and multiple fragrance and ADR awards, it rewards careful grooming and show preparation for those who enjoy entering or simply growing exhibition‑quality hybrid teas, rose enthusiasts |
Styling ideas
- COTTAGE RIBBON – Plant ALEC'S RED™ in a loose line with foxgloves, campanulas and Heuchera to frame a cottage‑style path – for romantic gardeners who love soft, informal colour.
- FRONT‑STEP DRAMA – Use a single rose in a 50‑litre terracotta pot by the door, underplanted with trailing ivy, to add instant impact to a Dublin terrace – for busy owners wanting low‑effort wow.
- EVENING PERFUME – Place a pair near a seating area where the strong scent drifts on cool evenings – for those who unwind outdoors after work.
- RED‑AND‑COPPER – Combine with copper‑leaved Heuchera and dark grasses to highlight the velvety red blooms – for design‑conscious gardeners seeking a sophisticated palette.
- SHOWCASE ROW – Create a short, evenly spaced row along a sunny fence for straight, cuttable stems and repeat flushes – for hobby exhibitors and home florists.
Technical cultivar profile
| Attribute |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose, registered as CORed, marketed as Alec's Red™ hybrid tea rose CORed; exhibition name Alec’s Red; part of the Rós taehibride commercial group. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Alexander M. Cocker in Scotland before 1969 from ‘Fragrant Cloud’ × ‘Dame de Cœur’; introduced by James Cocker & Sons Ltd. around 1970 as a premium fragrant hybrid tea. |
| Awards and recognition |
Highly decorated: Henry Edland Memorial Fragrance Medal 1969, RNRS Gold Medal 1970, President's International Trophy 1970, R. J. Frizzell Award 1972, and ADR certificate Germany 1973. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright, medium‑tall bush to about 80–110 cm high and 50–70 cm wide, with moderately dense, slightly glossy dark green foliage and moderate prickliness on well‑ripened stems. |
| Flower morphology |
Classic hybrid tea form with solitary, cupped, high‑centred double blooms, typically 26–39 petals; very large flowers over 10 cm, remontant with an abundant second flush in favourable seasons. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Uniform dark cherry‑red with velvety sheen; buds burgundy‑black, opening rich carmine, then slightly raspberry toned; RHS 53A outer, 53B inner; colour lightens modestly in strong sun, holds depth in cooler weather. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very strong, garden‑filling classic rose scent with a rich, traditional character; noted internationally for its perfume and suitable where fragrance is a key design or personal enjoyment priority. |
| Hip characteristics |
Forms hips only in small quantities; ovoid, egg‑shaped, red‑orange fruits around 10–14 mm in diameter, generally incidental in ornamental plantings focused on flower display. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to about −26 to −23 °C (RHS H7, USDA 5b, Swedish Zone 4); disease resistance medium for black spot, mildew and rust, so standard preventive care and good airflow are recommended. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in fertile, well‑drained soil with regular watering; medium maintenance, some deadheading and plant protection helpful; suited to borders, specimen use, hedging or large containers from 40 litres upwards. |
Alec's Red™ Hybrid tea rose CORed offers award‑winning fragrance, XL classic blooms and long own‑root resilience for Irish gardens; a thoughtful choice if You value enduring colour and scent with manageable care.
