PHILATELIE™ – red-white hybrid tea rose - McGredy
Step outside to PHILATELIE™ and you are greeted by a tall, upright hybrid tea whose raspberry-red and white marbling looks hand-painted in soft Irish light, even when the weather brings its familiar showers and moist air that favour healthy, dark green foliage. This refined yet robust rose offers reliable rebloom from early summer well into autumn, so your front garden or cottage border always has a smartly dressed focal point. As an own-root plant it settles in steadily, promising a long-lived, regenerating structure rather than a short-term flourish, ideal where you want a thoughtful investment in beauty without complex care. Think of its development as gentle and gradual: in the first year it focuses on root strength, in the second the framework of stems fills out, and by the third year it presents its full ornamental presence in the border.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Front garden specimen near the entrance |
Its tall, upright habit and striking red-and-white flowers give instant formality at the front door, reading clearly even from the pavement and suiting Dublin terraced-house steps or cottage paths. Ideal for homeowners seeking a welcoming focal point display |
| Sunny mixed border in a family garden |
PHILATELIE™ repeats well through the short Irish summer, sending up new high-centred blooms that slot neatly among perennials without sprawling, so the border still looks composed during wet spells with persistent rain and mild air. Perfect for busy family gardeners wanting steady colour returns |
| Cutting row or dedicated cut-flower corner |
The long, straight stems and large, exhibition-type blooms are designed for vases, allowing you to cut sophisticated, long-lasting stems for the kitchen table without spoiling the outdoor display. Suitable for hobby florists who enjoy arranging garden-grown stems indoors |
| Feature plant in an Irish cottage-style bed |
The bold striping acts like a visual anchor among looser cottage flowers, giving structure while still feeling romantic and nostalgic, especially when ringed with wallflowers or airy perennials. A good choice for those recreating traditional cottage character charm |
| Small grouping in a formal front garden |
Planting PHILATELIE™ in a triangle or short row at recommended spacing creates a low, upright rhythm of identical blooms, giving a composed, almost parterre look that works well in compact urban plots. Ideal for city gardeners who like orderly structure with impact neighbours |
| Own-root replacement for older grafted hybrid teas |
As an own-root plant it rebuilds from the base if winter, wind or pruning mishaps take their toll, so the variety you chose persists instead of reverting to a rootstock, supporting a longer-lived planting overall. Suited to thoughtful gardeners planning for future resilience longevity |
| Deep, large patio container (minimum 40–50 litres) |
In a generous, well-drained container PHILATELIE™ forms a vertical accent, with its upright canes and large blooms rising cleanly above the pot rim, bringing refined colour to paved, rented or very small spaces. Ideal for balcony and patio gardeners with limited ground space |
| Statement rose in a collector’s or enthusiast’s bed |
The distinctive marbled colouring and classic hybrid tea form make this an eye-catching choice for enthusiasts who enjoy unusual yet garden-worthy varieties that still cope well with typical Irish rainfall and mild, moist conditions. Recommended for collectors wanting something memorably different character |
Styling ideas
- Cottage-Classic – Underplant PHILATELIE™ with wallflowers and low catmint to soften its upright form and echo its raspberry tones – for romantically inclined cottage-garden owners.
- Urban-Formal – Line a short front path with evenly spaced plants, clipping nearby box or lavender for contrast against the striped blooms – for city gardeners who like crisp structure.
- Patio-Showpiece – Grow in a 50-litre clay pot with trailing ivy and seasonal bedding to spotlight its exhibition flowers on a terrace – for renters and balcony gardeners.
- Border-Anchor – Place PHILATELIE™ mid-border among airy grasses and pale perennials so its strong colouring reads as a stable focal point – for those wanting balance without fuss.
- Cutting-Corner – Dedicate a sunny strip with a short row of PHILATELIE™ and repeat-flowering companions to ensure a steady supply of stems – for home florists who love arranging.
Technical cultivar profile
| Category |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose, registered as MACcastlet, marketed as PHILATELIE™ Hybrid tea rose MACcastlet; exhibition name Philatelie; part of the Rós taehibride commercial group. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Samuel Darragh McGredy IV in New Zealand from Tournament of Roses × Port Ludlow; introduced in 2000 via Rosen-Union e.G. in Germany, registration year 1989. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Strong, upright habit to around 110–150 cm high and 60–90 cm wide, with moderately dense, leathery dark green foliage and moderate prickliness, giving a vertical, elegant outline. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, double, high-centred, pointed-budded blooms with 20–30 petals, solitary on stems; flower size typically 7–10 cm, with abundant remontant repeat flowering in summer and early autumn. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Striking raspberry-red and white stripes, ARS red bicolour; RHS 46A outer, 155D inner; contrast stays vivid, later softening slightly as red pales and white bands gain a cream tint. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Fragrance is very weak, with only a slightly sweet note noticeable in warm, still conditions, so it is chosen primarily for visual effect rather than for scented-garden plantings. |
| Hip characteristics |
Due to its double flowers, hip set is limited; when present, hips are small, spherical, around 12–17 mm across, with an attractive orange-red colouring that adds a quiet autumn accent. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to about –26 to –23 °C (RHS H7, USDA 5b); medium overall disease resistance, with strong tolerance of powdery mildew and black spot, and moderate susceptibility to rust. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in a sunny, well-drained spot; water in dry spells, particularly in light soils; spacing 40–75 cm depending on use; suits borders, specimen roles and cutting; maintenance level medium. |
PHILATELIE™ offers tall, elegant, red-and-white exhibition blooms, reliable repeat flowering and a resilient own-root constitution that matures into a long-lived feature, making it a considered choice for your garden.
