INGRID BERGMAN™ – dark red hybrid tea rose
Bring a touch of film-star romance to your garden with INGRID BERGMAN™, a classic hybrid tea rose whose large, velvety blooms look as if they belong on a period drama set. In typical Irish weather, with frequent showers and humidity-laden breezes, this dependable variety keeps its colour rich and intense, hardly fading even in strong sunlight. The tall, upright stems carry exhibition-quality flowers that are perfect for a quick stroll outside to gather buds for the vase, adding quiet luxury to everyday life. As an own-root plant, it establishes steadily, building strong roots in year one, fuller shoots and branching in year two, and a truly impressive display by year three, all while avoiding the graft-union worries of older-style roses. Plant it once, then enjoy its repeat flowering habit, long lifespan, and richly coloured blooms that bring an air of elegance to small cottage borders and city front gardens alike.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Feature rose near the front door |
The strong colour retention and large, perfectly shaped blooms create an immediate focal point where visitors arrive, giving a sense of occasion from the very first step, well suited to the tastes of the house-proud homeowner. |
| Classic cutting bed in a family garden |
Long, upright stems with high-centred, exhibition-style flowers make this variety ideal for cutting, so you can gather armfuls of velvety dark-red roses without stripping the whole bush, pleasing the practical home-flower arranger. |
| Statement container on a sunny patio |
In a 40–50 litre pot with good drainage, the compact spread and upright habit form a vertical accent that suits paved courtyards and small terraces, appealing to the space-conscious urban gardener. |
| Formal row or low hedge beside a path |
Regular spacing gives an orderly line of matching blooms, and the repeat-flowering habit keeps colour returning along the path across the season, satisfying the symmetry-loving garden planner. |
| Mixed cottage border with perennials |
The dense dark-green foliage and velvety red flowers weave beautifully among plants like meadow sage and feverfew, lending traditional charm that resonates with the nostalgic cottage-garden enthusiast. |
| Sunny, sheltered spot in coastal or rainy areas |
Hardy down to very low temperatures and tolerant of wet, breezy conditions when drainage is good, it copes reliably with soft Atlantic light and showery spells, reassuring the weather-aware Irish gardener. |
| Long-term specimen in a small lawn or gravel bed |
The own-root form supports a durable framework that can regenerate from the base if pruned hard, promising a long-lived feature for years, which suits the value-conscious long-term planner. |
| Showpiece rose for enthusiasts and exhibitors |
Bred from distinguished parents and honoured with major international awards, its classic hybrid tea form and reliable repeat bloom reward patient deadheading, attracting the detail-focused rose connoisseur. |
Styling ideas
- Romantic entrance – Flank a front path with evenly spaced INGRID BERGMAN™ and soft white feverfew for a welcoming, old-world feel – ideal for cottage-style front-garden owners.
- Velvet focus – Place a single bush in a generous gravel circle, underplanted with low catmint, to draw the eye to its dark flowers – perfect for small gardens needing one strong focal point.
- Patio theatre – Grow in a 50-litre terracotta pot with trailing thyme to soften the edges, turning a simple patio into a small outdoor stage – suited to balcony and terrace gardeners.
- Cutting corner – Group three plants at the back of a border, with meadow sage in front, to provide a steady supply of long-stemmed roses – attractive for home florists who love indoor arrangements.
- Evening glow – Combine with pale pink roses and white perennials so the dark-red blooms read as deep accents at dusk – appealing to those who enjoy their garden after work.
Technical cultivar profile
| Property | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose, registered as POUlman, traded as INGRID BERGMAN™ Hybrid Tea POULSEN®, exhibition name Ingrid Bergman, belonging to the Hybrid Tea POULSEN® collection. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred in Denmark in 1984 by L. Pernille and Mogens Nyegaard Olesen, from ‘Precious Platinum’ × ‘Else Poulsen’, introduced and first distributed by Poulsen Roser A/S. |
| Awards and recognition |
Holds major international awards including RNRS Trial Ground Certificate, medals from Geneva, Rome, Belfast, Copenhagen, RHS Award of Garden Merit, and WFRS World’s Favourite Rose (2000). |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright, bushy habit reaching about 80–105 cm high and 50–70 cm wide, with dense, slightly glossy dark-green foliage and a moderately thorny framework suitable for feature planting. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, 7–10 cm, double blooms with 26–39 petals, high-centred, pointed-budded classic hybrid tea form, usually borne singly on stems, and repeating well with an abundant second flush. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Deep, velvety dark-red flowers with ruby highlights, dark burgundy buds and very good colour retention; tones gently towards blackish bordeaux as blooms age without significant fading in sun. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Lightly and subtly scented, offering a gentle traditional rose aroma rather than a powerful perfume; ideal where refined fragrance is preferred over strong, room-filling scents. |
| Hip characteristics |
Rosehips form sparsely due to the double flowers; when present they are small, red, ellipsoidal hips around 10–14 mm in diameter, providing modest late-season interest. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Very hardy (approximately USDA Zone 4b, RHS H7), tolerating cold winters; disease resistance is modest, with sensitivity to mildew and rust, so regular monitoring and protection are advisable. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil; plant 60 cm apart in beds or 90 cm as specimens; deadhead frequently, water in dry spells, and consider preventive fungicide in high-pressure seasons. |
INGRID BERGMAN™ offers velvety dark-red, long-stemmed blooms, repeat flowering and impressive hardiness on a durable own-root framework, an excellent choice if you would like a classic, long-lived rose to invest in calmly.
