RHEA – red hybrid tea rose – pharmaROSA®
Imagine stepping outside for a quick wander in soft rain and being greeted by large, velvety, wine-red blooms glowing in the green light – this is RHEA, an easy-going hybrid tea bred for dependable garden comfort. Its bushy, compact shape and barely-thorny stems make day-to-day care simple, even in smaller Irish cottage or terraced-front plots where space is precious and summer can feel short yet still reliably moist and mild. Strong fragrance carries on damp evenings, while its remontant habit brings a generous second flush of flowers, sustaining colour well into autumn for relaxed, repeat pleasure. On its own roots it settles steadily, roots strengthening in the first year, top growth building in the second and full ornamental presence from the third, giving you lasting, low-fuss beauty and a rose that responds well to light deadheading and straightforward garden routine.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Front-of-house specimen in a small Dublin terrace garden |
The compact, bushy habit and 75–105 cm height fit a modest front border without overwhelming the space, while strong fragrance and large, wine-red flowers create instant kerbside impact for passers-by and visiting homeowners. |
| Feature rose in an Irish cottage-style mixed border |
RHEA’s repeat flowering and very full, velvety blooms bring a romantic, “girly” cottage note, with colour that holds well in changeable Irish light, rewarding relaxed planting schemes for fragrance-loving beginners. |
| Low-maintenance flower bed for busy family gardens |
Good resistance to black spot, mildew and rust, plus low general maintenance needs, mean less spraying and fuss, ideal where time is limited but reliable flowering is still expected by busy-owners. |
| Statement rose in a 40–50 litre patio container |
The compact root system and upright structure suit a generous pot, and its remontant habit ensures a second flush on the patio; just ensure regular watering and feeding for balcony and courtyard gardeners. |
| Cutting patch or cutting strip along a path |
As a hybrid tea with solitary, long-stemmed blooms and strong scent, RHEA is ideal for vases and special-occasion bunches, delivering classic, deep red roses for enthusiastic home florists. |
| Own-root, long-term planting in a family back garden |
Grown on its own roots, RHEA regenerates well from the base if pruned hard or weather-damaged, giving a stable, long-lived shrub with consistent flower quality for practical-minded planners. |
| Sunny, well-drained bed on heavier Irish clay |
Planted into improved, free-draining soil with mulch, its good heat and short-drought tolerance cope well with warm spells after rain-soaked periods typical of our mild, moisture-laden summers for thoughtful siters. |
| Easy-care hedge or short row along a driveway |
Regular spacing at 50–60 cm forms a gently unified line of scented red blooms; its resilient health and compact form keep it looking tidy with basic pruning, suiting hands-off but quality-oriented owners. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage-Romantic – Thread RHEA through soft pinks, catmint and airy perennials for a storybook cottage feel – ideal for lovers of traditional, feminine garden charm.
- Terrace-Jewel – Place a single bush in a smart pot by the front door, underplanted with dwarf sedge for year-round texture – perfect for city-dwellers wanting impact in tight spaces.
- Evening-Border – Combine RHEA with white foxgloves and silvery foliage so its dark red blooms and strong scent stand out at dusk – suited to those who enjoy after-work garden unwinding.
- Cutting-Strip – Plant a short row with Saxifraga and low sedums at the front, using RHEA for repeat stems for the vase – great for home arrangers who like fresh, home-grown bouquets.
- Low-Care-Line – Use several plants along a drive mixed with easy evergreens, relying on RHEA’s disease resistance for a neat, low-input border – useful for busy families wanting order with little effort.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
RHEA – red hybrid tea rose – pharmaROSA®; hybrid tea group, exhibition-quality blooms on a bushy shrub; trade name for an own-root, container-grown garden rose. |
| Origin and breeding |
Hybrid tea discovered by PharmaRosa®, Germany, 2002; parentage unknown; introduced and initially distributed by PharmaRosa® Ltd., with selection focused on garden performance. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy, compact shrub, 75–105 cm tall and 50–70 cm wide; moderately dense, dark green, slightly glossy foliage; very few thorns make handling and cutting more comfortable. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, 7–10 cm, very full, rosette-shaped flowers with 40+ petals; borne mainly singly on stems, giving classic hybrid tea form while still suiting informal garden borders. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Rich wine-red with warm undertones; ARS code MP, RHS 63B outer, 61C inner; colour holds well, softening slightly in heat; remontant with a plentiful second flush in season. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strongly scented rose, detectable from a distance; exact note profile not documented but clearly noticeable around paths and seating areas during still, humid or rainy weather. |
| Hip characteristics |
Rose hip set is generally low due to very double blooms; occasional hips reach 10–15 mm diameter and are mostly ornamental curiosities rather than a feature. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Good overall health with resistance to powdery mildew, black spot and rust; winter hardy to about −21 to −18 °C (H7, USDA 6b), reliable in most Irish garden conditions. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun and fertile, well-drained soil; spacing 50–100 cm depending on use; water in dry spells; deadhead for repeat bloom; ideal for beds, containers and cut flowers. |
RHEA – red hybrid tea rose – pharmaROSA® offers richly scented, long-stemmed blooms on a healthy, compact shrub that thrives with modest care, and as an own-root plant it builds long-term strength and beauty, well worth considering for your garden.
