BURNING LOVE® – red hybrid tea rose - Tantau
Step out the back door for a few quiet minutes and let Burning Love® wrap your small Irish garden in a soft, green glow of colour and scent, even when showers blow in on Atlantic breezes and damp weather lingers. This classic hybrid tea produces generous clusters of large, goblet-shaped blooms in a vivid, lasting scarlet red, opening semi-double so bees can still visit while you enjoy elegant, cut-worthy stems for the table. Its bushy, naturally tidy habit and glossy dark foliage make it easy to place in cottage borders or a neat terraced front, while own-root robustness supports steady regrowth after pruning or any winter knock-back. The medium, sweet, classic rose fragrance adds an old-fashioned romance to everyday paths, and in a roomy 40–50 litre container or open ground it settles in gently: first focusing on roots, then stronger shoots, and by the third year offering its full, long-lived display.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Cottage-style mixed border |
The bushy, naturally rounded growth and dense, glossy foliage slip easily into informal cottage plantings, giving structure without fussy pruning. Repeating clusters of large, semi-double blooms keep the border lively between perennials, suiting relaxed gardeners and beginners. |
| Dublin terraced-house front garden |
Its upright yet compact habit and long-lasting scarlet flowers create a smart, welcoming front without needing complicated training. Colour holds well in changeable coastal light with frequent showers and breezes, ideal for visible, low-effort kerb appeal for busy homeowners. |
| Feature rose in small family gardens |
The vivid, uniform scarlet-red flowers stand out from a distance, so a single plant can function as a focal point beside a lawn or patio. Own-root growth gives reassuring longevity and reliable regrowth after hard pruning, suiting practical, value-conscious gardeners. |
| Cutting and vase use |
Large, goblet-shaped hybrid tea blooms on straight, exhibition-type stems are easy to cut for indoor arrangements. Their medium, classic rose scent and stable colour make home-picked bouquets feel special yet achievable for casual flower lovers and hobbyists. |
| Lightly fragrant seating area |
The clear, medium-strength sweet rose perfume carries pleasantly around a bench or small terrace without overwhelming the space. Regular repeat flowering means you enjoy scent over a long season, rewarding evening sit-outs for fragrance-seeking families. |
| Pollinator-friendly corner |
Semi-double flowers with 13–25 petals offer a moderate, accessible pollen source between more open perennials. Partnering with bee-favourites like Echinops or coreopsis creates a steady buffet that still looks refined, ideal for nature-aware urban owners. |
| Clay soil family plots with drainage |
This own-root shrub responds well where heavy Irish soils have been improved with grit and organic matter, coping with seasons of frequent rain and airborne damp. Stable, bushy growth brings dependable flowering for time-pressed, weather-tested gardeners. |
| Large containers and patio pots |
In a 40–50 litre pot, the compact spread and neat framework suit doorway or patio positions, giving long-flowering impact without crowding. Own-root resilience helps recovery if watering is uneven, offering forgiving structure and colour for container-focused newcomers. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage-Scarlet – weave Burning Love® among lupins and coreopsis for a loose Irish cottage look with glowing red accents – ideal for romantic, colour-driven gardeners.
- Front-Door – flank a terraced-house entrance with two large pots for a simple, formal welcome softened by classic scarlet blooms – perfect for style-conscious city homeowners.
- Bee-Border – mix with blue globe thistle and other pollinator plants so semi-double blooms play a supporting role in a wildlife-friendly strip – suited to nature-focused families.
- Patio-Perfume – place one near a favourite chair where the medium, sweet scent and repeat flowering can be enjoyed on mild evenings – great for those who unwind outdoors.
- Crimson-Cuttings – grow a short row for reliable, scarlet stems to cut for the kitchen table and small gifts – appealing to home florists and bouquet enthusiasts.
Technical cultivar profile
| Attribute |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Burning Love® is a hybrid tea rose (Rós taehibride), commercial type hybrid tea, collection Hybrid tea rose, registered cultivar name Burning Love, American exhibition name Burning Love. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Mathias Tantau Jr. (Rosen Tantau, Germany) from ‘Fanal’ × ‘Crimson Glory’, breeding year 1956 in Germany, introduced 1957, initially distributed by Hazlewood Bros. Pty. Ltd. in Australia. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy, upright shrub reaching about 70–95 cm in height and 40–60 cm spread, forming a dense, naturally tidy framework with moderately thorny shoots and dark green, glossy foliage. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, 7–10 cm semi-double, goblet to cup-shaped blooms carried mainly in clusters, with 13–25 petals; remontant habit ensures a generous second flush and further repeat through the season. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Uniform, vivid scarlet-red flowers with dark velvety buds; edges lighten only slightly before darkening again as blooms age, providing excellent colour retention with ARS code mr and RHS 53B / 46A. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Medium-strength, clearly perceptible scent with a slightly sweet, classic rose character, noticeable both in the garden and on cut stems, giving traditional fragrance without becoming overpowering. |
| Hip characteristics |
Forms ovoid, orange-red hips about 10–14 mm in diameter in moderate numbers, adding a subtle autumn interest and providing additional seasonal texture among the dark, glossy foliage. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to approximately –21 to –18 °C (USDA 6b, RHS H7, Swedish zone 3); disease resistance moderate overall, with good resistance to powdery mildew and black spot, and moderate rust susceptibility. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best at 35 cm in mass plantings, 30 cm for hedging or 55 cm as a specimen; plant 8.2–9.4 plants/m²; prefers well-drained but moisture-retentive soil and benefits from regular, moderate plant protection. |
BURNING LOVE® offers vivid long-lasting scarlet blooms, a gently fragrant, tidy bush, and resilient own-root reliability that matures gracefully, making it a thoughtful choice for enduring colour in small Irish gardens.
