BARKAROLE® – dark red tea-hybrid rose - Evers
Step out to the soft raindrops in your own garden and meet BARKAROLE®, a velvety dark red hybrid tea rose that brings quiet romance to even the smallest Dublin terrace or cottage front. Its large, goblet-shaped blooms carry a mild, discreet fragrance that feels refined rather than overpowering, perfect for cutting and enjoying indoors. On its own roots it settles in steadily and offers a reassuring lifespan with stable shape and colour year after year. Think of it as a calm, upright presence that responds well to your everyday care, while coping steadily with wet Irish weather and the kind of humidity that often troubles roses. In the first year it quietly builds roots, in the second it pushes stronger shoots, and by the third it shows its full ornamental character. Plant it once, then simply deadhead occasionally and enjoy its repeat-flowering season.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Front-of-house feature rose |
The upright habit and large, velvety dark red blooms create an immediate sense of occasion beside a path or front door, offering a sophisticated look with relatively little work beyond light pruning and deadheading – ideal for the time-pressed homeowner. |
| Romantic cottage-style border |
Planted at 50 cm spacing in a mixed border with foxgloves and yarrow, the deep red flowers provide a romantic counterpoint to looser cottage perennials, repeating through the season with a mild, classic scent that suits relaxed, nature-leaning beginners. |
| Cut-flower and exhibition corner |
The long-stemmed, goblet-shaped flowers are bred for cutting, holding their colour and form well in the vase, so a small planting in a sunny spot becomes a reliable source of elegant stems for the house – perfect for practical, style-conscious gardeners. |
| Statement specimen in lawn or gravel |
Used as a solitary rose at about 90 cm spacing, BARKAROLE® forms a dense, upright bush with glossy dark green foliage that frames the flowers all season, giving strong impact from a single plant that still remains manageable for casual gardeners. |
| Small family garden rose bed |
With medium maintenance needs and good black-spot resistance, a simple bed at 4 plants per m² offers repeat flowering through much of the summer while fitting easily into family routines, even where frequent showers and soft Irish light define everyday life. |
| Large patio or terrace container |
In a generous 40–50 litre pot with good drainage, its upright growth and dense foliage make a striking feature on a terrace, and its mild scent can be enjoyed at close quarters, suiting balcony and patio users who want impact without complex techniques. |
| Long-term own-root planting |
As an own-root rose, it recovers more reliably from winter or pruning setbacks, gradually building a stable framework that carries quality blooms year after year, giving confidence to those who prefer to plant once and enjoy for the long term. |
| Structured hedge or row planting |
At 40–50 cm spacing in a straight or curved line, the uniform height and dense, dark foliage knit into a structured, flowering hedge that is easy to read and simple to maintain, suiting tidy, design-aware but time-limited urban owners. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage-Romantic Row – Plant in a loose line along a path with Digitalis and Achillea for a soft, cottage look – for front-garden owners who like traditional charm.
- Dramatic Doorway – Flank a front step with two large containers of BARKAROLE® for instant structure and colour – for busy households wanting easy impact.
- Evening-Cut Corner – Dedicate a sunny bed to cutting stems, underplanted with low grey foliage plants – for those who love bringing their own roses indoors.
- Lawn-Focus Island – Use three plants in a triangle in the lawn, edged with low perennials, to create a simple, striking focal point – for small gardens needing clear structure.
- Terraced Elegance – Combine with pale perennials in pots on a terrace to offset its dark blooms and glossy leaves – for urban gardeners seeking a refined, romantic feel.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose, registered as TANelorak, marketed as BARKAROLE® and also known for exhibition under the name Taboo™, belonging to the Rós taehibride commercial group. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Hans Jürgen Evers for Rosen Tantau from unnamed seedlings, introduced and registered in Germany in 1988 after breeding work completed in 1987, with continuing international distribution. |
| Awards and recognition |
Holds ADR recommendation as a quality hybrid tea and received an “Edelrose” rating; also entered in the Monza rose competition in 1988, indicating proven garden and exhibition performance. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Forms an upright, 100–140 cm shrub with a 50–70 cm spread, moderately thorny stems, and dense, glossy dark green foliage, giving a formal, vertical effect suited to beds, rows, and specimen use. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, 7–10 cm very double blooms with more than 40 petals, produced mainly singly on stems, with elegant cup to goblet form and remontant flowering that includes a strong second flush in season. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Closed buds are almost blackish dark red, opening to evenly velvety deep dark red flowers with slightly darker petal edges and only moderate fading in strong sun, maintaining good colour retention in the garden. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Offers a mild, discreet classic rose scent rather than a powerful perfume, giving a refined background fragrance that suits seating areas and cut arrangements without overwhelming smaller outdoor spaces. |
| Hip characteristics |
Rose hips set only occasionally due to very double flowers; when present they are ovoid, orange-red, approximately 10–14 mm in diameter, adding modest late-season interest without significant self-seeding. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to about −21 to −18 °C (H7, USDA 6b), with good black spot resistance and moderate tolerance of rust and powdery mildew; appreciates watering in prolonged dry spells and benefits from basic preventive care. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in sunny sites with well-drained soil; plant at 40–50 cm for hedging or 4–4.6 plants/m² for beds, using mulch and regular deadheading to support remontant flowering and maintain a tidy appearance. |
BARKAROLE® – dark red tea-hybrid rose - Evers offers velvety repeat-flowering blooms, refined mild fragrance and long-lived own-root reliability, making it an excellent choice if You would like a quietly elegant, enduring garden feature.
