OLYMPIAD™ – red hybrid tea rose - McGredy
If you enjoy a brisk wander through the garden after rain, OLYMPIAD™ wraps that feeling in velvety red blooms and easy-going reliability. This upright hybrid tea rose brings generously sized, exhibition-style flowers with a mild, fruity perfume on long, straight stems that are perfect for vases and winningly simple to prune. Its dense, mid-green foliage shrugs off the usual diseases, suiting Irish gardens where humidity and showers are frequent and summers can be short yet mild. Own-root planting means a reassuringly long-lived, stable shrub that regenerates well from the base and copes calmly with family life, pets and the odd pruning mistake. Given a sunny spot with reasonable drainage and a touch of mulch, it settles in, thickens up over the years and keeps its ornamental value with little fuss. In a large container or snug front bed it becomes a glowing, scarlet focal point, flowering repeatedly through the season, while its weakly self-cleaning habit simply invites you to snip a few stems for the house. Over time, strong own-root growth brings the classic Year 1 roots, Year 2 shoots, Year 3 full display development arc, so you can look forward to steadily increasing impact and longevity in a compact, family-friendly garden rose.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Front-of-house statement rose in a Dublin terrace |
The tall, upright habit and XL, velvety red flowers create instant presence in a narrow front bed, yet the bush remains compact enough for small plots and pathways. Low maintenance and high visual impact suit busy urban homeowners. |
| Cut-flower and vase garden border |
Long, straight stems with large, high‑centred blooms make this rose ideal for cutting, while its long vase life lets you enjoy each stem indoors for days. Regular picking also keeps the plant tidy and encourages fresh buds for enthusiastic home florists. |
| Sunny mixed bed in an Irish cottage garden |
Good resistance to black spot, powdery mildew and rust suits damper cottage plots where spraying is impractical. With basic feeding and light pruning, it flowers reliably through short Irish summers for relaxed, nature‑oriented gardeners. |
| Low-input feature in a family back garden |
On its own roots the shrub builds a durable framework, recovering well after rough weather, accidental knocks or a hard prune. This long-lived strength makes it a sound choice for families wanting lasting structure without complex maintenance. |
| Informal hedge or row along a path |
Planted 50 cm apart, the upright bushes knit into a loose, flower‑rich line that defines paths or drives. Consistent colouring and foliage density give a smart look with just annual pruning, suiting owners who like order but have limited time. |
| Large container on patio or balcony (40–50 litres+) |
In a generous pot with free‑draining compost and regular watering, OLYMPIAD™ offers a vertical accent and repeat flowers close to seating areas. Its modest care needs and tidy footprint are well suited to compact, paved spaces tended by urban beginners. |
| Sun-baked, sheltered corner bed |
This variety tolerates heat well as long as prolonged drought is balanced with watering, so a sheltered, suntrap corner can host a bold red focal point without constant fuss, appealing to those turning tricky warm spots into reliable features. |
| Long-term makeover for tired clay beds |
Once established with improved drainage and mulching, the own‑root plant steadily builds a stronger framework each year, matching the typical Irish pattern of wet winters and mild summers to become a durable, slowly improving asset for patient planners. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage-Romantic Border – Thread OLYMPIAD™ through a loose mix of pink foxgloves, hardy geraniums and dwarf coral bells for a soft Irish cottage feel – ideal for sentimental front-garden creators.
- Formal Red Focus – Plant three roses in a triangle with low box or yew edging to echo a classic exhibition look in miniature – suited to lovers of structure and symmetry.
- Suntrap Container Glow – Grow a single plant in a 50‑litre terracotta pot with trailing thyme and sedum at the rim – perfect for balcony or patio owners seeking drama with little work.
- Pathside Ribbon – Line a narrow path with evenly spaced plants and underplant with sea thrift for a crisp, low edging that softens the hard landscaping – great for practical family gardeners.
- Evening Seating Corner – Place OLYMPIAD™ near a bench, backed by dwarf ornamental grasses, so its rich red blooms and gentle fragrance can be enjoyed up close – appealing to after‑work relaxers.
Technical cultivar profile
| Property |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose, registered as MACauck; marketed as Olympiad™ Hybrid tea rose MACauck, with Olympiad as the ARS approved exhibition name for shows and cut-flower competitions. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Samuel Darragh McGredy IV (New Zealand) from ‘Red Planet’ × ‘Pharaoh’; introduced 1974 in New Zealand and early 1980s in the USA via major rose distributors. |
| Awards and recognition |
Honoured with the All-America Rose Selections award in 1984 and the Portland Gold Medal in 1995, confirming its long-term garden and exhibition performance under varied climates. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright hybrid tea bush, typically 100–140 cm tall and 65–95 cm wide, with dense, mid‑green, matt foliage and moderate prickles; forms a defined vertical accent in beds or containers. |
| Flower morphology |
Very large, high‑centred, double blooms with 26–39 petals, borne mostly singly on stems; pointed, cut‑rose style buds open to classic exhibition form with a generous second flush. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Rich, uniform scarlet red (RHS 46A–46B) with a velvety sheen; colour holds well in sun, fading only slightly towards deep carmine; retains depth and avoids patchy paling as flowers age. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Mild but noticeable fruity perfume, especially on warm, still days; fragrance adds refinement without overwhelming indoor arrangements when blooms are used as cut flowers from the garden. |
| Hip characteristics |
Occasionally forms small, spherical red hips about 8–12 mm in diameter; adds a modest decorative touch in late season if some spent blooms are left uncut on the plant. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Rated resistant to black spot, powdery mildew and rust; hardy to approximately −26 to −23 °C (H7, USDA 5b), providing secure overwintering in most exposed Irish garden situations. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with fertile, well‑drained soil; space 50–90 cm depending on use; suitable for beds, hedging, cutting and large containers; benefits from deadheading and annual winter pruning. |
OLYMPIAD™ offers rich red exhibition blooms, strong disease resistance and long-lived own-root reliability for Irish gardens; it is a thoughtful choice if you seek lasting colour with minimal effort.
