BLACK VELVET™ – dark red hybrid tea rose – Morey
Wrap your garden in the velvet glow of BLACK VELVET™, a statuesque hybrid tea rose whose large, goblet-shaped blooms open in a deep, romantic burgundy, shaded almost black on the bud. Each extra-large flower is richly double and carries a strong, spicy-sweet fragrance that feels like a quiet evening ritual after the rain, while its steady remontant flowering rhythm keeps colour in your borders well beyond the short Irish summer. This own-root rose settles in reliably over time – think roots in year one, structure in year two, full ornamental presence in year three – offering a long-lived focal point with reassuring stability even in gardens with frequent showers and cool breezes where drainage and steady flowering really matter.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Front-of-house specimen by the door |
The tall, upright habit and extra-large, velvety dark blooms create an immediate sense of arrival beside a front step or path, giving character to Dublin terraced-house entrances with a single, eye-catching plant that suits fragrance-loving homeowners. |
| Romantic cutting row in a cottage garden |
Long, straight stems with solitary, goblet-shaped flowers make it ideal for cutting; you can bring strongly scented, dark red blooms indoors from mid-season onwards without sacrificing the plant’s garden presence, perfect for hobby florists and home arrangers. |
| Feature rose in a mixed perennial border |
Its deep burgundy-red tones sit beautifully among soft pinks, silvers and whites, and the medium, upright bushy growth integrates well with perennials, offering reliable structure and colour for nature-oriented family gardeners who enjoy relaxed borders. |
| Formal pair flanking a small path or patio |
Planted as a symmetrical pair, the uniform growth habit and repeat flowering create a neat, classical look without complicated pruning techniques, an appealing choice for busy urban gardeners who still want a touch of formality and style. |
| Statement rose in a large container (40–50 L+) |
In a generously sized pot with good compost and drainage, BLACK VELVET™ becomes a movable focal point, allowing you to enjoy its scent on a balcony or small terrace, well suited to compact, paved spaces for city-based rose beginners. |
| Small accent group in a front lawn bed |
Groups of three at about 55 cm spacing form a coherent, medium-sized mass of foliage and blooms that is easy to mow around, giving strong colour impact with straightforward maintenance, ideal for time-pressed family gardeners seeking tidy structure. |
| Sheltered, sunny corner with good soil |
A spot that combines sunshine with free-draining yet moisture-retentive soil lets this rose show its best colour and steady repeat flowering, particularly valuable in Irish gardens that often face regular rainfall and need thoughtful drainage-minded planning for enthusiasts. |
| Single showcase plant among shrubs and grasses |
Surrounded by softer shrubs and ornamental grasses, its dark, dramatic blooms emerge as a striking contrast while the moderately dense, dark green foliage keeps the plant attractive between flushes, a rewarding option for design-conscious but practical gardeners. |
Styling ideas
- Twilight-entrance – Underplant BLACK VELVET™ by a front step with low, pale campanulas and white violas to make the dark blooms glow in evening light – suited to cottage-style and terraced-house entrances.
- Classic-bouquet – Grow a short cutting row with BLACK VELVET™ backed by tall foxgloves and airy grasses for home-arranged vases – ideal for fragrance lovers who enjoy bringing the garden indoors.
- Velvet-hedge – Plant a loose line at 50 cm spacing along a path, interspersed with lavender for scent and companion colour – for gardeners wanting an elegant, manageable flowering boundary.
- Patio-focus – Place a single plant in a 50 L terracotta pot with trailing thyme at the rim to soften the edge – perfect for small patios where seating and scent are priorities.
- Moody-border – Combine with silvery stachys, pale pink geraniums and a shrubby cinquefoil for contrast and biodiversity interest – for nature-oriented gardeners who like layered, informal planting.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose, registered as Black Velvet; trade name BLACK VELVET™ Hybrid tea rose Black Velvet, exhibition category exhibition tea hybrid; ARS exhibition name Black Velvet. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Dr Dennison Harlow Morey in the United Kingdom from ‘New Yorker’ × ‘Happiness’; introduced in 1960 by Jackson & Perkins Co. (USA); unregistered cultivar in formal registers. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright, bushy habit reaching about 130–170 cm high and 70–90 cm wide; moderately dense, slightly glossy dark green foliage and moderate prickliness; spent blooms usually need manual deadheading. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, solitary, goblet to cupped blooms over 10 cm across; 26–39 petals forming a full, double flower; remontant, providing a generous second flush and further scattered blooms in good conditions. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Closed buds appear almost blackish purple; fresh blooms are deep, velvety burgundy-red with darker edges; colour can fade in hot, strong sun but remains deeper and richer in cooler weather. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strong, distinctive scent in a spicy-sweet classic rose register; particularly noticeable on still, mild evenings; suitable where fragrant impact near seating areas, gateways or paths is an important garden feature. |
| Hip characteristics |
Hip set is usually sparse because of the full, double blooms; where pollinated it forms small, ovoid orange-red hips about 10–14 mm across, contributing modest late-season ornamental interest. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Rated medium for black spot, powdery mildew and rust, benefitting from basic preventative care; hardy to about −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7, USDA 6b, Swedish zone 3) in well-prepared garden soil. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil and regular watering in dry spells; spacing 55 cm for groups, 50 cm for low hedges, 90 cm as specimen; suitable for borders, cutting and focal planting. |
BLACK VELVET™ offers deeply coloured, strongly scented exhibition-style blooms on a long-lived own-root plant that matures steadily into a reliable garden feature, making it a thoughtful choice if you enjoy roses with drama and character.
